Amusements.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 270, 31 December 1903, Page 2

Amusements.

SANFORD'S AMERICAN PLAYERS

Walter Satotond's American players, under tihe able maaiMgement of Mr M. B. Curtis, arrived in New Plymouth on Tuesday, direct from America after a short stop at Honolulu, ami will begin a toiur of New Zealand, olpentog here to-wight in the Theatre Royal. This company was formed in New York City, and carries special scenery for each of the plays to bo presented. A list of i American successes will 'be produced, i The opening play will b» "Tihe Pow- ;. or of Gold." While the scene of this i play is laid in London, it is dlstinctl j very an American play, being writ- > ten by an American, and haiving been • produced and touted in, tfaat country f with the greatest spceess. Thisi stir- _ riragi play is essentially a drama of the JAiglisfo type ; an elaborate scer me spectacle replete with startling. ■ climaxes, decorous, yet hearty. huni- ■ our, and seasoned with -a modicum ol vMamy. The play rehires a ■great profusion of scenery for its proper showing, and Mr Sanford has employed such masters of tihe brush as John \oung and Hfcrley Merry in this department ; each massive set tests the capacity of the tareest stases. Kealism pi ays m ,part m the production, as is seen in the climax of the first act, when the villain escapes in the genuine hansom cab drawn by a thoroughbred i/nghsh hackney. The scene of the draiina is laid in London, and it tells a story of strange dramatic and romantic interest, depicting the gold awl utter helplessness of poverty • it blends the lives of aristocracy and pauperism;- it takes the auditor from the gorgeous mansions of the rich to the srfyua-Md and noisome slums among the city's poor. It tells the story of the never-ending' battle for broad fought by the worthy poor opposed to this is shown the grasping, greed for gold among the opulent and proud ; it tells the story of m humfbae, happy home, housing love and honesty ; Wended to this pretty domestic picture is the wellbeiy. 1-he play is well supplied , th situations, such as tbe abdxicti . the hrst act ; the meeting of thTsilk robed adventuress with ner thievimr and besotted husNand in the Sid the exciting escape from the K !»' threat to Ite'tos? Ac? The" scenery is realistic to the «ri J?" «rt the cast indues sonie af 'th e