AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 60, 20 June 1910, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

'•PETE" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL I TO-NIGHT. A capital play, full of love, sentiment, sympathy and romance, is the description applied to "Pete," which will be staged to-night at the Theatre Royal by Clarke and Meynell's specially organised company, headed by those capable artists, H. R. Roberts and Beatrice Day, supported by a powerful company. "Peto" is-dramatised by Hall Caine and Louis N. Parker from the former's story, "The Manxman," and ran over 200 nights at the Lyceum Theatre, London, when it broke all records for drama. "Never before," said the London Times, '■. has a play of this kind made such a thrilling appeal to the sensations, susceptibilities, and sympathies of an audience. They wept and laughed alternately at the pathos and sweetness of this great play, and Mr. Hall Caine; who occupied a box, had to bow his head an the fignal fall of the curtain, so tumultuous was the applause of the audience, swept away on a tide of emotion. The story is powerful and thrilling, carried out to a most effective climax. The essence of the drama is a story of love and betrayal, of wicked rascaldom and picturesque heroism. Pete Quilliam goes to Kimbetiey, and returning, marries the girl ft* Trad left behind him,- Kate Cregeen, an innkeeper's daughter on the Isle of Man... However, in his absence Philip Christian), Pete's supposed friend, bad made love' to her and won her heart. When Pete retains a rich man, Kate become his wife, for Philip had refused to marry her, putting ambition and potation before love aacl honor in his aspiring to become thff Deemster of the Island, and the innkeeper's daughter, hft' considers, is not a flitting wife for him.. How Pete discovers' that Kate's love is ; not his, how she learos him on account , of the guilty secret tfflat exists between , herself and* Philip, and how utimately i she realises that he, itiag-bearted, manly husband of hers, is the man she really loves, and bow she returns to him a repentant and lovable wife, make the| thrilling and pleasant, asr well as pathetic ; phases of this retnarkaßfe drama. After i seeing the production at the Lyceum Theatre, London, Mr. Meynell, on his return to Melbourne, set about organising a special company to toiur with "Pete," choosing the various artists in accordance with the requirements of the roles, and the particular line of ability. Each member of the cast, therefore, will be thoroughly suited to her or his 'part. Mr. H. R.'Roberts and Miss Beatrice Day will fee supported by a strong company, including Mr. Conway Win»field, Mr. Harry Sweeney, Mr. J. F. Fbrdc, Mr. W. J. Montgomery, Miss Lorna Forbes, Miss Ehvyn Harvey, Miss Katie Towers, Miss Ethel Bashford, and Miss Mary LaingMeeson. The box plan is now open at Collier's.