AMUSEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 240, 16 February 1911, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

"THE SQUATTER'S DAUGHTER." TO-NIGHT. The Theatre Royal will no doubt be packed to-night to witness the pictorial presentation of "The Squatter's Daughter." No picture drama of recent production has enjoyed the phenomenally successful run that has been accorded this famous picture play throughout Australia. The story lends itself to pictorial production, with plenty of coloring and plenty of incident, so that the dialogue is not necessary to ensure a ready understanding of the plot. Whercever shown the audience is just 'as enthusiastic over the triumphs of the hero and the trials of the heroine, and just as unkind to the villain who still pursues her into the last scene of the last act, as if they have been witnessing legitimate drama. The adventures oi those about whom the story centred, and the doings of Ben Hall and his grotesque and wicked bushranging gang, arc followed with, breathless interest throughout. The introduction of scenes typical of Australian bush life such as droving, shearing, and sundowning, arouse keen interest. To-night is the only occasion on which the picture will be shown in New Plymouth. "THE DOLLAR PRINCESS."

The box plan for the one performance of "The Dollar Princess" to be«given by Mr. J. C. Williamson's new comic opera company will be open at Collier's this morning. "The Dollar Princess"''is a musical piny in three acts, music of which is by Leo Fall and the lyrics .by Adrian Ross, the whole being adapted by Basil Hood. The main theme consists of a novel idea by Harry Q. Conder, a multimillionaire of New York, to rid England of some of her unemployed by forming his domestic establishment out of broken-down relics of the old aristocracy. l He has a duke for a butler, an earl for a groom, a French vieomte for a chauffeur, and a Scotch laird (who is also a baronet) for a footman. Ridiculous situations may well be conceived. Olga Labinska, a lion queen, posing as a Russian countess, easily succeeds in worming her way into the household, and ultimately into the affections of Harry Q. Conder, much to the dismay of his icy daughter, Alice, and his chilly niece, Daisy. The part of Olga is taken by Miss Florence Bickford. The humorous parts are admirably filled by Mr. Bert Gilbert, as Harry Q. Conder, 'and Mr. W. S. Percy, as Mr. Bulger, his confidential clerk. The former is at his best in "Chewska" , and "Foolish Questions," while the latter, we understand, is consistently funny throughout. Miss Lottie Sargent will probably be seen to great advantage as Daisy, Conder's niece, and Miss Olive Godwin will sustain the role of the haughty daughter Alice, spoken of as her very best comic opera impersonation. The piece is beautifully mounted, the scenery is picturesque, and excellent "catchy" music is provided by a first-class orchestra under the direction of Mr. Fritz Hart. The success of "The Dollar Princess," since its first production, has been singularly akin to that of the "Merry Widow." It swept like a flame through Europe, captivating every country oh that continent, front the steppes of Russia to the plains of Spain, from the snow of Norway to the sun of Italy. In England, in America, and in South Africa the tale is the same; in fact, the career of the two operas correspond in quite a remarkable manner. "The Dollar Princess" has achieved what we all regarded as the impossible, a musical play even more delightul than the delightful "Merry Widow." Xothing more melodious and more charming has been seen on the stage for years.