ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 256, 8 March 1911, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

" THE THIRD DEGREE." On Monday night next Mr. J. C. Williamson will give playgoers of New Plymouth, an opportunity of witnessing Miss Katlierine Grey in a production of Charles Klein's wonderfully realistic drama, "The Third Degree." This play, which is by Charles Klein, the author of "The Lion and the Mouse," ran for two years in New York City alone, and is now being played throughout America by Henry B. Harris' three distinct companies. It is said that Miss Grey's performance of the character of Mrs. Howard Jeffries, junr., ranks as one of the best, most artistic and most realistic ever witnessed on any stage in the world. "The Third Degree" has for its groundwork the exposure of that form of mental torture known as "the third degree," adopted by the American police in extorting confessions, contains a fascinating love story, of love and sacrifice, is permeated with bright comedy touches, and is altogether a novel, convincing and material piece of dramatic construction. Commenting on the initial Christehurch production of the pi:<c a critic stated: "The American.invasion Ins f:il!y justified itself; Miss Katlierine Grey, Mr. William Desmond and the powerful company supporting them were quite impressive in their opening production, 'The Lion and the Mouse,' but the play pales into comparative insignificance beside 'The Third Degree.' It is a strong, virile, legitimate play, with a suggestion of tragedy, but with no artificiality and no undue straining after effect. It deals with a phase of American life that is well known by report, though fortunately foreign by experience in the colonies. The story 'deals with a woman's efforts to save her husband from paying the penalty of a crime that he had not committed, although he had confessed to it through hypnotic suggestion under exhaustive examination. His family and his friends are all prepared to accept a confession which is hacked up by circumstantial evidence, and the woman has to make the fight alone. The character of Mrs. Howard Jeffries gives Miss Grey an opportunity to show her immense versatility and her extraordinary humaneness. She held her audience from the rise of the curtain until its fall in a spellbound interest,] and, aided by a clever play, she scored a! success that has seldom been paralleled in Christehurch." Monday night next j will mark Miss Grey's farewell appear-' ancc here, as she is due back in America in August to re-open the Millionaires' Theatre in a play specially written for her. The plans for "The Third Degree" will be opened at Collier's on Friday morning next at 5.30. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m. AMY CASTLES' FAREWELL CONCERTS. The illustrious and popular young singer, Miss Amy Castles, will bid farewell to Now Zealand, prior to her return to London, where she is shortly to appear in grand opera. A concert will be given in New Plymouth on Monday | March 20. Miss Castles simply took Aus-1 tralia by storm on her re-appearance on the concert platform after an absence of eight years. Her charming and fascinating personality, combined with her sweet ', and sympathetic soprano, has won for her a permanent place in the affections of all music lovers in Australasia. Her first essay in grand opera was also in the manner of a triumph, and there l seems little doubt of her success when she appears for the first time in London in operatic scenes. Prior to leaving for New Zealand bv the Ulimaroa on February 1 from Melbourne, Miss Castles gave a benefit concert to the local charities m her native city of Bcndigo, in Victoria, and two large buildings were requisitioned to accommodate the crowds Miss Castles not only returned to the land of her birth a full, recognised and famous artist, but she sings with a freeescent quality of a born singer. "Better than her vocal attainment," says a leading critic, •••through her command of a polished legato, her tonal purity, her fine phrasing, admirable enunciation, and 'messa divoce,' all those elements, in fact on winch depends the display of that emotional expression which makes (ho nily great singer." Miss Castles will he .supported by her splendid company of prominent artists, comprising Hcrr Alexander Camphausen (bass baritone), from 1-ieipsix, Jlcrr Louis Mattenbaeh ('cellist) and Mr. William t'onwav (pianist). The box plans are announced to open at Colors „n Tuesday, 14th inst. Many are fakmg advantage of the advertised country reserve sections, scores of letters being received daily for allotment of seats. Heavy booking is expected, and the concert promises to be a hii"c success in every way.