ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 318, 3 June 1911, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE PRTXCE AND THE BEGGAR MAID." A splendid audience greeted the appearance of Mr. William Anderson's fine company last night at the Theatre Royal. "The Prince and the Beggar Maid" is remarkable of its kind, beautifully written and depending for its power and appeal on few of the devices so loved by manufacturers of melodrama. Here, then, are two picturesque priiiei-palitie9-i-thc one ruled by a brave princess and the other by an iniquitous prince. They are at war and Illym, the country of the princess, is devastated by the sword, the people are starving, and the land laid waste. The Prince of Sylvania will withdraw his troops and end the war if the princess with whom he is at war weds him. The prince has two brothers, the one noble, generous, and warm-hearted, the other also chivalrous, but with the dreadful weight of a physical deformity poisoning his life. Under pressure the princess takes an oath to wed the iniquitous prince to save her country, but, attired as a beggarmaid, she enters his country and views the villainous ruler. The insults the prince offers to. the supposed beggarmaid make her declare that nothing shall prevail upon her to marry him. She loves Prince Olaf, the half-brother, and the hunchback Prince Michael also loves her. Here is the material for a dramatic story of love and hate and heart interest. Ultimately the wicked prince, finding her adamant, with the help of a bisjiop, forces a promise that she will marry any man he names but himself. He names his hunchback half-brother, and the wedding is arranged. Prince Olaf, the hero, detains' Michael. There is a fight; Olaf escapes, and returns to the cathedral, where the wedding is to take place. Stirring incidents lead to the beginning of the ceremony. The hunchback at the last moment dramatically refuses to marry the princess. Afterwards Prince .....ired, tun villainous ruler, attacks Michael, and is ignominiously killed by his dumb retainer. There is throughout stir and life and picture. Miss Beatrice Day appealed most strongly as the Princess. Her native poise and culture helped her to dignify a character in which the display of her acknowledged power was adequately shown. In the many tender scenes with her lover prince slic acted with a quiet conviction wholly excellent. Mr. 11. R. Roberta always* brings with a robust manliness and esprit that carry his audience with him. Ho shuns the pinchbeck heroios common enough in melodrama. His -ease and graoe of manner appeal strongly for their naturalness. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Kenneth Brampton for his exceedingly good character sketch of the heartbroken hunchback princo. He was able to illuminate the part with a quiet dignity and resorve that are the result of natural aptitude. He has a splendid voice and accent. His elocution is a pattern for players. Mr. Walter Dalgleish as the villain prince put much dash into Ins work. As always his confident manner gave him an advantage in a part that suited him very well. If he is sometimes ultra-dramatic and torrential of utterance, he is still a player whose work is acceptable. Very excellent was the work of Mr. Herbert Leigh, the loyal captain of the princess' bodyguard. He was the gruff soldier with the hand of iron and the heart of gold. Miss Chve Farnlmm. as a lieutenant who loved a girl and helped the laughter, was a smart young swashbuckler.- with an adequate understanding 0 f the needs of the case. Miss Florence Richter made Menus m her showing 0 f the devoted beggarmaid who doted on the gruff captain and ultimately won him for keeps. Miss itthel Bashford gave a sweet personation of the nice little girl who loved tho smart lieutenant, and Mr. Frank Peachy was a dignified bishop. The scenery was unusually good, the interiors being natural and impressive. A particularly fine effect was shown in the interior of the cathedral. Tho dramatic storv ends by the assumption of the throne by the hunchback, the last words being his' command to the troops ho withdraws from the stricken country of the princess: "By the western gate—march!" He goes to reign in Sylvania. His brother Olaf is the princess' consort in Illyria.

"RIGHT IS MIfiHT"-TO-XKUIT. Ksm This evening Mr. Anderson will present another plav new to this town, when Mr. Edward Peple's latest American play. "Right is Might," will be staged. The Melbourne Argus, in

'.speaking nf the piece, said: '"Right is .Mi,!>lit' present* :i picturesque phase of strenuous American business life, cowpunching and cowboys. A railroad com]iany finds itself with a valuable concession that will link ii|> two of its lines by permitting the construction of a I iraclc across a Texas rancli. The concitssion won from the courts in spite of the bitter opposition of the ranch owners, expires in (iO days. To build the line in lit) days is in itself a feat that approaches the impossible, but the position is complicated by the opposition which the owners of the ranch and the ranch hands promise. The owner is a beautiful young Texas woman, who throws herself whole-heartedly into the tfeud which her father waged before her. A young engineer leads the company's forlorn hope, and from the moment he sets out to make a name for himßeu the story becomes full of study and dramatic situations. A love interest enters into the strenuous game when the young engineer and the' beautiful ranch girl meet, but sentiment for a while is ruthlessly crushed by the firm determination of both to be faithful to their trusts. But how the fight develops, how the lady comes to hold the winning card, and how sho plays it, are worth witnessing. Until live minutes before the final curtain lace* the issue is in doubt. When the climax comes it makes a fitting ending to a well told, well staged story." Mr. Roberts will appear as the young engineer, and Hiss Day as the ranch girl.