ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 128, 21 November 1911, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE WOMAN IN THE CASE." That equally as the best instinct of woman may be exerted for the ennoblement of man, it sometimes is her worst that is used for his downfall, is the lesson sought to be shown in the dramatic production of "The Woman in the Case," which was staged at the Theatre Iloyal last night by Mr. George Willougllby, under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. There was a good house, but not so good as the merit of the play and the players deserved. As a type of modern drama, "The, Woman in the Case" is distinctly above the average of those with which local audiences have been regaled for a long time. The story is not an impossible one; it is intensely human, realistically touching, culminating in a climax so dramatic as to require talent far above the ordinary for faithful presentation. In that the characters live their parts as the author created them lies the true success of the presentation, in the unfolding of which the talent of the English actresses, Miss Mabel Trevor (Margaret Rolfe) and Miss Elinor Foster( Claire Forster) shone as brilliant stars. The story deals with the intrigues of an unscrupulous woman (Claire, Forster), who seeks revenge by embroiling the victim of her hate (Margaret Kolfe's husband) on a charge of the murder of her friend, Philip Long. Circumstantial evidence strongly supports her accusation, and Julian llolfe is imprisoned awaiting his trial. The scene wherein Julian's arrest is effected in the presence of his wife afforded the audience an early opportunity of judging Miss lie\ors histronic ability, and her emotional versatility only became the more impressive as the role of the devoted wife proceeded. When it appeared doubtful that the circumstantial chain of evidence could be broken bv the defence, Margaret Ilolte decides to win the confidence of Claire Forster, whom she right'.v judges as "the woman in the ease." Assuming the role of a "deini mondaine," she eventually succeeds, and, under the influence of liberal potations of wine with which she plies Claire, she extracts fiom the latter the confession that I fillip Long was not murdt red, but died bv his own hand. The acting of Miss lrevor and Mis, foster in this, dramatic scene was truly described as thrilling and the ladies were recalled again and' again to acknowledge unstinted and woll ■ merited plaudits. Obviously the storv 1 ends happily in the triumph of the faithful wife. Throughout Miss Trevor was brilliant. Xot less successful in a scme . what trying role was Miss Foster, whose representation of one type of woman nuded no further embellishment. Mr ' ra kl Sonfer, ; ,s Julian liulfe, the persecuted husband, was quietly convincing, while the duties of the lawyer were well paced m Mr. Hugh Buckler's hands, -diss Nellie Mortyne (as Mrs. liolfe's mother) was very natural, and Miss \I n '/) IISS J ?" ie and* -li.w rioioiieo (.rcttoii in minor rules monstrated that there are no -supers''' in the caste. Mr. Harry Hallev the taithtu l butler, Mr, Mavtyu Keith' and Mi. Vitluii- Cornell, m .subsidiary parts upheld tile reputation oi tile company? ■i;e ~ future of the pro-' diieuoii, Wlncu thoroughly <arned the liigiuneon.um, ot the well-satisfied audi-

; "A FC'CL TUEIIE WAS." : T,J - ni p ilt ibc much-discussed play. "A i.H.i jiiwo win 1|( . Jjr , )dllC( r d fOl . tlii- hist tiiiie in S,' W J'lvmoutli. The author Porter Emerson" Brown, has founded his theme upon Kipling's famous .. Tll , Vampire." Ue has ! »'"l' a f.'l-ent sense of human eeling, an<l_ has produced a play which is injured Willi dramatie quality from bcto °" ( l. *Lii<i is interpreted hv a company who l, nve a (;UIC< : of Mtlier tl, iul acting their parts. It 'S an emouonal play, f„M of .strong I "".""t'ons and vivid dialogue, appealing, j |i live to those who wMi to think, anil 1 | those who are content to fe,.|. The oast i- jt particularly lengthy one. Miss :1 . I,v y;! r t!ie role of th, , \ ampire Uomun." a role in striking contrast to that she assumed in "The in the Case." The same may he ••lid id the character in which Miss Flinor Foster will he seen, for in "A Fool rnerc Was- she is the good sympathetic 1 sister of the wife. The part of the I'ool will he taken hv Mr. HiHi C linckler. and it is said thai his interpretation of the character is one of the cleverest pieces of character actili" seen since t'h.irles AVurncr appeared as -n,.,,. pea. in "Drmk.' As a cli:iract. r aeior Mr. linckler has shown us more than 1 (lie extent of his potters, and his versatility is not tlic Jea,| remarkable, pha-e of his art. Tn "A fool There '•as hj" has some tragic and powerful scenes, showing the. effect upon him of the self-dcgradatio'i brought about by the \ umpire Woman," .i,vl his descent to the depths of drunktnnoss and de- i

spair. Amongst the artists who have not yet made their bow to New Plymouth playgoers is a wonderfully clever childactress (Little Alice Jerome), who will play the very difficult part of the child. This wee tot is just seven years of age, and is considered to be the cleverest and most natural child-actress in Australasia at the present day. The scenery and costumes are said to e a revelation: one scene, the promenade deck of a trans-Atlantic liner, is a masterpiece of stage craft. SAUNDERS' BIOGRAPH PICTURES.

Since the last season in New Plymouth of the famous dramatic picture, "A Royal Divorce," the management has been approached by a number of patrons who are desirous of viewing this magnificent production. To gratify these requests Mr. Saunders has again secured the film and will show the picture for to-night only in Whiteley Hall. The marriage of Napoleon, to Marie Louise in the Cathedral of Notre Dame is a magnificent spectacle. The scene has been faithfully copied from the great historical picture by Louis David, who painted "The Coronation of Napoleon" in 1810. All the great jwrsonages of the period are to be seen grouped around the high altar of the Cathedral, including Pope Pius VII., who came to perform the ceremony. The battles of Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, Friedland, Eckmuhl, Wagram, and many others, culminating in the defeat at Waterloo, are shown in the most realistic fashion. In addition to this star drama there are a number of other items, amongst which will be shown for 'the first time in New Plymouth "The Race for the Melbourne Cup," exactly a fortnight after this great race was won, which is a further tribute to the enterprise of the management.