ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 315, 3 July 1912, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

"A GIRL'S TEMPTATION." OPENING HERE TO-MORROW NIGHT. From the acounts that have preceded the combination, George Marlow's Dramatic Company should have an auspicious opening here to-morrow (Thursday) evening in the Theatre Royal in the drama entitled "A Girl's Tempta- . tion." This drama was written by one ' of England's present dramatists, a woman, and it has been claimed, apparently with a good deal of justice, that it is a ' drama written by a woman for women. One expects fine treatment of a theme by a woman, and in "A Girl's Temptation" the authoress has apparently given this, if the press accounts to hand are 1 any criterion. The drama has been variously styled "the drama with a pur- | pose," "a remarkable play," and "a unique story of the prodigal's return." There is a lengthy and ■well-balanced cast, and the artists are called upon to portray almost every conceivable type of humanity, so varied are the characters, and so wide is the field of human nature which the authoress has touched upon. To begin with, the temptations which beset most young girls when earning their livelihood at large factories or such places of employment are touched upon, and the artifices of a certain type of man are exposed. This forms the basis of the plot, and the short happiness of the work girl in her newly-born existence is ] vividly shown in, later, striking contrast to the squalid and misery and utter hopelessness which befalls the girl when she is abandoned. Tom Hood's famous ■ lines: I "Oh! men with sisters dear,

Oh! men, with mothers and wives, It is not your linen you are wearing out, But human creatures' lives" are frequently called to mind with the drama. Two of the big scenes are perhaps that where the villainies are worked upon the young girl as she is found alone in her bedchamber, and the sweaters' den, where the mode of girl slavery, as it is said to exist in parts of London, are brought out realistically. Judging by the business done elsewhere, intending patrons would be well advised to book their seats in advance at Collier's. Early door tickets for the back stalls are also obtainable at Collier's.

i "BEN HUR." At Collier's to-morrow morning, at 8 i o'clock, the box plans will be opened for j the first and only production of the i gorgeously mounted religious romance, "Ben Hur," which is to. be presented by ■ J. C. Williamson, Ltd.'s splendid dramaj tic company at the Theatre Royal on Monday next. Anticipating the same , large demand'for seats which has taken place in other centres the management has arranged to have a staff of ushers |in attendance from 7 a.m. to form a (queue so that the earliest arrivals can be assured of first choice of seats. "Ben I Hur" is generally admitted to be the { most stupendous production yet staged in Australasia, over 200 people being concerned in its representation. The period of the play possesses a fascinating interest for the student and the philosopher. It was the momentous epoch in the world's history when Christ } appeared upon earth, and when earthly J pomp and glory, arrogance and pride of J conquest, were about to be confronted by.. J the docrines of the meek and lowly Nazarene. ' This side of General Wallace's story has been aptly preserved in the drama, so aptly, indeed, and reverently, that the most touching scene of all comes at the close with the miracle of the healing of the lepers, and with the amazed recital by the young Prince of Hur of the deeds lie has seen wrought by the mysterious Wonder-worker. At this stage, also, the hopes of the Jews of that period for an armed deliverer to lead ■■ them free of Roman bondage, and revenge the wrongs inflicted upon their nation, are pointedly illustrated in the 'demeanor of the venerable Simonides, whose astonishment at Ben Hur's strange narrative is succeeded by profound dejection at his news that the freshly-re-cruited troops will not be required, since no sword is to be drawn by the new Conqueror. One of the most -wonderful and J most thrilling stage spectacles yet wit- ■ nessed on the stage is the realistic chariot race. The audience are, it is said, worked up to a tension during its progress, and when it is seen that Ben Hur's chariot is overhauling that of his rival, Messala, the excitement increases, ( and breaks into cheers -when the heroic Hebrew defeats his. enemy. The company will leave Auckland on Sunday ] morning by the Rarawa, which is due j here on Sunday night.