"A ROYAL DIVORCE."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7941, 16 January 1906, Page 5

"A ROYAL DIVORCE."

Though "A Koyal Divorce" is not new to Masterton, it is still decidedly pleasant to theatre-goers, and those of the large a'adienoe that witnessed the performance in the Town Hall, last evening, who had seen the play on the last oooasion that it was given in Masterton—about fourteen month 3 ago—must admit that it has lost none of its dramatic obarms; and indeed it is drama of the highest character, delicately yet powerfully presented to the public. It is unnecessary to detail a plot so well known, but it is sufficient to say that the piece is of the days of Napoleon Bonaparte, about the time of the Battle of Austerlitz when the memory of the great French Revolution was not yet cold. The dressing and; mounting were quite in keeping with the times, and of a most elaborate scale. The tableaux depioting the retreat of the French Army from Moscow, the battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon on the rock at St. Helena drew forth the warmest admiration of the audience. The acting was quite up to the reputation of the brilliant company. As "Napoleon" Mr Julius Knight demonstrated again that he was a veritable star, and slfowed what a finished artist he is. His study of France's greatest general was excellent, and his oapaoity for taking pains and for bestowing the fullest attention on the minutest details added to the brilliancy of his acting. As the unhappy "Josephine," Miss Maud Jeffries delighted her audience, and her rendering of the part fully justified her reputation as a great actress. Miss Florence Hamer as the proud Austrian princess "Marie Louise," had a part whioh suited her exactly, and as the vivaoious "Stephanie," Miss Unie Russell completely captivated her audience Of the of "Augreau," Mr Harry Plimmerjhad an adequate conoep tion, while the "Talleyrand" of Mr Herbert Leigh left little if anything to be desired. The comedy was excellently supplied by Mr G. P. Oarey as the drunken "Grimaud," and the performers of the long,list of minor parts helped the principals to make ! the farewell production of the company a most decided success.