MACMAHON DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8308, 11 December 1906, Page 5

MACMAHON DRAMATIC COMPANY.

"THE KELLY GANG." The MaoMabon Dramatic Company played a one-night season in the Masterton Town Hall, last evening, when "The Kelly Gang" was produced to a crowded house. The progress of the piece was accompanied by all those signs whioh spell success—• applause, laughter and the raising of the curtain twa or three times after each aot. It /is a well-constructed story of the | desperadoes named in the title. Sensation. is piled upon sensation pell-mell. Opening with the murder of Sergeant Kennedy, and the flight of the Kellys into the bush, the piece is a series of thrills right through to Ned Kelly's last stani. In between tberd is the killing of Constable Fitzpatrick, the excitement of the racecourse, the sticking up of the bank and of the mail coacb", the doom of the spy and informer, ana the reaiistio Are scene in the last aot. Each sensation is well enacted and admirably stage managed. Added to this the Bcenery, especially of the Australian busb, is fine. Mr Charles Blake plays Ned Kelly in a vigorous style, making the pqrt impressive by its reckless and daredevil nature. Mr Alfred Bouthoian as Steve Hart shows himself an actor of versatility. He is decidedly convincing. Mr William Ellison plays well as Joe Byrne, and the fourth member of. tho gang,' Dau Kelly, is represented by Mr G. L. Merriman. Mr E. B. Russell acts with sincerity the role of the kindly old priest, Moran. Mr S. A. Fitzgerald gives a commendable sketch of Fitzpatrick, and Mr Harry Norman in excellent as Serjeant Steele. Air Edward Nable makes, perhaps, the hit of the evening as Constable Moloney. His comedy work is very clever. He is ably supported in a succession of highly diverting scenes by Mr Maurice Lynch, as Constable Murphy, the two creating roars of laughter whenever they are on the stage. Miss May Granville is admirable as Kate Ke'ly, and Miss Helen Fergus as Mary Byrne. Misß Ethel Stephenson's comedy w>>?k as Miss Primm Is remarkably droll. There are several minor role 3, which And capable exponents.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright