"THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9096, 23 May 1908, Page 5

"THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL."

There was a packed house at the Town Hall last evening, when the dramatised version of Orozy-Bar-stow's popular novel, "The Scarlet Pimpernell," was presented by the Ju'ius Knight Company. The audience, too, was representative of the whole of the Wairarapa, practically every seat in the box plan being booked on the opening date. The authoress of "The Pimpernell" is her own playright, and the dram'b therefore follows closely upon the theme of the book itself. It is a story of love, of intrigue, of contempt—a setting forth of the deeds of one who worked for his fellow men, who risked his life as one likes to believe an Englishman will for the aalce of the utter stranger, and accounted it but sport. Mr Julius Knight, in the double role of Sir Percy Blakeney and "The Scarlet Pimpernell," gave an exceptionally fine interpretation, his assumption of the part of the young blood of the eighteenth century and is sudden dropping of the mask being particularly dramatic. Misa Ola Humphrey gave a finished histronic performance in the part of Lady Blankeney, and the audience was liberal in the bestowal of well-merited applause- An excellent representation of the part of the French Envoy was given by Mr Leslie Victor, though the part was not one that carried the sympathies of those present. Mr Barry Plimmer as the Prince of Wales had a: particularly light role to fill but did his work in a thoroughly regal style. Miss Elwyn Harvey, as Suzanne da Louma i, pourtrayed her part very capably in the scene with Lady Blankeney, in which she vividly tells of the setting out for France of the "Scarlet Pimpernel!." Other characters were ablv sustained by Mr R. Denniston, as Sir Andrew F. Houkes; Mr J. 11. Bentley, aa Lord Dewhur°t; Mr H, Walters, as the Comte de Tourmai; and Mr Dudley Clinton, as Brcgard of the Lion D'or; Miss Katie Towers, as Mother Brogai'd; and Miss Sterling, as the Comtesse de Tourmai.

The piece was extremely well staged, the dresses were rich and picturesque, and attractive music was supplied by the Company's orchestra. During the performance a couple of minuets were gracefully danced.