"THE RED MILL."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3105, 30 January 1909, Page 5

"THE RED MILL."

There was a large audience at the Town Hall, last evening, when Mr J. C.Williamson's Musical Comedy Company produced the exhilarating and brilliant musical play "The Red Mill." The scene is laid in a picturesque town in Holland, and the opening act shows the great quaint Red Mill standing majestically in the foreground. The story is of love. Jan Van Borken, ,the crabbed old burgomaster, is b§iit on his daughter Gretchen fuarryirg the Governorof Zeeland. The girl loves and is j loved by a sailor Doris Van Damme. ; To keep her from her lover the chief magistrate locks Gretchen up in the Mill, but the girl has many friends who contrive to arrange her escape, prominent amongst which are two impecunious Arrerican?, who in doing Europe have also managed to do Willem, the irrsscible old innkeeper, and elect to work respectively as interpreter and waiter rather than go to gaol. Herein lies the great comedy opportunities indulged in to the full by Messrs John Ford, Fred Leslie and Charles Loder. The rescue of Gretchen hanging to the swiftly revolving wir.g of the Windmill provides a sensation not heretofore expected or accomplished in musical comedy. In the second act—a wonderful creation in blue delftafter a series of heartbreaking checks the course ot true love at length runs smoothly, thanks mainly to the efforts of the versatile Americans who appear at the critical moment as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, and settle things satisfactorily. Mr John Ford and Mr Fred Leslie practically support the piece, and round their merry pranks and eccentric dancing the plot turns. * As Jan Van Borken, the burgomaster, Mr Percy Denton was an imposing figure, whilst Mr Ch&rles Loder made an excellent sheriff. They were associated in an amusing song entitled "You Can Never Tell About a Woman." Mr Haward Hall capably impersonated the character of Captain Doris van Damme, and Mr Shemn filled the role of Governor of Zeeland with dignity. Miss Olive Godwin created an excellent impression as the burgomaster's sister. The minor i parts were well sustained. The chorus was strong, and the staging and dressing decidedly quaint and attractive.