AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10159, 1 December 1910, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

mamilton, plimmer and denniston. The excellent dramatic company now travelling under the management of the above will visit Masterton and stage "Lovers' Lane'' ini the Town Hall to-morrow night, and on Saturday play '"The Passing of the Third Floor Back," by Jerome K. Jerome. Mr Harry Plimmer will sustain the principal role of the "Mysterious Stranger," and included in the cast are Mr Reynolds Denniston, Harry Neville, Charles Tlirosby, Paul Latham, S. A. Fitzgerald, Masters Frank Crook, Walter Mealing, Hilary Lawrence, Mrs Robert Brougli, Misses Lizett-e Parkes, Alice Deorwyn, Valentine Sidney, Marie Le Croisette, Tempe Pigott, Beatrice Usher, Alvee Holroyd, Fanny Lawrence, Elsie Parkes, Miss Myra Wall and others. Who is the Mysterious Stranger? The answer is! In the play! Who is he ? Whence came lie ? ! "The Mysterious Stranger" is the most compelling character ever conceived by the master mind of the playwright. Mr Forbes Robeitson says: "I think ulafc the Stranger is supposed to be an indefinite personality,.,not thejDivinity man being, but a "moral force," or in other words a character typifying the better self in each one of us. In 'The Passing of the Third Floor Back' living, breathing types are depicted, each working out his or lier destiny under the grinding influence of the Mysterious Stranger. The play is a dramatization ot the Jerome Iv. Jerome story of the same name. It depicts the whimsical adventures of a. gentle old man in a grimy London boarding house. Nobody knows who he is or why he is there. He is a mystery, a mystery in a rusty black suit, scattering sunshine in a dark place. Everybody is unhappy in the boarding house; everybody is pool, and mean, and ill-tempered, and dishonest, and lascivious, and nasty and cruel. The old man begins on them one .at a time. One at a time he eases their load, smoothes out their wrinkles, perfumes ; their hearts strengthens their hands, changes their lamentations into lyrics. The old thieving landlady; the quarrelling pair; the love-lorn, desperate daughter ; " the tempted girl-of-all-work; the tempting gambler; the starving artist; the subtle Jew. All are changed from sardonic slaves into folk of light and glory. When this is accomplished, the old gentleman "of the third floor back _ passes out into the night to lodge in other wretched dwellings and to do his work there. Never was there so light, yet so fine a note of humanity and sweet thoughtfulnesas in this little play. Tt will do all of us real good to see it. The box plan is now open at Miss Rives'. Day sales may also ho obtained at Miss Rives'.

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES.

Despite the counter attractions there was a good attendance at the Foresters' Hail last evening to wit ness the final. presentation of the cur rent programme. To-night there will be a comolete change of programme, when a wide range of subjects will be presented, A capital series of dramas include four powerful studies, viz.. "Heart of a Hose," "Courtship of Miles Standish." 'Abandoned," and "Eugene Grandet." Scenic films are in good supply and of an interesting nature, the subjects being scenea in Argentine, sugar plantations, Bourget Lakes, and Arabian C*>mel Market?. The comics are exceptionally funny, and would bring forth laughter from a stoic.

CABLE NEWS

Press Association—By Electric: Telegraph—Copyright.