"THE LION AND THE MOUSE."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10191, 17 March 1911, Page 5

"THE LION AND THE MOUSE."

AT THE MASTER-TON TOWN HALL.

Whatever other characteristics they possess, it cannot he said that Mas-tertonians are deficient in the quality of appreciation. This fact was amply demonstrated last evening, when the Town Hall was crowded to the doors to witness the. production of Charles Klein's worldfamous drama, "The Lion and the Mouse," aiid to welcome to the district that charming American act-' Katherine Grey, and the powerful company with "which-she is ; supported. The name of J.. C. Williamson is synonymous with, all that is good in musical and theatrical).. and l the.reputation ' the firm has gained is enhanced by • the. introduction "to the iNe-w Zealand public of so accomplished an actress 1 as Miss Katherine Grey. The great audience which assembled in the Town Hall last evening was unanimous in the verdict/that a-, more powerful drama than. "The Lion and the Mouse," and a more superb setting has never been witnessed in the district. The drama itself is full t-f interest, and abounds in romantic, if not sensational incident. The plot is based upon the modern conception' of the American millionaire. John Burkett Ryder, possessed of wealth beyond the dreams of avarice, is displeased with the rulings of the upright and -scrupulous Judge Rossmore, and determines upon his ruin at all costs. By a succession of verly-contrived schemes this desperate aim is partially achieved, and the righteous Judge is doomed to dishonour and impeachment. Shirjey Rossmore, the daughter of the Judge, who' has been spending a holiday in Europe, returns to her, home to find her aged parent crushed and ruined by the intrigues of wealth- and its obedient servants. How' she' resolves upon ' extricating her honoured parent from the clutches of the revengeful millionaire; how she lays her plans and executes them with fidelity to' detail; and how in the end her faithfulness and ingenuity is rewarded, and she deliver:;' her -father ' from remorse to rehabilitation and esteem is best told by the author and the actress themselves. Mr iWilliam Desmond; as the millionaire who : -stoops to the heartless deeds of a villain to effect his diabolical designs- upon one who has incurred his\wrath, showed that he is' a master of the stage-craft, and- an, actor of great power and versatility. The character of the noble girl* j who is imbued with a high sense of honour, and who contrives at the sacrifice of all she possesses to restore her father to his position of dignity, was taken by Miss Katherine Grey in a manner which stamped ' her a "star" of the first magnitude in the histrionic world 1 . Her, acting throughout was dignified,-, graceful, and pathetic. Miss Grey possesses the rare faculty of bringing out the better qualities of feminine nature and presenting them with a charm begotten of womanly, sympathy, love and devotion. Her piquancy is as marked when occasion demands, as her pathos is rending when compelled by irresistible environment. As Judge Rossmore, the victim of. one of the most despicable plots that affluence could divine, Mr T. W. Lloyd displayed a thorough appreciation of the qualities which, go to make an ornament to the judicature. Mr Jefferson Ryder, a son of the moneyed octopus, whose affections have been centred upon the noble daughter of the Judge, but whose hopes and.aspirations have been temporarily shattered by the conduct of his heartless parent, was skilfully represented by Mr Cyril Mackay. All the other -characters in the piece were well sustained, and the mountings were apropriate throughout. "The Lion and the Mouse" is a drama of the very finest and most romantic character, and it furnishes not only an insight; into the devious ways of the avaricious plutocrat, .but. a striking illustration of the .power that can be wielded by the man or woman who places honour and dignity before the sordid considerations of pelf.