"THE MAGISTRATE."

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 503, 21 October 1899, Page 2

" THE MAGISTRATE."

The production of I'inero'a Comedy, " The Magistrate," by tie Hamilton Comedy Company, on Show nights, promises to eclipse the record performance given by the company at the same time l>Bt year. It has been decided to reserve seats on the first nuht only, as it was found on the second night list y< ar that the crowd was so lar*e as to make it impossible to keep the Svats. This, we believe, is a good plan, a- it will allow the local people a chance of attending on the first night v. hen th'.rc a r c not so many strangers in t\\- town. The prices will bo the same curb night, viz., 3«, 2s and Is ; but, as mentioned above, 6eata will be reserved on the first night ouly, for wh'ch the box plan is now open at Turc Aiiurjs Office.

A short synopsis of the play will not he out of ptace : The plot turns upon an innocent deception, the consequences of which involve all the character, and produce a series of the most ludicrous situations Mr Posket, the mim'strate, a well-pre-served gollcman of fifty, while abro id on a holiday, falls in love with a widow, Mrs Paitingdon, who is the trother of u remarkably intel : i.ent lad of nineteen. Wishing to conceal her real age, thirtysix, she takes rive years off the hoy's, making herself thirty-oue, and intro duces him in her new surroundings as a child of fourteen. Naturally Cis surprises everybody by his remarkable precocity, and fee'iug just as old as he in reality is, he inveighs his step father into accompanying him on an cxpedi ion to the Hotel dei Priuces for supper. Meanwhi e Col Lukyn, who is an old schoolfellow of Mr Posket, and who had st( od sponsor to Cis in ludi.i, leturns home, and writes accepting an invitation lodine at the Magistrate's home. Mrs Poskct, fearing unpleasent disclosures, i ivcnts a plea for seeking Col. Lukyn at his lodgings, in compauy with her sister. But Col. Lukyn has also gone to the Hotel iles Princes to sup with Capr. Vale, a gentleman who has just previously broken oIT his engagement with Mrs Posket's sister. The ladies follow to the hotel, and Mrs Posket begs an interview with the Colonel. Eventually th- y sup together in a room adjoiuing th it in which the Magistrate and Cis are similarly engaged. Both parties overstay the time for closing the hotel, with the re-ult that an encounter with the po ice takes place. With the exception of Mr Posket and his step-son, who escape I y the window, the whole of the guests are taken in o custo !y. How they subsequently get out of their difficulties, aud bow everything connecte 1 with the family skeleton will be satisfactorily explained, is disclosed in the scenes of the third act. s