Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-05
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So excellent was the presentation or
"Raffles" by The Players" at the
Biiou theater last night, that the men,
bers of the audience almost forgave
the performers for the delay in open.
ing the show-the curtain rising
promptly at S:59-also for the lengthy
wait of about a half hour between
acts two and three; fortunately the
sole change of scenery for the produc-
ton.
Action is the keynote of the entire
four acts, which tell the story of the
amateur craftsman who puts his brain
against Scotland Yard and steals for
the mere pleasure of stealing-always
returning to his victim the spells of
the chase" r.
Ffnding>hims pitted against Cap
tain Bedford, detective who follows
his end OF the game for the love of
the sport, Raffles takes the greatest
delight in appropriating the priceless
Amersteth diamonds and entering a
hare and hounds" contest with the
thief.taker who scorns to associate
with England's great police organiza,
ton. Scotland Yard. H. Il
Throughout the entire four acts the
chase is swift and strong, with Raffles
first In the lead, then overtaken and
Bedford holding the trump card. Love,
jealousy and hate play conspicuous
parts in the movement of the drama
and each and every member of the
company handles his or her part In the
most satisfactory manner The play
ers are in perfect control of their lines
Throughout the entire play and the &c
ton, while the actors are on the stage,
is at all times rapid. II H. one Of the
best things The Players have done
since their advent IN Honolulu. Z !
George Webb in the title part is al
his best, while Florence Oakley, as
the girl with whom Raffles falls In
love, is exceptionally clever. The
love scenes between Webb and Miss
Oakley are exceedingly we'll handled.
The story Of the play opens with
Raffles and Bedford meeting at the
home of Lord Amersteth where they
are guests, together with selected
who has loved Raffles In the past
That love is renewed when they meet
at Winchester Abbey and, irrespective
of the fact that she Is the wife of an.
other, Mrs. Vidal yearns for Raffles
love, which has been lost to Gwendolin
Conron.
Being cognizant of Raffles identity
as the amateur craftsman" about
whom all London is raving, Mrs. Vida
determines upon his undoing and
throwing in her lot with Captain Bed
ford agrees to Identify him in case he
is arrested -
Raffles realizes that there are toe
many against him and that the chase
Is almost ended. He Is preparing to
leave England and return to his native
'Never-never" land of Australia, when
|GwendoIin appears upon the scene to
warn him Of his impending capture by
Bedford, She, however, arrives toe
late. Raffles makes a full confession
to her and refuses to ruin her life
which he believes would be the re
suit of an alliance with him.
The trap is ready to spring on, the
amateur cracksmen and Bedford is
congratulating himself Gpen his bril-
liant capture when-weH, the ,unex.
pected happens, but that is too good
to tell. It Is worth a trip to the Biiou
to get the action in the closing scene.
There is a great surprise sprung at
the last moment that would be spoiled
in the telling.
Without mentioning the names of
the different characters in the play
they appear. above in the cast-it
might be well again to say that there
is not one of the company who Il. not
worthy Of the highest praise for their
work in Raffles.
Mr.. Webb Makes Curtain Talk.
Between the third and final act Mr..
Webb made a clever little curtain talk
in which he absolved the entire COM
pany from any responsibility for the
lateness of the hour at which the in.
1t1al curtain rises and for the tire
some delays between acts necessitat-
ing changes of scenery.
Local talent is entirely to blame, de-
clared Mr. Webb.
Me, Webb may be correct in this as
sertion but it would appear to an out.
slider that it is Mr. Webb's business to
see to it that the local help performs
its work Oh time. 1t is asserted that
the carpenter who erected the stair
case used in two acts of Raffles-a
local man-did not have the job com.
pleted until late yesterday, notwith.
standing the fact that he had had
four days in which to do the work. II
is also stated that Mr.. Webb carries
with him a carpenter. The deduction