The Northern Guardian. — 1893-10-10 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THEATRE ROYAL, WEST  HARTLEPOOL.  "THE KING OF CRIME."  This is a melodrama of an exceptionally fascinating character, and was produced at the above theatre last night for the first time in the Hartlepools. The impression made upon the audience was sufficient to pronounce it one of the most successful of its kind that has yet appeared in this district. The engagement of a skilled actor like Mr Henry Bedford is also a sufficient recommendation. His impersonation of the title role is of a high order of excellence, and more than once last night was lie called before the curtain. He is ably supported, however, by Dottridge and Longden's company, the principal of which were well received by the audience. The piece is divided into four acts, the incidents of which transpire on the Continent, Paris being the main centre of operations —especially in the latter part of the piece. Ronjarre, the "King of Crime," is the head of a gang of thieves, which defies all the efforts ef the.police authorities to break up. Ronjarre, however, is not without a sense of honour and feelings of humanity. He is a terror to the police, but he has a blind wife whom he loves dearer than his own life, and for her sake lie makes strenuous efforts to amend his ways, but his entanglements with crime in its many shapes is too great a barrier, and proves too strong an attraction. The plot is somewhat more complicated than usual, but easy enough to follow. It hinges principally on the robbery and subsequent murder of Gandelu, the miser, the murder being the deed of Ronjarre, who, however, had no intention of killing the miserable wretch when stiffing ' his cries for help. Simon, the miser's spendthrift I son, is taken by Mr C. H. Lengden with conspicuous success. The latter is sworn a member of the thieves' club, but turns traitor, and the encounter between Ronjarre, the chief of the league, awl his traitorous foe forms the most sensational incident in the piece. There is a good sprinkling of the comic element in it, and now and again humour and pathos follow each other in rapid succession. The humorous element is cleverly infused by Mr Frank Hudspeth, as Mick Malony, professor of mesmerism, Mr Fred Monte in the role of Tabarat, landlord of the Golden Pig, Miss Ethel Steele as Clarisse, Tabarat's daughter and Malony's sweetheart, and Miss Dolly Dottridge as old Mother Crochard. The disguises of Ronjarre in his efforts to avoid capture are cleverly One, and it is somewhat amusing when in his simulation of a member of the Austrian police force sent to assist in the capture of himself he detects Simon the traitor in the act of betraying his own gang. Miss Bessie Bedford—who is the daughter, we believe, of Mr Henry Bedford—takes the part of Henrietta, Ronjarre's blind wife, while the rale of Louis Mascarot, the young sailor—in love with Mathilde, the miser's ward—is well sustained by Mr Stephen Adeson, the latter part being equally well taken by Miss Judith Kyrie. We must not omit to mention the excellent effects produced in the last act, which represents the illuminated garden of the Moulin Rouge. Scores of fairy lamps and ehinese lanterns are brought into requisition, the result being that the stage is given the appearance of a fairy palace, and is well worth inspection. The piece should certainly command good houses this week.  "Yea, the idea has caught on." The thrifty are becoming more sud more interested. We offers good thing, and the pubic know it. Call and see for yourselvea ; view the windows for prices, and step inside to see the quality of the goods offered. New patterns—all solourings, together with cheapness and variety; we cannot be sorpassed.—Arrox, Wallpaper Mem:bent and Ilecorator, Croft House, 62, Stockton Street, West Hartlepool.—Adct