THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 2, Issue 53, 17 December 1857, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

A large audience assembled on Thursday last to welcome our new Company of Comedians. The pieces were Fraud and its Victims and A Prince for an Ilonr. All passed off in creditable manner. After listening with pleasure to the thousand-times heard National Anthem we felt more than ever anxious that those who so well sustained their parts in it should give us a taste of their dramatic quality. Fraud ami its Victims furnished a fair opportunity for the display of powers not caviare to the multitude. We were much pleased. Bellair as Tom Trumper alias Sheffield Tom, a vender of knives with six blades, and ten small children, made a decided hit. He became a favorite atonce. Hill, the newlo v-comedian, was equally successful. His Gabriel Pummypot, an alfresco artist, who explains the relation between azure pigs and blue boars, was fresh as his own paint pot. It is no exaggeration to say that he kept Boxes, Pit, and Parquette “ on a roar.” Varley did not embody our idea of a millionaire. Nor could we screw up conception so high us to conceive him the Mr. Warrington of this Drama. But fraudulent bankers, able to keep pious appearances while made of no other money than their neighbours, are hard to hit off. Mr. B. N. Jones was suffering from cold. He nevertheless contrived to douole the Seabornes (father and son) with considerable effect. It would be unjust to omit mention (however brief) of the female members of this compact and really good working company. Colonial managers usually find actresses what so many British statesmen found Ireland—their difficulty. But the new company is strong in that sex quite falsely called the weaker. In Mrs. Bellair the management has an able “ partner.’’ Her performance of Mrs. Seaborne was discriminating and pathetic. Mis Annie Batwell seemed a little nervous, but, nevertheless, made a lively Patty Roselips. Miss Emma Janies appeared to considerable advantage as “ proud, wayward, and heartless” Isabelle. Her figure, though petite for any “acknowledged heroine of domestic tragedy,” is elegant and well proportioned. Her face, too, is expressively intellectual. Last, but by no means le ;st among the ladies, is Mt s. W. Hill who looked and acted charmingly Her Marian, in Fraud and its Victims, was good ; but we liked better herßepio in A Prince for an Hour. The half rogueish, free, independe.it, rather jaunty-style in which she trod the stage and delivered the text was capital. So was the Babiolo of Mr W. Hill who, like his “ better half,” improves upon acquaintance. Altogether this first performance of our New Company deserves high praise. If the audience went not laughing to their beds—why, as Sam Slick says, it’s a pity. The Stranger and Moustache Movement went well on Saturday; as did All that Glitters is not Gold, and The Captain ’s nob A-Miss on Monday. Rob Roy, announced for Thursday, will secure a good house ; it will also put to severe test the capabilities of our new company.