PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1679, 6 July 1875, Page 2

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

The return of Miss May Howard and the Star Dramatic Company from the Thames was welcomed by acapital house at the theatre last night. As the bills! had announced, the play was Bouci-i cault's "Jezebel," which was placed upon the stage in a very finished nianuer,' and provoked great applause. Miss May Howard played the part of Madame Artigues, the adventuress, to whom the uncomplimentary title of the piece, is inferentially applied, in her usually artistic style. Perhaps a short summary 6i the plot will not be out of place : A low-born, but ambitious, woman, named Carmen Malatesta,*assumes the name and position of a" rich heiress (her mistress, who has died at sea). Under her assumed character, she is married by a French banker, whom she nearly ruins by her passion for play, and whose honor she is on the point of betraying, when her husband discovers her intention, and, in a duel, kills her lover. This delightful, lady then concocts a little poisoning scheme for her lord's benefit, which, however, fails in its accomplishment, although to rid himself of so troublesome a wife he causes himself to be announced as dead. With this conviction Madame Artigues goes to Mexico, her native country, where she hears after a time that her husband is alive and married again. Fired no doubt with the idea of punishing him for his desertion of her, the lady re-appears on the scene, when instead of being able to denounce her husband as a bigamist, she is herself discovered to be one. Mr Aveling as Mr Artigues, acted exceedingly well; he was happy in his tone throughout, and his declamation and behaviour well suited the role of the French gentleman. Miss Clara Stephenson undertook the part of Gretchen, the banker's second wife, and was successful in producing a good impression with her audience. "Mr Collier acted the wild brother of the adventuress, with energy and characteristic recklessness. He also met a good reception. Mr Oily Deering as Captain Brutman, Mr Holloway as Alfred Bavell, and Mr Thornton as M. Cattereau, sustained their parts with credit. The farce, "Two

heads are better thanfone," concluded the performance. " Hunte^ Down "is the piece for to-night. ,