THEATRE ROYAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3556, 1 December 1882, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

The Opera

"Billee Taylor, or the Reward of

Virtue," was produced for the first time t in Napier at the Theatre Eoyal last evening by the Tambour-Major Opera Company, and, making due allowance for the uninteresting character of the piece, the performance was fairly enjoyable. While the management is certainly entitled to credit for producing in its every detail, with all the very elegant incidental scenery and appointments, an entirely new opera, we feel compelled to admit that Stephens and Soloman's latest work (although it enjoyed the admiration of playgoers both in the English provinces and in America) can never be regarded as a great success by tbose who have just had the pleasure of witnessiDg such a triumph of operatic art as "La Fille dv TambourMajor." " Billee Taylor "is one of tbose pieces that possesses only the smallest degree of merit, the music and incidents, more especially in the first act, being tame, and in the hands of any but a really good company such as Mr Macallum's it would certainly not run a very long season anywhere. Having said thia much, it is only fair to add that the Tambour-Major Company employed to the best advantage a poor composition, and by painstaking acting and numerous happy interpolations they succeeded in

making the extravaganza acceptable. i Very little scope, however, was afforded any of the performers for displaying their abilities either as singers or elocutionists, and the consequence was that each and all seemed to rest under a cloud. The

choruses as a rule were good, but at the

outset there was some little indecision T noticeable. Miss May looked very charming asPhccbe, and sang and acted in her usual style, receiving frequent rounds applause. Her song, "Love in Youth," well deserved an encore. The Arabella of Miss Liddiard was aleo a very creditable performance. This young lady has a good presence and a pleasing voice. Her introduced song, " The One I Love," was a capital effort. Miss Blanche Lewis bad little to do in the character of Susan, but did that little full justice. As Crab, the schoolmaster, Mr Dark was exceedingly happy, and created considerable mirth by his humorous sayings and doings. An interpolated comic song given by him at the commencement of the second act was laughable in the last degree, and was rapturously encored. Mr Drayton's make-up as Sir Mincing Lane was perfect, and he received an encore for his song, "£ s. d.," which was rendered in excellent style. Mr Burt made a poor Captain Flapper. In the character ot Ben Barnacle Mr Sullivan appeared to better advantage

than we have before seen him. Mr

Vernon's portrayal of Billee Taylor was r natural, but the part afforded him very little latitude for displaying his histrionic ability. His eong, " I Thought of Thee," was admirably given, and received due recognition. We should not omit to mention that the Misses Lewis danced a double hornpipe at the beginning of the second act, for which they were re-called. " Billee Taylor" will be repeated to-night for the last time.