LEAVIS' DRAMATIC AND COMEDY COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4180, 13 December 1884, Page 2

LEAVIS' DRAMATIC AND COMEDY COMPANY.

The Theatre Royal should be crowded on Monday evening to welcome the first appearance in Najiier of Mrs. G. B. W. Lewis, , th c popular manageress of the Bijou Theatre. V Melbourne. By name Mrs. Lewis is well known to all colonial play-goers, and not a few of them in this town havo pleasant recollections of seeing her iv the city Arhore she is such a favorite, and where sho manages one of the prettiest little temples which the drama has in Australia. Sho is in her New Zealand tour supported by an excellent company, and tho opening pieco " Jane Shore," is said to be well suited to show their abilities to advantage. It was originally produced in London some eight years ago, and held possession of tho boards of the Princess Theatre during a run of six months and subsequently it was revived Avith even greater success. The manuscript was sent to Mrs. Lcati's by the author, Mr! AY. E. "Wills, and of her impersonation of the ill-fated heroine, the Australian and southern papers speak in the most laudatory terms, the Argus comparing it to Ristori's best efforts, and a Sydney paper Avrites :— " The excitement during this last scene Avas intense. The houso was quite dumb Avith sympathy and horror. It Avas the triumph of art. Everyone must have left the Theatro with hearts filled with human charity and compassion for the erring and unfortunate. Mrs. LeAvis, as Jane Shore, preached to all a living sermon, which they will not easily -4 forget."

Mr J. AY. Dodge, the business manager, arrived here on Saturday last Avith tho scenery and has completed the preparations for iheir opening. The costumes are acknowledged to be accurate in design and rich in taste, one of the principal features is the great shoav scene and rescue of Jano Shore. Arrangements also have' been mado by Avhich a special train on Tuesday 16th' Thursday 18th, and Friday I9fch December 1 avill leave Hastmgs for Napier at 6.45 p m as on Saturdays, leaving Napier for Hastings fifteen minutes after the eloso of tho porformanco at the Theatre.