PRINCESS THEATRE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2525, 21 March 1871, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE.

To be a succsssful dramatist of the sensational school, in iha present day, demands neither the power of delineating vice or virtue, nor the art of developing character ; it depends little upon brains, and less upon the command of invention ; the qualification is a facility for dishing up the brains of othirj without any thought of continuity, and an intuitive knack of hitting situations, relying for etfect upon the art of the actor and the assistance of the scene painter ; indeed, should a thought not absolutely threat hare pop out, it is in the words of Sheridan, like a lump of marl on a barren moor, encumbering what it is not in its power to fertilize.” To this school belongs the ** Lancashire Lass ” (by the way there is no possible reason for the title.) We cannot speak of the plot, for there is none, but jumbled together are five acts without a thread of connection, and as far as can be teen, the last act might have been played first, and the first last. The performance was nevertheless a thorough success, aud the pi ice will have a long run, due simply to the actors, and to the scene painter —place au.cdam.es. Miss Carry George, in the first act, as Until Kirby, a thoughtless impulsive girl, played with cxcelleut taste; Mrs Edouin, as Kate Garston, was effective; and Miss Lizzie Budie, as Fanny Domville, did all that was required of her. But the main feature of the drama is “ a party by tl;e name of Johnson,” a character that will become identical with Mr B W. Lawrence; in the drunken scene, certainly the best impersonation we have seen in Dunedin. Mr Collier (Robert Redburn), the villain of the peace, or to speak by the card, the greatest villain of the piece, played with judgment, without “ o’erdoi ig Termagant.” The other characters were filled by the comp my with commendable prop iety. We regret to hear that Mr Musgrave who was cast for Mr Domville, was hindered by illness from playing his part, which was taken upon short notice by Mr E. P. Whitworth, whose re appearance upon the stage was greeted by the house. We must not omit to state that: nearly all the scenery is new, and reflects groat credit on the artist, Mr 'Willis; the drawing-room scene in the second act, being particularly deserving of remark. The play will be repeated this evening (under patronage of his Excellency the Governor), and every evening until further notice.