AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3055, 3 December 1872, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

PRINCESS THEATRE. There was a fair house at the Princess Theatre last night, when for the first time “New Men and Old Acres” was produced. The plot is one that peculiarly belongs to the present generation. It includes a selfmade man in Mr Buntcr, represented by Mr Musgrave, who. having made money, seeks to add to his wealth by investing it in an estate, over which he holds a mortgage. The estate has become involved through the extravagance of Mannaduke Vavasour, represented by Mr Booth. There is also a Liverpool merchant (Mr H. N. Douglas) the soul of honor. The whole tenor of the piece is to Shaw the leading features of the different characters f the aqthorr evidently intending them to be representative men. Thus the purse-proud Buntcr is unscrupulous and hypocritical: a plotter and the companion of plotters. His wife and daughter are placed in contrast with Lady Vavasour (Mrs Hill), Lilian Vavasour (Miss Colville), Mrs Buntcr (Miss Herberte), and £anny Buntcr (Miss Willis). Of course the parvenus do not shine by the comparison, Mr Blasenbully, a companion plotter with Mr Buntcr, was represented by Mr Hill. Lillian and Mr Brown are the lovers, and of course after sundry vicissitudes they receive parental consent to their union as the reward of Brown’s integrity, high mindeduess, and intelligence in saving them from ruin through the discovery of minerals on the estate. Miss Colville acted with great power in some of the scenes, while Mrs Hill represented Lady Vavasour with grcitj judgment and refinement of maimer. Miss Herbert®, as Mrs Buntcr. was very amusing ; and Miss Willis, as the sentimental Fanny Buntcr, made a decided hit. Mr Musgrave had a part into which he threw considerable humor, and Messrs Booth, Douglas and Hill gave very correct renderings of tluir parts. The subordinate characters were well represented, and on the whole the piece vent with very few hitches, though, as if unavoidable, there was some little hesitation on two or three occa. jsiops. We consider “New Men and Old Faces’’ lijcely to become a favorite, ft will he repeated this evening, but it is amipupced that it wi)l be the last representation. WASQN C HALL. There was a poor attendance at this place of amusement last evening, yhcu Messrs Glov. v and O’Brien’s troupe performed. In the first piece, “The Bonnie Fishwife,” Miss Kaymund acted and sang well; but the other characters were indifferently tilled, Mr Westropp sang some of his character songs, and was encored ; and the performance concluded with the farce of “Paddy in India.” BAND OF HOPE PIC-NIC. A grand pic-nic had been organised by the joint-committees of the Dunedin, aui Morumgtou Bands of Hope. At half-past nine the children, along with a number cf the 1.0. of Good Templars and Sons of Teuperaucc, mustered in Stuart street, and formed in procession in front of St. Paul’s. A little before ten the] procession, headed by \h«

Fife and Drum Band recently organised by the Band of Hope, started and marched by George street, Hanover street, Great King street, Frederick street, George street, Princes street, Rattray and Maclaggan streets, to bill, where every arrangement had been for the enjoyments and sports usual on such occasions; aud but for the downpour of rain, doubtless, young and old would have enjoyed themselves to the full. As it was things went metrily enough until the rain shed a damper on all. As soon as it was seen that the rain was fairly set in, the Assembly began to disperse, the Morin ngton children returning to their room in Mornington, and the Dunedin youths to town. About 050 to 700 j lined in the procession, and had the weather been favorable there is no doubt but that there would have been over a thousand people ou the ground. When opposite the Cargill fountain the procession halted, and the children joined in singing “Give me a draught from the crystal spring,” and “Try, try, try again.’ The Baud, which appeared in its new uniform, consisting of white jumpers and black trousers and cap?, all faced with blue, considering it was, as we believe, its first appearance, acquitted itself very creditably.