ROMEO AND JOLIET AT THE PRINCESS’S.

Evening Star, Issue 3089, 13 January 1873, Page 3

ROMEO AND JOLIET AT THE PRINCESS’S.

Shakspeare’s matchless tragedy of “Romeo and Juliet ” was performed at this theatre on Saturday night to a more than ordinarily well filled house, the stalls and pit being crowded, and the dress circle well patronised. The management are to be highly congratulated upon the manner in which they have placed this piece upon the stage. Their praiseworthy efforts to secure the services of talented and efficient actors and actresses seem to bo appreciated by the theatre-going public of Dunedin, and the opportunities now afforded to witness the plays of England’s great dramatist will no doubt be largely taken advantage of. The house on Saturday night heartily applauded the able efforts of the 'principals, and twice during the evening had Mrs Hill and Mr Douglas to respond toacall before the curtain There isavevygeneral belief prevalent now-a-days that the legitimate drama cannot hold its own with the sensational plays and burlesques so much at present in vogue, but it will be found that the public are not slow to recognise, appreciate, and support merit, when associated with the plays of Shakspcaie, and that the productions of his genius are as popular as ever. Of course every one is familiar with the play of Romeo and Juliet, the scene of which is laid in fair Verona, and the principal characters a pair of star-crossed lovers, “ whose misadventured piteous overthrows did, with their death, bury their parents’ strife.” Mrs Walter Hill, as the fair and lovely Juliet, looked remarkably well, and acted throughout with great spirit and feeling, while Mr Douglas, as Romeo, achieved a great success by his admirable and artistic portrayal of the devoted and ardent lover. Mrs Hill is an accomplished and clever actress. She has evidently acquired the somewhat rare attainment of being able by art to conceal art, and she so thoroughly identifies herself with the character she personates as to seem to be entirely unconscious of the presence of an audience. She evidently understands that the true secret of doing everything well is to cease to think of the manner of (Ling it. Her acting, on the whole, was refreshingly natural, and free from all stiffness and affectation. These remarks will ap ly, as well, to Mr Douglas’s delineation of the hero of the piece, although at times he showed a disposition to play to a particular rart of the house, which somewhat marred the effect of his otherwise excellent acting. He is a most promising actor, and will, with, study and application, attain to eminence in his profession. He has a pleasing voice, considerable elocutionary powers, and a graceful and manly figure. He dressed the character with great taste, looking every inch a gentleman capable of telling successfully a whispering tale in a fair Indy s ear. The famous balcony scene was remarkably well performed, and the new scenery by Mr Willis for this particular part is quite an artistic gem in its way, and the tout ensemble was so charming that, by a trifling effort of the imagination, one might almost fancy he saw before him one of the fabled bowers of bliss. In the more tragic scenes at the close of the play, Mrs Hill and Mr Douglas displayed considerable dramatic power, although, to our mind, the death scene was a trifle too prolonged. Mr Hoskins does not take kindly to Shakespearian characters. His rendering of Mcrcutio is wanting in that natural, sparkling, and spontaneous vivacity, and gentlemanly, rollicking good humor, as-o dated with our ideas of this character. In the first act, his bantering, rallying speech as to the freaks performed by the fairies’ midwife, Queen Mab, was not naturally delivered, but in the second act he appeared to much greater advantage, The fiery Tybalt was well represented by Mr Collier; and Mr Hill made the most of what little he had to do as Peter, his very excellent byplay calling for special mention. Mr Muagrave, as Capulet, was somewhat tame. There was a want of life and animation about bis acting, and an absence of that calm and dignified bearing one would expect to find exhibited by the head of the proud house of Capulet. Mr Booth, as Benvolio, and Kir Inglis, as Paris, played their parts carefully, and the minor characters were, on the whole, creditably filled. Miss Lizzie Bushe, as Lady Capulet, acted with dignity and grace ; and Miss (Jassv Matthews, as the confidential anil privileged nurse of the Capulet family, dressed and looked the character to perfection, and by her excellent acting contributed to the success of the performance. Those who appreciate and enjoy really good acting should pay a visit to the Princess’s and see “Romeo and Juliet” on its repetition on Tuesday.—“ Formosa” is announced for Wednesday night.