THE THEATRES.

Evening Star, Issue 3244, 14 July 1873, Page 2

THE THEATRES.

THE qUEEtf’lsl A brilliant and successful season may be expected at the Queen’s, if the two gratifying features of Saturday evening’s performance—capital acting and a full attendance —are to be the rule and not the exception, as they have been for some time past. The re-appearance of many and old-deserved favorites was the attraction ; and the highest compliment that could be paid them was a full house below, with a largely-attended dress circle on a Saturday night:' Tho reception they received was most cordial particularly when" Miss Colville made her appearance —and one or two of the old company, notably Miss Anstead, came in for a round, the audience appearing to be in a very pleasurable and satisfied mood. That it should have been so was not to be wondered at, for the performance was one of the best that has been witnessed here for a long time, The principals

did their “level best,* 1 atid the subordinates tried to emulate them. Indeed » new spirit, thanks to Mr Hoskins’s presence amongst them, has come over some of the old company; and even they played with a degree •£ care which we have never been able to notice-on their parts before. Let us hope they will not relapse into their old ways. The pieces played were “The Love Chase” and “ Woodcock’s Little Game.” The Constance of Miss Colville and the Wildrake of Mr Hoskins are by this time so well known to playgoers that it would be supererogation to say one word in praise of either impersonation beyond this r that on uo occasion have they been more perfectly or delightfully sustained than on Saturday night. Twice were Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins called before the curtain, and at the conclusion of the comedy it fairly rained applause. “Woodcock’s Little Game” is one of those pieces in which Mr Hoskins revels ; and he was ably supported by Misses Colville and Anstead, and Messrs South, Booth, and Nowton. Miss Anstead’s Mrs Carver is a study, her make up being remarkably good. During the early part of the evening, the intervals between the acts were made very short; and we trust the management will continue the practice, which, we feel sure, will find favor with their patrons. Perhaps they would study the comfort of visitors to the circle by laying down some matting along the passages leading to the boxes, as the noise made by persona going to the latter while the performance is proceeding is very great, and distracts attention from the stage to the incomer. To-night Mr J. B. Steele will appear as Narcisse. THE PRINCESS. “Formosa” was repeated on Saturday even* ing to a fair audience. Mrs Hill as the heroine, Mr Musgrave as Sam Boker, Mr Macgowan as Bob Sanders, Mr Collier as Tom Borroughs, and Mr Douglas as Lord Eden, were severally good; but the Dr Doremus of the piece displayed the fault we had occasion to notice on Saturday. To-night, an adaptation of Wilkie Collins’s “ Man and Wife” (by Mr Macgowan) will be produced. Report speaks well of Mr Macgowan’s work,{and the management have determined to present it in a very complete manner.