THE THEATRES.

Evening Star, Issue 3263, 5 August 1873, Page 3

THE THEATRES.

I went to the Queen’s only twice last week —the evening “ Much Ado About Nothing” was produced, and the night the amateurs played. On Tuesday I expected a treat, but was doomed to disappointment. With the exception of Mr Hoskins —than whom one could not wish a better Benedict—no one was acquainted with the text ; while Mr Hydes forgot, that for the nonce he was sustaining a delightful character in a delightful comedy. Dogberry, that compound of overflowing humor and misquotations, was representedas a worthy whom one would tumble across in broad burlesque, who revelled in rolling his “ r’s” and shaking his limbs. That same evening the afterpiece was “Bamboozling,” which was represented much after the manner that “Hamlet would be Were the part of the Prince omitted. Miss Anstead allowed the audience to catch a sight of and that was all. Some misunderstanding real or fancied—caused her to bounce off the stage, nor did she return to it, so that the audience were left to exercise their wits in endeavoring to make out the meaning of a good deal of the dumb show that followed. I know the stage has its unpleasantries as well as its pleasantries, but while everyone will enjoy the latter when they occur, there is only room for regret whenever the former are paraded before the public. The amateur night was a success, and yet not a success, by which paradox 1 mean to say that the performance was better than most amateur performances, but the attendance was not so large as it should have been. Many people .—1 am sure about most who were in the pit and stalls—went prepared to see “Stiff waters mn deep” muddled, but they were agreeably surprised. The gentleman who played Mildmay must have astonished himself, while the 'Captain Hawksley and Potter of the night showed such histrionic ability that it is to be hoped that we shall see them oftener. Of the other characters in the first piece, and of those who play eel in the afterpiece, there is no need to say anything, because much was not expected from them, and they—well, they Just succeeded in satisfying what was required. But I was nearly forgetting the assistance rendered by Misses Colville, "Raymond, and Anstead; and it must be admitted that the last mentioned lady looked astonishingly pretty in the afterpiece. 1 should like to be in her secret of rejuvenating oneself. I never thought Dunedin could support two theatres, and while noting that events have shown the wisdom of that opinion, 1 cannot help regretting that Messrs Geddes and Willis have been obliged to give in so soon. They brought down an excellent company, produced and put on well some very good pieces, but they were indifferently patronised. But they struggled on till defections became so numerous that they sawit was hopeless to continue. I believe that, they were sincere in their intention tore-open on Saturday with a new comedy by Gilbert, which has had a very long run borh at Home and in Melbourne, but losing two of the principal members of their company at the last moment, they had to abandon the idea. I have not heard what they and their company intend to do, but wherever they may go they have my best wishes. My Victorian and Hume correspondence is pretty lengthy, but I have not had time to go through it properly. There are a few items worth noting now, and the rest I. will communicate in a’few days. Writing from Adelaide on July 1. Polly Leake (Mrs Roberts) asks me “to be so kind as to thank the members of the Colored Opera Troupe, the members of the Fire Brigade, and the Caledonian Society, for their kindness in assisting in the benefit given to me in my absence from Dunedin, and to assure them it is a kindness I shall never forget ” Mrs Roberts is now playing at Sandhurst Miss Juno took a farewell benefit at Melbourne at the end of the month, and was to proceed to Sydney, thence to Auckland, where she intends to stop a couple of weeks, thence to San Francisco, and ultimately to New York. By the Czaiewitch, at Melbourne, have arrived Mr and Mrs F. M. Bates, American “stars,” who come out under engagement to Mr Coppin for the Royal, and a minstrel troupe, comprising Thos, Campbell, Billy Emer on, Chas. Boyd, Chas. Sutton, M. A. Scott, and G. Rockfellow. Misses Carey and Hattie Shepparde continue the attractions at the Royal, where “ Cyrel’s Success,” a comedy-drama by H. J, Byron, is having a good run. The Rickards’ are in Tasmania, and the Italian Opera doing an immense business in Adelaide, from which place they return to Melbourne at the end of August They will then, in conjunction with the English company and all the talent Mr Lyster can procure in the Victorian metropolis give a grand representation of “ ll Profeta,” in the Town Hall, and afterwards proceed to Sydney, thence to New Zealand. The English company, with the sisters Novello, are still performing in Melbourne ; the “Grand Duchess,” “ Barbe Bleu.” “Daughter of the Regiment,” and the “Lily of Kiilarnoy,” being the more prominent operas produced. Mr Lyster is brinodflg out some prime donne. The first,* 5 Miss Bessie Harrison, has made a favorable impression ; Miss Carrie bimanuel was to come out in “The Rose of Castile” the week after the ■ lhambra left; and a third lady, whose name is yet kept dark, is to follow Miss Emanuel.—Prom Christchurch I learn that Miss Stephenson’s company is doing well at the Royal. They opened in “Lady Audley’s Secret” and “ Ixion,” and the local papers go into raptures over Miss Stephenson’s appearance and acting in the burlesque Mr Fairclough will, it is stated, accept an engagement from Mr Burford.— The hairless horse appears to have been the greatest sensation Christchurch has experienced for some months, if we are to judge by the number of paragraphs Christchurch journalists “do”in its interests. Mr Oat appears to possess in Caoutchouc an invaluable property, inasmuch as shillings (as per advertisement) roll in to the extent of L 75 worth a day, and a ChrLtchurch “horsey” man has recently offered him for his patent coining-mill Ll,so9.—The Carandinis are to leave Wellington on Thursday for Christchurch and Dunedin. Prompter.