THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3579, 12 August 1874, Page 2

THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

The novelty of a play written by a colonist was the chief feature in the entertainment at the Princess Theatre Jsyfc evening. Id is called “The Great World of London,” the author being Mr J. J. Utting, a member of the literary staff of the ‘ ■'•uardian,’ We understand it was first produced iu Auckland, where Mr Utting then redded, and was performed several times there with great success. W.e are not surprised at tb s, for, classing it among the sensational dramas of the day, and comparing ft with them, it possesses considerable merit. Oft several grounds, therefore, we regret that the circle was not better attended. We regret it because there is a tendency to undervalue Colonial efforts, and to imagine we have no creative talent amongst us, and we regret it because of t&e indifference shown towards a management which, in spite oi many discouragement s, has tried strenp.uely to make the stage atiractive. The lower p*rt of the house was, however, crowded, which compensated in some degree for the thinness of the boxes. “ The Great World of London ” is a tale of mixed aristocratic aud lo v life, and shows how, under some circumstances extremes work into each other. The chief characters ape Sir Henry Blessington, a baronet of the old sphpol, Arthur, his son, the hero of the piece, Arundel, his nephew, the villain, Ellen Mortimer,' the heroine, Bob Adams, a University man by drink, Tony Hardcrust, a baker, bent ou marriage and immigration, and Mary Gibson, his pretty sweetheart, servant to Ellen. They were respectively represented iu their order by Messrs Love, Laurence, Keogh, Mrs W, Hill, Messrs Steele. Musgrave,’ and Miss Vivian. We find we have omitted one important character, Jemmy Dawkins, who found an excellent representative in Miss Lilly May. There are several subordinate characters filled by Miss Marion Willis, Miss Martineau, and several gentlemen, who acted their necessary, but less prominent parts, with ability. Arthur and his father differ about marriage: the old gentleman requiring him’to marry Mias Transom, and he and Ellen haying secretl} agreed to marry each other. As the son won’t submit, the father, following old aristocratic precedent, forbids him the use of his house, and being miserable and weak, he falls into the clutches of his cousin Arundel, a gambler and profligate. Arundel having s.ct his mind upon marrying Ellen for the sake of her expected fortune, lays schemes for Arthur’s ruin, and at ‘.remoras induces him to play and lose heavily, £akiug care that Ellen shall know it. Contrary to his expectations, she, with woman’s devotion, seeks to reclaim instead of forsaking him, and to this end uses Miss Transom’s influence to induce the old baronet t» seek bis son. He reaches Cremorne immediately after Arthur has quitted the garden, and encounters Arundel, who, in revenge for past insult, and in furtherance of his plan, after a short struggle throws the old man into the Thames, expecting he would drown. In this he is deceived, for he is saved by Bob and Jemmy Dawkins two' ■“ ravens,” living upon the spoils of dead bodies found in the river. Arundel, supposing Sir Henry murdered, contrives to nx the charge upon Arthur, whp is tried and condemned, but saved by the appearance of his father iu i ourt. Of course cdl u is rewarded for her faith and loVc by union with her heart’s choice, '1 his outline of the plot suggests opportunity for several very striking tableaux, and tjie scenic artist, Mr Williams, has availed himself yt jt to produce scents of more than ordinary 'merit. We know no better training for the eye of a historical painter than these pictures, in which passion is ppurtrayed in the attitude aud features of living models. The scenes themselves are admirable paintings of

th 6 class, Cremorne Gardens, Waterloo Bridge, and the Dark Arches under the Adelphi are particularly worthy of notice. The audience did full justice to their merit by their applause and by calling Mr Williams before the curtain, !t is seldom that a piece goes smoothly on a first representation, but we think the ladies the better students. Every one of them was well up in her part, and dr. ssed appropriately. Mrs W, Hill, Miss Marion Willis, Miss Lilly May, and Miss Bessie Vivian exerted themselves greatly, and gave great effect to their parts. We should have been glad to have seen more attention paid to costume on the part of the men. It is a pity to mar the effect of a good scene by incongruities such as a nobleman and a nobleman’s son appearing in a peasant’s garb. Even in undress their clothes are always stylish. Actors do themselves injustice when they neglect the accessories necessary to the ideal of the character they play. The scenes between Tony Barderust and Mary Gibson were full of humor, which found excellent expression in Mr Musgrave and Miss Vivian. Their dialogue was replete with capital local hits and whimsical conceits concerning English notions of New Zealand life. They kept the audience in excellent humor by their lively by-p!ay. At the close of the play Mr Utting was called before the curtain and greeted with very warm applause. The “Great World of London” will be repeated to-night, and played again on Friday for the benefit of the author. The drama was followed by M. Beda—a one-legged dancer and trapeziat, who appeared for the first time last evening—executing some very difficult feats on the flying trapege. He went through his performance with apparent ease and confidence, and was loudly applauded. Seme excellent dancing by Miss Vivian and Mr Hooper, a ballad pleasingly sung by Miss Martineau, and a “sand jig” by M. Beda, brought the entertainment to a satisfactory conclusion.