THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 4221, 6 September 1876, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.

At this houso last evening «• Nell, the Californian Uiamond was introduced to a Dunodin audience, a, crowded house assembling to witness the little lady s dobut. The piece chosen for the occasiouwaß j a drama entitled "No Name." written specially for Nell and consequently affording every scope for the uisplay ofher varied accomplishments. Of the plot of this extraordinary specimen of dramatic writing little need be said, except that it ia very complicated but full of sensational incidents its improbable nature may be better understood when we say that Nell appears in four different ciiaract rs, three of which are disguises. First we nnd her m the part of Elinor Ray, a young s>irl with a mystery as to her parentage ; then as Bubb Isslr, Sv pr v?-°7 0 ?? , Bt T? et b °y nexfc " WUhelmina iroenlich Dunkelheimor, a hoydenish Duteli girl with a taste for dancing breakdowns; and then as Sir Charles Washington, an aristocratic young Englishman. All of these are dressed well, and played with extreme cleverness and vivacity —in fact Nell is all life and motion every moment that she is on the stage. In the different scenes she introduces several songs, dances, and solos on the guitar and banjo. Although her voice is not very powerful, the mingled sweetnesß and archress with which some ajswcre given—notably the familiar "Who's dat Jmockin —wore irresistible, and double and treble encores were lost evt ning loudly demanded and acceded to. In the more pathetic passages of the drama Nell showed that she possessed not only comic powers of a high order, but is also capable of niling parts of an entirely apposite nature. The principal drawbacks to last evening's entire success were the absurd dramatic construction of " No x\ame; the bad taste displayed by Nell, when representing a ; oor, frien lless outcast, wearing exceedingly rich dresses and loading herself with jewellery; and an occasional unpleasant shrillness in her voice. These, however, are all fault* that can be remedied, and even as it is there is no denylng the fact that Nell will be a great favorite with the public, and wi'l draw lull nouses during her engagemeno here. An idea had gained ground that we were to be treated to an exhibition of vul*anty .? n , tne newcomer's part, but last eveniujr we failed to discover anything of the sort « y ?? d 7 hafc ,s demanded by the exigencies of the drama. Of the subordinate characters l=«nL,W e J, Garnet, a pedantic foot rati, was filled by Mr George Giddens, another to DuLedin. This gentleman made on the whole a very favorable impression, and together with Nell received several calls before the curtain. "No tfame gives us two gentleman villains—Frederic Hawker (Mr Clinton; and the Earl of Dorqnet (Mr ateeie;. Both those were suitably represented, and • ** oo P er deserves commendation for his rendering of the part of Arthur Carlton, the hero of the pieoe. Mrs Walter Hill as Mavy Bannington has not a very prominent part, but it is sca'cefy necessary to say that it was pbyed carefully and naturally. a a* as the confl rmed or imaginary invalid, Vjuentui Pibbold, would hare given more satisfac miS a , kt!Dl be *ter guard over his tongue. Mr Ward made a sufficiently murderous-lookine character ofthe Spaniard Jos6 Jarez, and thereinainder call for no special comment. The scenery is appropriate throughout, and the orchestra has been considerably strengthened; but we are not ablet) compliment its members on the time they !?P jli night - . The same Programme will be repeated this evening.