AMUSEMENTS.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 725, 16 October 1876, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

LYDIA HOWARDS BURLESQUE TROUPE. There was a fair house at the Music Hall on Saturday evening. The programme opened with a concert, in which Miss Howarde, Miss Nye, Mdlle Navaro, and Messrs Carey and Poore took part. Miss Howarde sang “ Lo, here the gentle lark,” and was encored, and the other ladies were successful in the various selections rendered by them. Mr Carey also deserves credit for the way in which he rendered “ The Bellringer.” Mr Poore’s contributions comprised a flute and whistle solo, both of which were nicely played. Part of the burlesque of “FraDiavolo” concluded the performance. To-night Mr and Mrs George Darrell, and the members of Mr Shepperson’s company, make their appearance in Mr Darrell’s new play, “ Transported for Life.” This piece has been exceedingly successful elsewhere, and as every effort is being made to put it on the stage here as complete as possible, no doubt it will be equally a hit with Christchurch playgoers. The plot shortly stated, is as follows :—The period is fixed at 1851, the scene Sydney, New South Wales. The story, shortly told, discovers three medical students, two of whom are in love with the same girl ; the rejected one, a villain at heart, fixes the crime of murder on his successful rival, who is accordingly, on circumstantial evidence, transported for life. This necessarily takes place in England, and the opening of the drama finds all the principal characters id Australia, after the lapse of seven years. The hero is now at liberty on ticket of leave, and the heroine, true to her love, has been faithful to him through his long term of incarceration. The action of the first act takes place in Sydney; of the second on the Ophir diggings, in the Bathurst district ; of the third, at sea ; and the last, in England. Prompted partly by revenge, partly by fears for his own safety, the unsuccessful wooer follows the fortunes of the lovers with unrelenting hatred. Aided by bis accomplice twice does he unsuccessfully attempt their lives, and in either case he is frustrated. Brought to bay at last he is betrayed by his accomplice and denounced as the real murderer, for whose crime the hero of the play has been unjustly sentenced. Through many trials, tribulations, and dangers the lovers are borne to happiness and peace. The sensations are three in number—the first taking place on the diggings, where is introduced the “ sensation of the shaft ” a novel idea, never b-fore attempted on any stage. In the third act the stage is occupied with the interior and exterior of an old fashioned frigate ship —the cabins, deck and horizon being shown. Here occurs the second sensation. The concluding scene of the act discovers the open sea at night, the lovers being cast away upon it. After a variety of adventure they are finally rescued by the steamship Surprise. It will thus be seen that there is ample scope given, alike for the display of talent by the characters, and also for scenic and mechanical effects. Messrs Briggs and Mason have been for the past few days engaged upon the latter, and the result of their labours will be seen this evening. The principal parts will be taken by Mrs George Darrell, Mdlle Navaro, Miss Nye, and Messrs Darrell, Hill, Stoneham, Cary, &c.