THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1361, 25 June 1878, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

The once popular burlesque of “ Lallah Rookh,” founded on Moore’s charming poem, was produced at the Theatre Royal last night. As considerable preparation had been made to place the burlesque upon the stage in a thoroughly efficient manner, public expectation was excited in an unusual degree, and the result was a large house, the dress circle in particular being well patronised. With regard to the scenic accessories nothing could be desired, Mr Williams having lavished all the resources of his art to produce the extravaganza effectively. The palace of Aurungzebe was rich in oriental gorgeousness, and gave promise of what was to follow. The great feature in this department was a panorama of eight views, commencing, as far as we could gather, in the absence of a competent cicerone, with the passage of the Dardanelles, followed by a pretty landscape with a Turkish Kiosque in the middle distance ; this was followed by Constantinople and the Q-olden Horn, then Pera, which was succeeded by the Bosphorus. The next scene was not announced but gave place to a view of Besika Bay with the British fleet drawn up in double line. All these views were excellently painted, the effect being further enhanced by the use of the lime light. Well deserved applause, culminating in a call for Mr Williams, followed the display of each scene. A Turkish landscape, which followed the panorama, was another artistic triumph, and the home of the Peris, which formed the last scene of the burlesque, fairly woke up the audience to enthusiasm. With one or two exceptions commendation must here cease. Miss Tilly Andrews, as Feramorz, was, as usual, perfect in her part, dressed with taste, and her sprightly acting, with the introduction of songs, contributed as far as laid in her power to make the burlesque a success. Unfortunately her efforts were neutralised by the carelessness of some of the other performers. Prominently in this respect we must single out Mr J. P. Hydes, who neither dressed the part, knew the language, nor in any sense realised even an average conception of the character of Khorsanbad. Mr Hill was not happy as Fadladeen, and the utmost efforts of Mr Stark failed to impart any interest to the Emperor Aurungzebe. Mr Wilkinson, who appeared as Hated, introduced a grotesque dance, which was encored, but conjecture is baffled to account for his singular notion of the costume of the Fireworshippers. _ His fellow Q-hebers were equally eccentric in this respect, their dresses being evidently assumed to exhibit the force of contrast. They were successful. The remainder of the characters call for no special mention. It is not a pleasant task to censure, but we cannot retrain from expressing our regret that where one department (the scenic) was so well represented, it was not backed up by corresponding taste and tact on the part of the others. The effect of the panorama was not enhanced by the unrealistic grouping of the characters in two lines up the stage when they are supposed to be journeying, the moving panorama conveying to the audience the scenes through which the characters are supposed to be passing at the time. It would be as well too if Miss Andrews were to commit to memory the introduced lines by way of lecture; its effect was materially lessened by her reading it from a manuscript. Probably this was not the fault of the actress, but it is on the matter of minor details that much of the success of a piece hinges. With another good rehearsal many of these shortcomings may be obviated, bqt the management must surely see that such gross carelessness as was exhibited last night cannot but seriously jeopardise the success of any piece, be it ever so gorgeously mounted. The burlesque was preceded by the favorite comedietta “ Cool as a Cucumber,” in which Mr Hoskins sustained his favorite character of Plumper. To-night Lallah Rookh will be repeated.