THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1384, 23 July 1878, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Miss Florence Colville, after an absence of some months, made her reappearance last night in the famous comedy of “ The School for Scandal.” Of her rendering of the character of Lady Teazle, it is almost superfluous to speak. Christchurch playgoers have had many opportunities of judging of her ability in elegant comedy, and her performance last night had all the winning grace and artistic finish that have made her so great a favorite with all classes who frequent the Theatre.

Mr Hoskins played Charles Surface as he only, at least in the colonies, can play it, and when he leaves the stage the character will depart with him, for there is no actor in New Zealand on' whom his mantle will fall. Shakspeare wrote —“ Each man in his time plays many parts,” and Mr Walter Hill is a living illustration of the fact. It is not too much to say he is the most useful actor in the Theatre, and the management apparently could not get on without him. He is called on to sustain every line of business in his profession, and his good nature is equal to his versatility. Certainly Sir Peter Teazle could scarcely bo considered a suitable role for which to cast him, but, wo presume, there was no one else to fill the gap, and Mr Hill gallantly filled the breach. Some better may be seen but many much worse, and though it lacked some of the essentials of the character, still it was the conscientious performance of a matured actor, free from exaggeration, perfect in the text, and decidedly to the satisfaction of the audience. Mr T. Burton was an over-demonstrative Sir Oliver, by no means realising the idea of the little Nabob, and his costume was absurdly suggestive of Dolly Spanker. There are no just grounds for supposidg that Sheridan intended Sir Oliver to shout his appreciation of his favorite nephew to the audience. Mr Hydes was a finished Crabtree, and ho was well seconded by Mr Stark as Sir Benjamin Backbite; they each contributed to the success of the scandal scenes. Mr J. F. Graham was scarcely sententious enough for Joseph Surface, but in other respects he gave a fair rendering of the part. Miss Tilly Andrews played Mrs Candour with just a little too much spirit. Less anxiety to bo successful, a trifle leas selfconsciousness, more repose combined with mellow raciness will on another occasion enable us to speak more eulogistically of her performance. Miss Mario Wilton sustained the thankless part of Lady Sneerwell fairly well, and Miss Nelly Daley would have rendered Maria more pleasing, at least to the ear, by a more distinct articulation of her words, and less hurry in delivering them. The rest of the characters call for no special mention. The screen-scene was, ns is always the case w'hen done justice to, the scone of the comedy, and Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins had to re appear and make their acknowledgements. The house was well filled in all parts. This evening “ Pygmalion and Galatea ” will be performed.