AMUSEMENTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1590, 25 March 1879, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL—MR. CRESWIOK AS “ VIRGINtUS ” Mr C res wick’s choice of the character of Virginias as bis opening part is a moat judicious one. Tho character of the Roman father, as idealised by Sheridan Knowles, is one th it demands exceptional histrionic ability to pourtray, but at the same time presents a grand scope for the display of great acting. The story of the play, as told in the glowing verse of Macaulay, and which furnished Sheridan Knowles with the theme of his finest play, is known to every one, and tho character of Virginius, from the day that Macready first made it one of his special successes. has always been a favorite one with leading tragic actors with a leaning for the poetic drama. The late lamented actor, G. V. Brooke, was, in his day, unequalled in the character, and judged even from tho standpoint of his rare excellence Mr Creswick 10-es but little by comparison. He is essentially a representative actor of what is termed the old school, whose exponents are fast dying out, with no one to replace them. It is the fashion to decy this anh 01, but when it ceases to exist there will also expire many of the grand roles in whi h such acto'B as W. C. Macready, Samuel Phelps, and G. V. Brooke made their fame. Of the school of acting in question there now remains but three great exponents —Barry Sullivan, James Anderson, and William Creswick —and each in turn have won tho genuine admiration of colonial audiences Air Creswick fairly sustained his great reputation last night by the masterly manner in which ho su taiued tho character of Virginias. In the earlier scenes of tho play he played with an easy naturalness and colloquial repose which hardly prep .red for the grand declamatory power he subsequently displayed in the concluding scenes of the tragedy All tho pride and tenderness of tho father, proud of his beautiful and gentle child, was delightfully depicted and the scenes with Dentalus, Idling, and Virginia were a succession of pictures of happy i.omesticity and loving contentment. Once or twice Mr Creswick showed that beneath his quiet earnestness there was a latent reserve of passionate force and energy that only waited the fitting moment to burst forth, it came later on, and by the time the pi y was concluded the audien e, by their vehement plaudits, showed how keenly they had enjoyed the rich intellectual treat that had been plied before them. Mr Creswick first displayed his grand declamatory power in tho scene where ' Lucius seeks him at the camp to reveal tho plot

1 against the honor and liberty of his child. From this point tothecnd of tho act the into sc interest of the scene was most, powerfully sustained, and on the fall of the curtain Mr O h was i V--ored with a call. '! ho fourth and fifth acts afforded the tragedian great scope in the * "Anting eruot mis which pourtrayal or, tne cm*—. ■’ ,v.j agitate the breast of the outraged laimv. t uscene in the Forum, whore Virginias vindicates hi. right to bis own child, was mo*t powerfully acted? 'I he anguish of the grief stricken f-thor was expressed by the mute agony in i is face, even when silent, and the choked utterances and gasping sobs that burst uncontrollably from him found a responsive echo in the breasts of the audience. The splendid exit of Virginias after the sacrifice of his daughter and his denunciation of Appius Claudius brought down a storm of applause. The after scenes of hopeless madness were painfully reali.tic and true to nature. The pathetic wail that accompanied the touching lino, “ I want my child.” was full of pathos, and tie termination to the fine hurst “Justice is immutably,” was a grand effort of elocutionary skill The next great point was in tile delicate defining of t e exquisite passage, “ 1 hear a sound so fine that nothing lives twixt it and sTcnco.” Indeed, from this situation to tho end of the tragedy it was a succession of masterly effects, achieved with rare ability, to tbe'eul mi noting situation where the grief-stricken father, bereft of rca-on, recognises the urn containing the ashes of his daughter, and bnrsts Into a paroxysm of sobs and tears. As the curtain slowly descended, there was not a whisper heard in the house, but as it touched the stage ho spell was broken, and. prolonged cheers again called the great tragedian to receive the ovation of :ho audience. Miss Helen Ashton play (Ithn character of Virginia with feeling and tenderness, although a softer modulation of a rather powe r ful voice would add to it* agree ability Still her rendering of the character was full of delicacy and grace, and contributed materially to the interest of the piece. Mr h. H. Vincent was at his best, as icilius, and by his fervor, teste, and judicious energy, always under control, won the suffrages of all who witnessed the performance. Mr Harford played the unthank fnl part of Appius Claudius with judgment and ability, but the character itself is so detestable, that no amount of good acting can render it acceptable. Mr Sterling Whyte had a magnificent character in the grand old veteran. Dcntatus, hut although he was letter perfect, and took extreme pains with the parr, he somehow fell very far short of what could ne done with it by an actor of even moderate talent There was none of the rugged cynical b'unti ess of the character shown, and the result was dis appointing. The other characters do not call for any special mention, but in justice to all they were perfect in the text appropriately cos.uraed, and did their best more or less to support the principal performers. A new scene, “ a he Forum,” painted by Mr Huntley, added to the effect of the piece. To-night “Virginias” will be repeated. GAIETY THEATRE. Hicks’ Geoigia Minstrels, who, it will he remember.il, made their first appearance some years ago, opened a short sea-on last evening at the Gaiety Theatre to a large audi nee. The programme submitted was a very good one throughout, and the various items received warm appreciation at the hands of the audience In the first part several new had ids were introduced which were very nicely sung, especially “ Those weeping eyes,” by Mr Bowman, “Virginia Rosebud,” by Mr Jackson, and one by Mr Matlock. In the hands ■ f Messrs < rnsoe, banders, and AVilson. the comic element lost none of its effect, a d some of their stories were told with great humor and point The dancing of Messrs Keenan and Mills in the Mind jig was good as also was the sketch which fob owed. Mr Hewitt, though laboring under a disadvantage, plaved a cornet solo ex cllently ; indeed it was one bf the best we 'cave had here since Levy He produces a rich full tone, and has great power of expression in the variations which he gave in the piece selected. He was encored, and responded with “ Yankee Hoo le, ’ which was equally good. Mr Hewitt at once established himself as a favorite, and will, no doubt, ad t yet more to bis success of la-t evening during the season. One of the featur sof t c Georgian entertainment on their last visit was Judge

Crusoe’s absurdly funny orations. Since then he lus added another to his repertoire, the subject being one which has engaged public attention here, namely, Education. Looked at from Judge Crusoe’s point of view, this difficult question appears very easy of solu tion, and the many quotations in what Artemus would call a “ foring tung,” which he so aptly introduced last night, certainly seems to qualify him to speak with authority. Mr Wilson’s song and dance “Josephus Orangeblossom ” was very div. rting, as illustrative of poetry of motion, and the big four introduced a new speciality which drew forth loud plaudits and a demand for a ret etitiou. the farce of “Helen’s Babies” concluded the entertaiment which throughout was very successful, To-nuht the Georgias will again appe r in the same programme, and to-morrow their first change will be made.