THEATRE ROYAL—” ROMEO AND JULIET.”

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1602, 8 April 1879, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL—” ROMEO AND JULIET.”

There was a good house last night to witness '“Romeo and Jn iet,” the chief attraction being the appearance of Miss Helen Ashton in the 'character i>i Juliet. The various characters ■sustained by this lady since the commencement of Mr Darrell’s season have shown that she is the possessor of taste, refinement, and intelligence, which, added to youth andlconsiderable personal attractions, have made her a favorite with the frequenters of the theatre. Her performance of Juliet last night, however, showed that she is gifted with a larger amount of tragic ability than her previous assumptions gave promise of. Her rendering of the part, especially in the balcony scene, was replete with tenderness, and later on she displayed dramatic power of a high order, which only needs the discipline of experience, practice, and study, to place her in an enviable rank of her profession. A little over demonstrative a pardonable error in a young artiste her acting in what is known as the “ potion ” scene was full of tragic power, and she was deservedly applauded by the audience. There was no falling off in the subsequent scene■, and on the termination of the play she received a genuine call before the curtain. Mr H. H. Vincent’s performance of Romeo was thoroughly up to his usual standard of excellence. The love scenes were played with manly fervour, and n those where the deeper and more stormy passions of the soul were stirred, his acting was distinguished by dramatic intensity, tempered hy judgment and taste. Although so early disposed of in the piece, the brilliant chara ter of Mercutio, in the bauds of Mr Creswick, stood prominently forward as a most masterly performance The speech commencing with, “Oh then, I pee, Queen Mab hath been with you,” was so admirably delivered that two or three of the best po nts in it were nearly lost by the injudicious enthusiasm of the audience, which prompted them to break in with applause before its termination. Great as are Mr Ores wick’s powers as a tragedian, it is to be hoped that he will give the public of Christchurch an opportunity of seeing him in such a character as Benedick before he leaves Christchurch, and if he does it may be safely predicted be will furnish a treat of no ordinary character. Mr Charles Harford carried away, it is to be presumed by his Shakaporian devotion, added to his part of Friar Laurence, a considerable quantity of the original text not usually spoken. This in itself was not a fault, had Mr Burford’s enthusiasm been curbed with his usual judgment. Unfortunately the temptation to declaim at the pitch of his naturally powerful organ was too strong to be resisted, and the result was the plaudits of the gods notwithstanding—he completely spoiled his part. Miss Bessie Vivian cannot be complimented on her performance of the nurse. There is not a line of it that does not require “study,” and which would amply repay the mental effort necessary. At present Miss Vivian’s Nurse is simply a very foolish piping old lady, in antique garments—nothing more Messrs Power, Clinton, aud Sterling "Whyte were each good as Peter, Tybalt and Capulet. and Mr John Howe was a characteristic apothecary. This evening “ The At, ranker ” will be performed, to be followed by the nautical drama of “ Ben Bolt.”