THEATRE ROYAL.—“ HENRY IV.”

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1605, 12 April 1879, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.—“ HENRY IV.”

Mr Creswick’a impersonation of the character of Sir John Falstaff is one of the raciest and at the same time most finished specimens of comedy that has ever been witnessed in Christchurch, Like the late Samuel Phelps, Mr Creswick possesses in an eminent degree tho power of abandoning himself to the broad humor of comedy as well as to stir the heart by the exhibition of the sterner passions that are the characteristics of tragedy. His assumption of Sir John Falstaff on Thursday night was full of power, undisfigured by buffoonery or exaggeration. There was unctuous breadth without coarseness, and while Mr Creswick made the most of all the weaknesses of tho “ gross fat man,” and presented every feature of his bombastic cowardice, his gluttony, and his marvellous effrontery, ho was careful never to overstep the bounds of legitimate comedy, or obtain a laugh by illegitimate means. Whore the whole performance was so well sustained, it

would bo difficult to individualise the be-t points, but. bis justification of “cowardice hi instinct,” and his soliloquy in the last act over the dead body of Hotspur, were amongst the most efi'eefivo of his points. The busitil.sb of taking the dead hero on his back was irresistibly funny, and his comic terror when shamming to bo dead, convulsed the house with laughter. Mr H. 11. Vincent made 'a gallant Hotspur, and gave the One speeches of the part with excellent effect. His appearance was chivalrous, and the fight with Prince Hal was gone through with spirit to the delight of the house. Mr mado_ a conscientious struggle to do justice to the splendid part of Prince Henry, and was far from being unsuccessful. He •Pis perfect in the language, and made up well for the part, looking the gay young prince to the life, but ho wants to bo more thoroughly familiarised with the text before he can throw the abandon into part necessary to make it tell with the audience. Mr Charles Burford played the part of the King very well, and contributed in no small measure to the success of the play, Mr John Howe is deserving of praise for the excellent ihannef wRh which he delivered the famous speech descriptive of (ho gallant Prince of Wales, in his character ot Sir Richard Vernon, The role of Lady Percy was well sustained by Mbs Helen Ashton, This evening “ Macbeth ” will be performed, and, in addition to the attraction of Mr Oreswick in the title role, Mrs George Darrell will sustain her great part of Lady Macbeth,