GAIETY THEATRE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1727, 2 September 1879, Page 3

GAIETY THEATRE.

Mr George Chaplin made his reappearance in Christchurch last night, at the Gaiety Theatre, in the character of Hamlet. Mr Chaplin’s scholarly impersonation of the Prince of Denmark is well known and appreciated, and his performance last night was worthy of the reputation he achieved on his last visit here. His acting is distinguished by a refined intelligence satisfy, ing to the judgment of a fastidious critic. When passion is necessary he knows how to be impassioned without extravagance or exaggeration, and in pathetic and tender pas. sages his acting is dignified as well as sympathetic. Mr Chaplin was warmly welcomed back to the Christchurch stage, and was frequently called before the curtain. Miss Rose Osborne is a pleasing actress, with a highly prepossessing face and person, a musical voice, and a refined and cultivated style. Her rendering of Ophelia was highly poetical, and in the mad scene in the fourth act she succeeded, by her rendering of the snatches of song, in moving the audience to genuine admiration. Of the new comers, Mr Bland Holt is the most prominent. This gentleman is a genuine artist, and his performance of the Gravedigger was one of the finest specimens of Shaksperian character acting ever seen in Christchurch, Mr L, McGowan was a good Polonius, and Mr O. Burford, in his old double of the Ghost and Claudius, contributed largely to the success of the piece. Mrs L. McGowan rendered the part of the Queen with dignity. Of the remainder of the cast the less said the better. They probably did their best, but whatever

I Blent they possess evidently does not run in a Shaksperian groove. This evening “ Richelieu” will be produced, with Mr George Chaplin as the Cardinal, and Miss Rose Osborne as Julie de Mortemar.