THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1896, 22 March 1880, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

The good old Adelphi drama of “ The Pilot,” dtamatised from Cooper's famous novel, was successful in attracting an excellent house on Saturday night. The character of Long Tom Coffin, a good specimen of the representative British seaman, ever ready to succour “lovely females in distress,” and fight single-handed half a dozen of his national foes, was capitally sustained by Mr Hoskins, who fought, danced, and rollicked through the piece, as though he had been playing nothing but British seamen all his life. He played with unflagging zeal, every situation being enthusiastically applauded, as much from the novelty, perhaps, of seeing the veteran comedian as the hero of nautical drama as from any other cause. Mr J. P. Hydes was very funny as the cowardly braggadocious Yankee, Captain Boroughcliffe, and Mr Mack Alexander seconded his efforts as Sergeant Drill. The role of the “Pilot ” was rendered very effective in the hands of Mrßoothman, the scene with Colonel Howard (Mr J. Stark), where ho discloses their relationship, being well worked up, and deservedly applauded, Mr Rede was a gentlemanly Lieut. Barnstaple, delivering the somewhat stilted speeches with which the part abounds with a modesty and absence of rhetorical exaggeration which cannot be too highly commended to the imitation of some of his professional brethren. Miss Lizzie Lawrence sustained the character of the heroine, Hate Plowden, very nicely, indeed, and Miss Herrick made the most of the interesting Cecilia. The new scenery, by Mr Williams, was deservedly admired, especially the marine expanse in the first act, and the open ocean, with its mechanical effects, which terminated the second. The interiors on board ship were much more faithfully represented than is usually the case, and really gave a maritime flavour ta the drama. The final fight and descent of the “ Stars and Stripes ” to make way for the Union Jack, was greeted with vociferous applause, and stamped the production of the piece is a success. The performance concluded with the romantic drama “ Robert Macaire,” in which Mr Boothman as Robert, and Mr J. P. Hydes as Jacques Strop, kept up the interest of the play, and brought the entertainment to a satisfactory termination. The same bill will be repeated to-night