THEATRE ROYAL

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2350, 14 October 1881, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL

Christchurch playgoers are pretty familiar with Sheridan Knowles’ exquisite play of “ The Hunchback,” and it was therefore with some degree of pleasure that one found it included in the repertoire of Miss Pomeroy. As a whole the play was very evenly performed, though here and there some i.ttle exception might be taken to the rendering of parts of it. Miss Pomeroy's Julia, in the first act, was somewhat disappointing. She did not give us that softer picture of the character which the author has drawn in the earlier part of the play. Her rendering of it was somewhat hard, and lacking in the delineation of the young maiden just entering upon life. But if this was so. Miss Pomeroy amply made amends for any shortcomings by her artistic performance throughout the rest of the play. Her acting in the scene where she reproaches her cousin for speaking ill of her aosect lover, and boldly defends him, was such as to deserve the warmest commendation. So also is the great scene of the piece, where Clifford appears before her as the humble secretary, Miss Pomeroy gave ns a most realistic and finished ponrtrayah The scene with Master Walter in the last act was very finely played, the bitter despair and misery into which she is plunged by the approaching marriage being rendered with great fidelity and force. If Miss Pomeroy could soften her acting of the earlier scenes of the piece somewhat, her Julia would then bo entitled to take rank with some of ber brightest successes. She was loudly applauded during the play, and called before the curtain. No better representative of the arch laughterloving Helen could have been found than Miss Grey. She fairly revelled in the part, and especially in the well-known scene with her cousin Modus fairly brought down the house, being recalled twice in the middle of the scene. Mr Hoskins' performance of Master Walter is a dramatic study full of beauty and artistic grace. Certainly we have never had such an exponent of the character on our stage before, and it is questionable if we shall in tbis see bis like again, Mr Flemming made an excellent Sir Thomas Clifford. Ho played the part throughout with a quiet earnestness and dramatic force which made it a great treat. Mr O’Brien was very good indeed as Modus, and Mr Wallace, if he had not been guilty of an unpardonable piece of bad taste at the end of the piece, could fairly claim praise for his Fathom. The other characters were well filled, and the piece as a whole was very successful. To-night and tomorrow will be repeats, viz—“Oymbelioo” and “ Antony and Cleopatra.” On Tuesday it is announced that Mr Herbert Flemming will take his benefit, when “ The Lady of Lyons” will be produced. Apart from the fact that playgoers will be anxious to see Miss Pomeroy as Pauline, Mr Flemming has, by his graceful and talented impersonations, deservedly made himself a great favorita here.