MASONIC HALL.—BENEFIT OF MRS W. H. NEWTON.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 3, 21 January 1867, Page 18

MASONIC HALL.—BENEFIT OF MRS W. H. NEWTON.

We beg to call the attention of the public to Mvs 'W; 'H. j Newton’s > benefit, in.the Masonic HaU, on the evening,of Wednesday next. The play selected for the pccaBion is Tom Taylor’s great French drama, “ Plot and Passion,- or the Gambler,, the Spy, and the Penitent.” The story of the play hinges upon the power of the-great French Minister of. Police, Fouche, during the regime of the first French Empire; and the characters depicted by the dramatist are finely and historically rendered. The plot is elaborate, yet simple—faithfully ponrtraying the State and its. chief supporters. Fouche, Desmartes, and De Neuville are framed with i exquisite .skill, and Madame de Fontanges is, without doubt, a perfect picture of Fouche’s Cohort Citoyenue ; and, with the well-known his troinic talent of the principal performers, the piece cannot fail proving ;a success. The scenery of the opening night (which, through the courtesy of the talented stage manager, Mr W. H. Newton, we have seen) is entirely .ne,w, and. relab orate;, and the new drop scene—Largo del Cast 6,” 19 without doubt a gem, and' reflects the highest credit, upon Mr TV S., Kemp’s skill as an artist of the first'ord'er. ’ - In con elusion,‘we trust -that the: company will meet.with every encouragement in their endeavours to furnish ’the good fdlk of Napier with ' a rational and select evening's .amusement. The old; .complaint 6f distance can now no longer be urged ; and we hope’ that the new' Theatre; will -receive a fair share of public, support.