THE COMEDY AND BURLESQUE COMPANY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1410, 8 April 1881, Page 2

THE COMEDY AND BURLESQUE COMPANY.

This favorite combination made their reappearance at the Theatre Royal last night, and were welcomed by a wellfilled house. The piece selected for opening was the world-famed drama, “The Shaughraun,” by Dion Boucittault-, and) considering the limited appliances of the stage, was produced in a most creditable manner; the scenery was new, the Revolving Tower being a piece of mechanism quite new to Kumara, and reflecting great credit on Messrs Shiels and Hall. Of the acting, only one thing can be said —it bears out our formerly-expressed opinion of this company that they are certainly the most useful all-round company we have seen on the Coast. The principal character Conn (the “ Ne’er-do-well) was pourtrayed excellently by Mr Rede. The Corry Kinchela of Mr Herbert was a really good performance, dialect especially being good. Mr R. Love was a manly, gentle-manly Eng. lish Officer, his love scenes with Claire Ffolliott being natural and easy. Mr Wilkinson was rather out of his element as Harvey Duff: but, true artistelike, did his best with an unthankful part, and succeeded in evoking symptoms of disapprobation—the best com pliment an actor playing a villainous part can receive. Mr Mack Alexander played the part of the exiled Eenian, Robert Ffolliott, in a careful manner, his declamatory patriotic speeches being well received. Mr Warren was effective as Father Doolan; Mr Shiels amusing as Mrs O’Killy; Mr Wachsmuth useful and painstaking in the minor parts of Sullivan and Sergeant Tones. We now come to the ladies. First, we must mention Mrs Rede—or rather, in parlance professional, Miss Lizzie Lawrence: her pourtrayal of Claire Ffolliott was a genuine treat—natural, graceful, full of fervour, the intervening pathos showing how carefully the part had been studied. Miss Amy Johns was excellent as Moya Doolan, the warm-hearted Irish girl in love with the Shaughraun, and well earned the applause she received. We should like to hear her in this piece introduce “ Killarney,” which she made a favorite song here. Miss Carrie Gordon was useful in the small part she had to play, filling up the little gaps that grow to make one grand picture of a really excellent play by an excellent company. Of course, being the first night on a new stage of an intricate mechanical piece like this, some little hitches oc-

cuned ; but we feel assured that this will be remedied to-night, when “ The Shaughraun” will be produced for the last time, and we advise everyone to gd and see it who missed the opportunity last night. The company’s stay id short (only four nights), for after their Hokitika season they migrate to Australia • so all who have enjoyed their performances here or their acquaintance; and those who up till now have not; will ndt regret it.