THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6499, 26 December 1881, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.

“Ptoxauor abb Galatea.” On Saturday night tbs popular artist Miss Louise Pomeroy, with the company support* ing her, rc-appcared at the Theatre BoyaL The piica da rititfance woe W. S. Gilbert’s mythological comedy, “Pygmalion and Galatea, which was preceded by the farce, “A Capital Match.” In the farce the characters were nutaioed by Meters J. J, Wallace, B. W. Bede, and J. H. Costello, with Mite Lizzie Laurence and Miss Hettie Lambrette, who kept the audience in very good humour for something like an hour. 'ihe comedy was well put upon the stage, with erory attention to scenery, dress and effects; if we except the omission of the statue’s pedestal, an omission which would be of no consequence were not the pedestal several timet alluded to in the text. Miss Louise Pomeroy played the animated statue with becoming artleimeis, and unconscious innocence, iter appearance, on the curtain in Pygmalion's studio being withdrawn, was so charming, her pose so statuesque, and her repose so complete that the audience forebore to gire her the “reception ” which undoubtedly she would have received. Her acting throughout was that of a consummate mistress of her art, and the audience evidently relished the treat she gave them. Mr H. Flemming was a dignified but not stilted Pygmalion. He showed the sculptor’s sense of the greatness of art, while at the same time he did net forget that the artist might be subject to the weaknesses of human nature. Mr W. Hoskins' Ohryaos is well known, and seems to be a* good as ever. On his first appearance Mr Hoskins received a hearty round of applause. His friends will be glad to know that he appears to be in , excellent health, and no longer suffering from the weakness of voice which was occasionally noticeable when he was here last. Mr Theo Hamilton, who was also recorded a “ reception,” was a soldier-like Leucippe. Messrs S. D. Mowry and B. W. Bede were good as Agesimoa and Mimos respectively. Miss Lizzie Laurence played Cynisoa very natu rally, without makmg the loving wife appear to be a shrew. Miss Bessie Vivian made a moat amusing Daphne, displaying to the full her admirable comic strength. Miss Hettie Lambrette was fairly successful as Myxine. At the end of each act Miss Pomeroy and Mr flamming were called before the curtain, and at the close of the play the same compliment was paid to Mr Hoskins and Miss Bessie Vivian. To-night Bondcault’s "London Assurance " is to be performed, and as it has five acts it will make the programme of the evening.