THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4294, 24 December 1874, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

In the recollection of playgoers of ten years standing, the part of Asa Trenchard, in “ Our American Cousin,” is so closely, linked .with the name of Joseph Jefferson that the one is synonymous with the other ; and as it is proverbial that first impressions are with difficulty banished, any other actor assuming the role has not a little with which to contend ; to say, therefore, that Mr. F. M. Bates was highly successful last night is no small praise ; indeed, there is an ease and finish about his performance that is most pleasant to behold, and the audience testified in a marked manner their appreciation of the actor’s art. Mrs. Bates on this occasion played Florence Trenchard, and played it charmingly, introducing into the part the ballad, “Bock me to sleep,” which was so much to the taste of the house that she had to submit to an encore. The play, as a whole, was capitally performed, Mr. H. Stoneham playing Lord Dundreary with great care; Mr. Charles Burford being eminently successful as Abel Murcott; and Mr. J. P. Hydes as the everlasting Binney doing full justice to flunkeydom. Nor must we omit a word in praise of Miss Adelaide Stoneham, who looked and played Mary Meredith as nicely as could be. “ Our American Cousin ” was followed by “ The Quiet Family,” introducing our old friend Sam Howard, in one of his best characters, that of Barnaby Bibbs; the appearance of Mr. Howard was the signal for an enthusiastic welcome in the shape of applause, which, together with much laughter, brought the entertainment to a conclusion at a late hour. The programme will be repeated this evening.