THE THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4309, 12 January 1875, Page 2

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

■ In catering for the public, the-management of the Theatre Royal have adopted for their motto what Shakespeare says—'Tis not in mortals to command success.. But we'll do more, Sempronius, we will deserve it. and if the production of novelties deserves success, they will r surely attain it. ." Rosedale," a drama in five acts, was the novelty last night, and if not so great a hit as some other productions of the Bates-Howard management, is yet entitled to all praise for the careful and judicious manner in which it is performed throughout.,: ■ The, plot. is as follows j—The husband of Lady Florence May (Miss Jessie Raymond) dying, enjoins in his will that should his wife, marry again without the consent of the guardian of his, son. Colonel May (Mr.! Hesford), one-half of the property left to her shall go to the and the other half to her son. The Colonel, an unscrupiUous man in embarrassed circurn stances, will not give his consent*to the marriage of the lady with Matthew Leigh (Mr. Thorpe.) One of .„ those >'- convenient rascals ever at hand —on : the stage—Mileß McKenna (Mr. C. Burf ord) undertakes to have the young baronet (Miss Fanny) smuggled away so that the " wicked uncle " may come in for all the property in the event of the Lady Florence May marrying against his'consents The boy's hat is found floating on a pond, 7 and the lad ib believed to have been drowned. This, however, is not the belief of Eliott Grey (Mr. F. M. Bates) in love with the sister of . Matthew Leigh; he therefore steadily sets to work to lay bare the conspiracy and to restore the lost heir. Eventually this is accomplished, the Colonels treachery exposed, and his consent compelled to tho marriage of Lady ■, May and Matthew Leigh. Thin is an outline of the main'plot, but the underplot is so intricate, everybody turning out to bo somebody else, that it would require Garter-King-at-Anns to unrayel the genealogical mysteries. We may, therefore, fairly be excused the exercise of ingenuity: upon .this point. Mr. F. M. Bates, in the character of Eliott Gray, has a part eminently suited for him, quiet, penetrating, observant, tenacious ; with a fund of dry humor in voice and action. As Rosa Leigh, Mrs. Bates had not much to do; but however small,: may jbe J the part Mrs. Bates contrives to infuse into it bo much spirit and verve ! as to make it prominent, not only by her. excellent acting but by her no less excellent,. taste iii dress. The other characters; were distributed as follows :—Tabitha Stock, an imperious housekeeper of vinegar aspect, capitally played by Mrs. Stoneham; Bunbeny Kobb, a sort of foxhunting squire, by Mr. J. P. Hydes; Sarah Sykes, by Miss A Stoneham; and at small part played by Miss Annie Francis very nicely. We had almost forgotten to say that before a word of the play was heard, Mr. C. Massey had to bow his acknowledgments for the first scene. The programme will be repeated this evening.