THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4327, 1 February 1875, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

“ Richelieu” was produced at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening to a very full house, attracted, no doubt, by the desire to criticise and compare the present company in a play with which the people of Wellington are thoroughly familiar. “ Richelieu” was a bold effort on the part of Mr, Bates. It is not uncomplimentary to describe him as a “ good all round actor" with certain specialities, but theatre-goers did not expect to find Richelieu amongst those specialities. Mr. Bates, however, must be a man of modest pretensions to have hidden his light under a bushel for such a lengthened period. Many points of consideration suggest that Richelieu should have been produced earlier in the season. It has added greatly to Mr. Bates’ reputation as an actor, and would have added to the pecuniary receipts of the management had it been produced before. Mr. Bates looked the character, dressed it well, and acted with a fine perception of appropriate gesture throughout. In fact his action is the telling point iu the delineation, aud in many of the scenes he was warmly applauded. The Julie of Mrs. Bates was marked by the usual excellence and admirable method of her acting, her delicate force and grace affording a becoming contrast to the masculine and crafty mind of the old Cardinal. The play as produced on Saturday was effective in a high degree. It was. mounted with a completeness and care unusual even for the present management. Considerable artistic power was displayed in the arrangement of the garden scene, where the Cardinal is supported by Julie and Joseph, and throughout the play the same care was evinced., . Evident difficulty had been experienced in casting Baradas and De Mauprat, which were not altogether suited to Mr. Burford and Mr. Thorpe, who took them iu the order named. Nevertheless the piece was a complete success, a pleasant surprise to Mr. Bates’ admirers, and highly creditable to the management. “ Richelieu” should be repeated, To-night the company appear in “ The Long Strike.”