THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4330, 4 February 1875, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

“ LONDON ASSURANCE.” It must be accepted as one of tlie surest signs of successful catering that the company at the Koyal continue to receive such ft large share of patronage. Eapid changes and careful study of the tastes of the theatrical public never fail in securing liberal support anywhere, and Wellington is no exception to the rule. It would be strange indeed if it were, for since Mr. and Mrs. Bates have played here the supporters of the theatre have been treated to a succession of new pieces of a class which puts the efforts of all previous companies in the shade. The present week, as far as it has gone, hears out the truth of the statement. Monday and Tuesday witnessed the production of the most expensive piece ever put on the stage in Wellington, excepting “Der ireischntz” by the Opera Company ; yet this costly mechanism and scenery must be sacrificed to appease the appetite for change. Bast evenin'* “The School for Scandal” was played in a manner that did all credit to the company. The comedy is familiar to everybody. -Its finely-pointed wit and delicate satire have long given it a first place amongst comedies, even amongst those brilliant comedies of the old school which rank as high literary efforts. To do justice to such a play requires a high intelligence, and if redounds greatly to the credit of the company that each member did his utmost to reach the standard hud down by the author. Certainly it may be said that the part of Sir Harcourt Courtly did not sit easily upon the shoulders of _ Mr. Bates A long course of theatrical experience attests the fact.that the actors upon whom the part will sit easily, are few and far between. It is the one weak spot in the play. It seems a character that nobody can make anything of. Mr. Joseph Bayuer, an excellent actor in all other respects, made an utter failure in nir Harcourt, simply because he played it accordin'” to the strict letter of the instructions, and made it too stiff. Mr. Bates to some extent broke away from the restraint, and made the character more enjoyable, it was polished, and conveyed the idea of the purse-proud and vain old gentleman, without risking a descent to the ridiculous. And if Mr. Bates created a favorable impression as Sir Harcourt, Mrs. Bates was even more successful as Lady Gay._ - Of all her predecessors in this character, Mrs. Heir woa in her day regarded as the beau ideal, and it theie is a difference between them it is m favor of Mrs. Bates, for this reason : that Mrs. Bates is more vivacious and sparkling throughout, while her description of the hunt has not been excelled as an elocutionary effort by any actress that ever trod the hoards in this.part of the globe Dazzle found a capital representative hi Mr. Stoneham, who really, acquitted himself in a manner not expected of him. Mr. Hydes, as Meddle, was simply inimitable, and, as a matter of course, afforded considerable exercise for the risible faculties in thei scenes in which he took part. Hr. Burford s Charles Courtly was a careful piece of study, and, together with Mr. Hesford’s Max Harkaway, contributed'greatly to the success attained., Mr S. Howard threw a great deal of the ludicrous into 'Dolly Spanker, and created occasional bursts of laughter by his affected duHThuinor, and as a whole the piece was a most creditable production. To-night, “Fanchqn" will.be produced. The plot ,is given below. . r r

PANCHON, THE CRICKET. . One of the pieces which have contributed to Mrs! Bates’s fame is ■ “ Banchon,” a dramatised version of Sands' Petite- Fuddle. In submission to the judgment of the Melbourne and Adelaide papers, and from the standing Mrs. Bates has acquired during the present season, it is not difficult to believe that she captivated her audiences in this particular character, for which She seems to have acquired 'a singular Banchon is a very pretty idyll. _ The heroine is a > singular mtle creature hvmg with her old grandmother, who has;the reputation of being, it witch, in a village ini! ranee. In the neighborhood resides Bather -Barbeaud, a rich farmer, who has’ two sons, twins, -Landry and Bidier; The young men are greatly attached to each other, and while the former is of the Claude Melnotte stamp, the latter is a sort of good-natured fool, who is always saying and doing the most .extravagant and nonsensical tilings. Madelon, the belle of the .village, us the sweetheart , of the former, but little Banchon, from her childhood, entertained towards him an affection which had ripened into the most ardent love ; this feehng being in no r way assuaged by the fact of her having TOcceeded in saving him from downing ThCTe is a deadly enmity between the old grandmother and the father of the young men, and she of course, having discovered Banchon s «creti warns her against entertaining a useless, passion But, as usual, this only adds fuel to thefire, and much of the interest of the piece tm™ upon the mode in which the young lady BTceX in captivating, the affections of--1 ,audrv He becomes infatuated, 1 anchon is tit io Paris out of the way. She returns after a year to see her old guardian die, and having ingratiated herself into the good graces of old Barbeaud, she succeeds in winning Laudry for a husband. The hatred which existed between Earhcaud and the old grandmother ,i« explained by the fact that the firmer refused to allow his brother to marry the totter, and

thereby drove him to dissipation and rum. The story, characters, and sentiments are peculiarly French, but -in the hands of the adapter they have been fashioned into an extremely interesting and in parts most affecting melodrama. The characters stand out in distinct relief. There is no straining for effect in l either the language Or the situations, and the dialogue is made to reveal agreeably the points upon which the action turns. - : .