THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4331, 5 February 1875, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

“Eanchon, the Cricket,” produced last evening at the Royal to a very good house, is the prettiest of pretty domestic dramas ; that is to say, it assimilates as closely to the English drama of the domestic school as a combination' of the Erench and German cast of thought can do. The plot, as limned in the synopsis given yesterday, conveyed a correct idea of the prominent features of the play, as far as can be t noted on paper, but it did not convey to the senses any of the strange weirdness of German romance, such as takes possession of the imagination in reading the tales of the Uartz Mountains. Take as an example the shadow dance in “Fanchon,” a strange fantasy, which none but a German mind could have originated, and none but a student who had imbibed largely of the warmth and glow, and the imaginative feeling of such men as Schiller, could have interpreted in such an artistic manner. It is no wonder then that Mrs. Bates created a furore when she first appeared in Melbourne as Eanchon. Eanchon is a forward mirthful girl in the first and second acts, with a character not yet moulded to womanly comprehension, a typification, as it were, of budding love bereft of guile. The picture is a pleasant one, and one seen frequently enough on the stage to have become common-place, but with Mrs. Bates Eanchon is, in the early stages of the play a romping, wayward girl who attracts unto herself fragmentary atoms of sympathy even from hearts of stone. Eanchon is a captivating little creature. She twines herself round your affections although you take no part in the play, and in the same way she gains an ascendancy over Landry (Mr. Bates), who gets “ over head and ears ” in love with her. As years of maturity creep on, Eanchon grows into a creature of deep sensibility, so that Mrs. Bates has ample scope for the display of her histrionic powers. In one aspect or the other, whether as the buoyant spirited girl or the womanly maiden, Mrs. Bates made the part a splendid study. The audience felt a deeper interest in the play as it proceeded, and were eagerly anxious to reach the end, just as they would become absorbed in reading an exciting story or a touching romance. It is decidedly one of the most enjoyable plays ever produced in Wellington. Laudry (Mr. Bates) is one of Nature's heroes, and a truthful and manly lover. At least, so he proves to Fanchon, despite the endeavors of his father and friends to destroy his regard for her. The part requires no effort or coloring. Its success lies in the absence of staginess and boisterous display, both of which were subdued with becoming discretion. Mr. Bates made a great deal of the part in a quiet way, and made many of the scenes stand out pleasantly by capital posing. Mr. Hydes was not at all in good form either in speech or aotion. The continued confusion of the proper names Eanchon and Eauchette betrayed inattention, which is not usual with Mr. Hydes, and was too suggestive of farce. Mrs. Stoneham, however, added another laurel to her wreath by excellent acting in the old woman part, a splendid character, which afforded an opening of which Mrs. Stoneham did not fail to avail herself. The other characters were very creditably sustained. It must be mentioned, too, that the piece was capitally put on the stage; several new scenes exciting great admiration. “Eanchon” will be repeated this evening.