THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4334, 9 February 1875, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Those of Mr. Bates's admirers who attended at the Theatre Royal last evening, on the occasion of his benefit, could not but have been delighted with the treat which was in store for them. The drama of " The Marble Heart"— difficult to play, but delightful when well-played was placed before the audience in the most complete and pleasing manner. The representation of the piece, which abounds with strange and unnatural situations, proved the care and attention which must have been bestowed upon it by the company. Whether before the "realisation," when Diogenes, Alcibiades, Phidias, and other historical Athenians are before the audience, or when the more natural scenes in the -vicinity of Paris were portrayed, every member of the company excelled himself. At times, so interested were the auditory that a pin might have been heard to drop f and in the third act, when Marco (Mrs. Bates) points out to * her poor discarded lover the advantages of wealth—precepts inculcated to her by her father—and the obscurity of poverty, the applause was tremendous. The three ladies on whom fell the task of representing the three statues with which their sculptor had fallen in love, appeared even as marble itself, not a movement betraying, till the proper time had arrived, that they were other than what they appeared to be. Mr. Bates appeared as Phidias, the Athenian sculptor, and as Raphael Duchatlett, parts which brought out his talents as they have never been before seen in this city—the passionate, heedless, and spurned lover being very cleverly enacted. If there was one scene more than another which carried away the audience, it was when Raphael tore the wreath from off Marco's head,

a storm of applause almost interrupting the progress of the drama. The character was certainly one of Mr. Bates's happiest efforts in this city. To Mrs. Bates must be accorded am equal meed of praise. Her reputation as a versatile and accomplished actress was not a little added to by the representation of " The Marble Heart." Mr. Burford and Miss Jessie Kaymond -were as careful and as precise in their parts as they always are, neither substracting from nor adding to the characters as written by the playwright. The little which fell to Mrs. Stoueham's part was played with the exactness and faithfulness for which that lady is noted. The other minor characters were, oii the whole, exceedingly well represented, and Mr. Bates is to be congratulated on the successful production of this fine drama.