THE THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4377, 31 March 1875, Page 2

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Last evening the management of the Theatre Royal presented a netv and sensational American drama, entitled “The Drunkard.” As is usual on the first representation of a new play, the audience was inclined to be critical, and the first scene passed without much marked enthusiasm, but as the drama proceeded, the interest deepened with the development of the plot, and the audience, losing their reserve, indicated at frequent periods a high apprebia. tion of the efforts of the performers. Mr. Bates enacted the title role. Those who saw him as Old Eccles in “ Caste,” and again last evening as Edward Middleton, anticipated a very fine impersonation, and were not disappointed. The latter character afforded Mr. Bates greiter latitude, and a scene descriptive of “the horrors ” was without doubt a grand though not an attractive representation. To Mrs. Bates was assigned the character of the drunkard’s faithful and loving wife. Mrs. Bates threw herself thoroughly into the part, and played it with great ability. The part was a faithful representation of, unfortunately, an everyday occurrence in the real world, and it was pourtrayed to the life. Mr. Hydes, as William Dalton, had a part in which he could bring out his humor, and the enjoyment his fun created was very evident; while Mr. Burford played the “ bad man”—the unscrupulous lawyer—of the drama, with such care and genuineness as to almost compel the audience to believe that he was not other than he seemed to he. Little fell to the other members of the company to do, but that little was well rendered. A farce, “We all have our little faults,” brought the entertainment to a close. This evening “The Stranger” will he performed. This is a play which never fails to attract an audience.