THE THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4378, 1 April 1875, Page 2

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

“.The Stranger”—Kotzebue’s very German, very clever, and always popular drama—-was put upon the stage last night in a most complete manner, showing at once how well the company work together, how cleverly the business of the stage is managed, how well the resources of the theatre can be rfsed, and what a treat the drama-loving people of the city can now enjoy in the splendid theatre they possess, from the excellent stage management of Messrs. Bates and Howard. “ The Stranger,” from an English point of view, is a singular play;-the extreme sentimentality which characterises The Stranger, and the misanthropy in which it is shown, are thoroughly German. The devotion of Mrs, Haller has more of common human . nature in it, and it is impossible to resist sympathising with her in the sorrows that fall upon her, and rejoicing with her in their happy termination, “The Stranger” has been many times played in Wellington ; but, taken as a whole, it has never been more perfectly presented than it was last night. The Mis. Haller of Mrs. Bates was, happily, not quite so lugubrious as some Mrs. Haller’s we have seen ; and if The Stranger, as presented by Mr. Bates, was not quite such a “gentleman in Black” as some “ Strangers ” have been, it was at least a moat creditable representation. We do not know that the minor parts were ever better represented on a Wellington stage. Of the ladies, first : Miss Jessie llaymond quite excelled herself as the Countess Winterseu, while Miss Hettie Howard, as Annette, was arch and charming. Mr. Burford, as Baron Steinfort, played with the dignity of the character; while Sir. Hesford as Solomon, and Mr. Hydes as Peter, ably carried out the comedy part of the play. Althogether “ The Stranger” was extremely well produced. This evening the play mil bo Buckstone’s very popular drama. THE FLOWEKS OP THE POBEST. . It is no more than justice to Mrs. Bates to quote what the Melbourne Aryus said of her when she appeared in the character of “ Cynthia,” when the drama was produced at the Theatre Eoyal there Mrs. Bates, as Cynthia, was received with enthusiasm. We do not reckon the ‘ Flowers of the Eorest ’ among the standard works of the British dramatists, nor is the part of Cynthia one which an actress of tragedy need cave to claim as her own; but Mrs. Bates achieved last night in it a success which we consider unexampled in this city. We use the word ‘ unexampled’ because it is the only appropriate term.”