THE THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4412, 11 May 1875, Page 3

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

MISS HAY HOWARD IN "THE GENEVA CROSS."

Miss May Howard, who appeared last night for the first time on the stage of Wellington, will regard it as no more than a compliment due to her that there should be a full house to welcome her. Yet the circumstances were not propitious. The weather was most unfavorable, and up to the last moment, it was doubtful whether it would be possible for the company to play " The Geneva Cross." Mr. G. W. Collier play 3 in it the important part of Kiel de Bourg, and the Taranaki, by which he was a passenger from Lyttelton, had not been signalled at seven o'clock. It was dark and misty over the harbor—so dark, in fact, that though it was known that the Taranaki had sailed from Lyttelton at halfpast ten o'clock p.m. on Sunday night, and was, therefore, fairly due about four or five o'clock, nothing had been heard of her at seven o'clock. . A few minutes before eight o'clock she managed to reach the wharf, and when the curtain rose Mr. J. P. Hydes announced the fact, and obtained the ready assent of the audience to the performance of the farce of " The Man in Possession," to enable Mr. Collier to reach the theatre' About nine o'clock the curtain rose on "The Geneva Cross," and on Miss May Howard's first appearance she wa3 warmly received ; a■■ similar compliment being accorded to Mr. Collier. The plot of the play we have already given. It was worked out with great care and . effect. Miss May Howard, as Gabrielle Le Brun, looked magnificently, and acted with great intelligence and care. The part of Martagu was entrusted to Miss Jessie Kaymond, and that of Mademoiselle Ca3sandre to Miss Hetty Howard, while. Miss Eleanor Melville was "Little Mother." Riel de Bourg is not a character that calls for a display of much dramatic power, but Mr. Collier looked the part, and played it cleverly. In Mathieu Moineau, Mr. C. Burford had a part which he was well able to fill, and he played it excellently. Mr. Hesford, Mr. Thorpe, and other members were also well suited; while as Simon Cormichet and Jean Itobafc respectively, Mr. Sam Howard and Mr. J. P. Hydes had an opportunity of indukfing to the full in the humor which characterises them. The musical portion of the entertainment was somewhat shorn of its attractions, the company not being musical. The drama will be repeated this evening; and is effective enough to draw a full house, if a really good entertainment will do bo.