THE THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4423, 24 May 1875, Page 2

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

On. Saturday evening the celebrated drama “ Colleen Bawn” was produced to a good house; notwithstanding that as a rule Saturday evening performances are not well patronised by Wellington people. Miss May Howard, who appeared as Arme Chute, had not a very onerous part, her principal work, except in the last scene or two, being to dress and look the rich and imperious beauty, a task which needed little effort on her part to perform with inimitable grace and ease. Miss Jessie Raymond’s representation of the beautiful lovelorn Irish lassie, the Colleen Bawn, was exceedingly interesting, and well merited the frequent marks of approval bestowed by the audience. Myles na Coppaleen was really a firstrate performance. Mr. Collier played with pleasing freedom and abandon in the humorous scenes—his bye-play being exceedingly good,—and did not fail to introduce appropriate vigor and impassioned declamation in his acting in the more exciting incidents. The character of Danny Mann was depicted by Mr. Burford very correctly, and the same may he said of Mr. Glover's treatment of Corrigan, Mr. Thorp’s Hardi'ess Cregan, Mr. Hyde’s Kyrle Daly, and Mr. Hesford’s Father Tom. The minor parts were also rendered more or less creditably; the dresses and sc.enery were handsome, the mechanical effects ingeniously contrived and cleverly executed, and the piece as a whole ran off most successfully. After the fall of the curtain Mr. Hydes came forward, and having expressed thanks for the liberal support the management had received throughout the season, announced, amid applause, that a re-engagement of Miss Howard for six nights had been effected. The new season commences this evening with “ London Assurance.”