THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4896, 30 November 1876, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

Mr. and Mrs. Hall made their first appearance at the Theatre Royal last night. Since Hr. Hall left Australia and New Zealand for America and England he has developed into what may be technically called a new line of business, and last night came out in what stage language would call an essentially heavy character, in which he was eminently successful. The piece presented was “ Hose Michel," the whole plot of which turns upon the concealment by a wife of a murder committed by her husband in order that she may not break off the nuptials of a beloved daughter. As the murdering, miserly husband, Pierre Michel, Mr. Hall was wonderfully forcible and realistic, and from the first moment he made his appearance on the stage succeeded in engrossing the attention of the audience. He was loudly and deservedly applauded, and with his talented wife Mrs. Hall, who is as taking and natural in her acting as ever, was called before the curtain at the conclusion of the principal acts. The piece, unfortunately, has a first act of a monotonous and unrelieved nature, and owing to the members of the stock company not being by any means well up in their parts, this portion of the play dragged' considerably ; but the subsequent acts, in which Mr. and Mrs. Hall had the chief burden of the performance on their shoulders, went much better. It may be noticed, however, in this connection, that the general want of support accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Hall met with a particular exception in the person of Miss Stoneham, who played her part, of a boy attendant at a cabaret, with much life and vivacity. The same piece will be repeated to-night.