THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4939, 20 January 1877, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

When the short notice given of Mr. J. K Emmet’s intended first appearance is considered, the very large and fashionable attendance at the Theatre Royal last night would have been surprising but for the fact that Mr. Emmet was already so well known by repute, and the barest announcement of his intended opening here was quite sufficient to ensure there being a full house. The season was opened with “ Fritz, our Cousin-German,” a drama in which Mr. Emmet of course takes the principal character. Fritz (Mr. Emmet) is a genial young German, who earns an honest living by the exercise of considerable musical powers, his performances being conducted on the streets. As may be supposed, Fritz had a father, and he, haying accumulated considerable wealth, died in America, leaving behind him a little child (Louisa). A certain Colonel Grafton (Mr. Hesford), the wicked man of the story, takes charge of the little girl and the old man’s money. Wears roll. on, and the child Louisa is brought up with the crafty Grafton’s daughter. In scene I.—castle garden, Hew York Fritz appears in search of his long lost sister, meeting Colonel Grafton, who had contracted a fondness for Katarina (Miss Stoneham), a young lady with whom Fritz is desperately in love, and has constituted himself her protector Louisa resents his addresses, , and this makes him mad, insomuch that he bethinks himself of a wicked scheme to bend her to his will. A gentleman named Grim (Mr. Metcalf) unwittingly gives him the opportunity he seeks by taking Fritz away from ' the scene, with the object of putting him in the way of finding his sister. He had formed an attachment for the Colonel’s daughter (Mias Power), hut the father does not «consent.” To make matters short, the Colonel carries off Katarina, and endeavors to poison her because she braves him, but is prevented by Fritz, who Comes in at the right moment disguised as a German female of full habit, and manages to frustrate the design, and add to the triumph by changing some poisoned wine for harmless liquid which the Colonel had poured out for himself.; The latter drinks it, feels queer internally, and collapses oh a sofa, at which satisfactory point in the proceedings the drop - scene falls. The Colonel did not die, however, the poison not being 'sufficiently potent perhaps for a colonel. He again appears on the scene, and is mortified to find that Fritz has discovered a sister in the heiress he had adopted. The recognition had come about by Fritz singin<* some beautiful airs with which his sister had been acquainted in her childhood. The Colonel seeing how matters stand, calls in a constable and gives Fritz in charge for uttering forged notes. Fritz is taken to prison, and,' like Mark Tapley, he rises to the occasion and “ comes out strong” in the way 'of jollity, sings and jokes alternately, and is generally a cheer-' ful object. He is taken to the Court and tried, and thus it would seem that poor Fritz’s doom is sealed; hut help comes from a quarter where it was not expected. Mr. Grim approaches the 1 footlights and communes with himself thus: “If the Colonel gives his consent to my marriage with his daughter Fritz may go—anywhere. But if he doesn’t, why, I have a card to play which will totally defeat his purpose as to the destiny of Fritz.” He confers aside with the old man, who refuses his consent, and threatens to kick Grim if he repeats such overtures. The result of this is that Grim at once denounces Colonel Grafton as a forger, and proves that it was he who had placed certain forged notes in a box belonging to Fritz, which was produced in Court. The tables are thus turned ; Fritz is discharged, and the corrupt Colonel is taken into custody, and afterwards leaves his country for his country’s good. The curtain rises. again on a farm scene, and Fritz'appears as the husband of Katarina, and the proprietor of the farm, a little boy being the result of their marriage. This act ■Js by far the most attractive of the three. Here the Colonel again makes his appearance on the scene, haviug returned from prisonlife, with bitter revenge in his heart, and an indifferent coat on his back. He is accompanied by an accomplice in the forgery business, and these two having prowled round the house for some time, during which they have had their wicked appetites whetted by witnessing the happiness and comfort around them, seek an opportunity when Katarina ia left alone with her child, to put their plans in execution. They proceed to tie the hands of the woman, and then the Colonel takes the child in his arms, ascends the ladder leading to a waterwheel close by the house, and placing the child on the top of it, threatens to set the wheel in motion if ICatanna attempts to raise an alarm.' Finding that she cannot free her hands, she rushes to a post from which a bell is suspended and pulls the rope with her teeth. The alarm being thus given, the Colonel sets the wheel in motion, when Fritz appears on the scene with others, shoots the Colonel, promptly, and is just in time to catch the child as it falls from the revolving wheel. Thus everything ends satisfactorily. The closing scene waa very effective, and elicited enthusiastic applause. Having witnessed Mr. Emmets performance in this piece, we can easily understand that he should have been so successful in different parts of the world, and that such glowing accounts of his ability should have preceded him here. The piece, of which we have given a necessarily imperfect sketch, is one peculiarly adapted to the display of Mr. Emmet’s talents. In fact it may be said that the feature of it is Mr. Emmet from the rise to the fall of the curtain. His German accent is wonderfully natural and unvaried. He is never betrayed into'noticeable forgetfulness of the character he represents, as - are many actors who affect that particular line of business. He is also perfectly natural in his manner, which is jovial and spirited generally, but occasionally there is a deep pathos in his acting, and this was particularly noticeable in the last act. In the character of Fritz Mr. Emmet could scarcely be surpassed—«t least, the ordinary mind would possibly find it difficult to conceive of acting more talented and pleasing. . However, the true test of an actor’s ability'may generally be taken to be the treatment he receives from his audience, and Mr. Emmet certainly had no reason to complain of the reception he met with last night. He baa an exceptionally pleasing voice, .sings and plays welL In. tho second act, where Fritz gives an entertainment for a company assembled in Grafton’s garden, Mr. Emmet gave evidence of astonishing versatility, vocal and musical powers, to say nothing of his terpsichorean performances. He sang a number of German songs (in character), and fairly carried the audience away with him. In addition to his mental qualities Mr. Emmet is happy in the possession of a good stage presence, a handsome face and fine figure.

The several ladies and gentlemen supporting Mr. Emmet deserve infinite credit, Miss Morgan,Miss Stoneham,Miss Bower,Mrs. Stoneham, and Messrs Metcalf, Hesford, Howard, and Sweeney playing excellently, althoxign the time allowed for preparation of the piece was almost unprecedently short. Mr. Holmes, the scenic artist, also deserves credit for the preparation of the scenery, which was appropriate and well painted. It may be said that the business of the court scene would bear improvement, a fact which we had almost forgotten to mention. Mr. Inglis might make a passable stage judge if he would not seek to distinguish himself in burlesque, and the same remark applies to Mr. Creighton, the clerk, who succeeded, quite unnaturally we think, in introducing a good deal of the business of a clown into his part. _ Generally, however, the first production of this piece was a great success under no ordinary difficulties.