THE LYDIA HOWARDE TROUPE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5007, 11 April 1877, Page 2

THE LYDIA HOWARDE TROUPE.

The Lydia Howarde Troupe opened at the Theatre Royal last night to a good house, the dress-circle being fairly patronised, while the f' pit and stalls were well filled. The per*-*--sonnel of the troupe is somewhat changed since it appeared here before and played a successful season at the same theatre ; but thechange, such as it is, has not lessened its merits and claims to the patronage of those who enjoy burlesque performances, which we believe in their hearts the great majority of people do. The first piece presented was Mr. Byron’s glorious extravaganza, “ Ivanhoe.” It was put on the stage in very good style, due attention being paid to the mounting ; the scenic effects did the artist, Mr. Briggs (who we believe arrived with the troupe), great credit, one or two of the scenes being artistically finished. The performance ran very smoothly, considering that it was an opening night, and that the troupe have, so to speak, been lying on their oars during the latter part of the Scott - Siddons _ season, under • which circumstances it might not be totally unnatural to assume that they would become a little rusty. The part of Ivanhoe was played by Miss Jenny Nye effectively as to the general representation, and her singing and dancing were very pleasing, the audience on one or two occasions according her enthusiastic encores. As Sir Brian de Bois Gilbert, Miss Howarde sustained her reputation as a finished burlesqueactress, and Miss Solange Navaro was charming as the Lady Rowena. Both ladies were welcomed heartilly on making their first appearance. We have to refer to another lady character in the piece, and must perforce, by the laws of gallantry, refer to her before making any remark that may be deemed necessary as to the male figures that move in Mr. Byron’s witty creation ; though, at the same time, the player of the part was as masculine as any other male. Rebecca, the character referred to, was impersonated by Mr. Power, whose acting was so really good—that is to say, humorous, as the Jewish maiden —as to keep the audience continallyin a state of laughter whilst he was engaged on the. stage. He was perfectly irresistible, in fact, and, to use a professional term, fairly “ knocked ” the audience. Mr. Hesford made a very fair Isaac of York, the old gentleman whose business it is to accommodate gentlemen in straitened circumstances in the three-months-after-date direction, and purchase articles of apparel discarded ; his make-up being the great feature in his performance, as it was marvellously ugly. Mr. Inglis alsoplayed very well as Cedric, and Mr. Alexander made a feature of his part, the Black Knight, which met with the favor of the audience, particularly when the Knight, being a terrible sort of fellow on ordinary occasions, relaxed somewhat and gave them a very excellent dance.. Mr. St. Lawrence as the fool also did well, and the other parts were fairly sustained. Theperformance was well arranged, every attention having been paid to details in its prepara- . tion, the music being well conducted, and the solos, duets, and choruses being very' well rendered. Following the extravaganza came Mr. Arthur Sullivan’s Operetta, ‘'Trial by Jury.” This is a late production, and it certainly is one of the funniest pieces imaginable. The trial is one of breach of promise of marriage, the usual forms and ceremonies in connectionwith such Court proceedings being observed, with the natural exception that the whole business is burlesqued, the judge, jury, counsel, and the parties in the case being on free and easy terms. On the plaintiff (Miss Howarde) being ushered in, the jury fall to admiring her warmly, and the judge waxes amorous to such a degree that he descends from his seat to console, the confiding damsel. The defendant, amongst other things, pleads that as he is addicted to liquor the consequences of a union might be unpleasant. Whereupon the learned judge hits upon the brilliant idea of making the defendant drunk on the spot, but to this proposal every one enters a strong objection ; the result of which is that the judge “ sums up” thus;—

All the legal furies seize you ! No proposal seems to please you, I can't stop up here all day, I must shortly go away. Barristers, and you attorneys, Set out on your homeward journeys ; Put your briefs upon the shelf, I will marry her myself ! This happy solution of a great legal difficulty gives general satisfaction. It is a very amusing performance, far more so than could perhaps be gathered from anything that might be written in description of it j and the curious therefore should go and see for themselves. The programme this evening will be the same.