THEATRICAL MATTERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5076, 30 June 1877, Page 2

THEATRICAL MATTERS.

By my penny ot observation.—SnAKSPEitE.

Theatrical matters in Wellington have not been of a vevy startling character lately. The Theatre Royal has worn very much the sleepy look ot a family mansion with the family out of town ; and the few occasions on which attempts were made to work up an appearance of life there were but melancholy at the best, if we except Mr. Sweeney's benefit night, when the performances were very creditable, chiefly by reason of the programme baring been as far as possible adapted to the powers and qualifications of the stock company. People are not contented nowadays with anything ordinary ; novelty is what they must and will have, and it is noticeable, too, that success is generally measured by the extent to which this desire for novelty is satisfied, rather than by actual merit. The latter, of course, must be taken into consideration, but very often has to " take a back seat" on the theatrical stage, as it certainly does in the great world outside. Dickens makes one of his characters in "Martin Chuzzlewit" discover that, the legitimate object of the British drama consists in a plentiful display of legs ; and possibly there are many of that gentleman's opinion whose idea 3 of the pourtrayal of human nature run in the same direction, I was once very much amused by a remark that fell from a small boy occupying the exalted position of *' devil " in a newspaper office with which I was connected. A new company of theatricals had arrived, and this young gentleman was heard to make certain critical inquiries relative to them, finally asking whether the ladies were good-looking. On being assured tliat the ladies were attractive, he said "Well, I'll give 'em a lift so ; but hang it all, I can't stand an ugly woman you know." And my young friend gave that company " a lift," otherwise a shilling, on payment of which at the ticket office he wa3 entitled to take "a front seat in the pit," and pass judgment on the performance. Perhaps there are many older persons more hard to please than this small critic. I Bhould deem it, for instance, a difficult matter for a decent company to attract thosa who found in the Georgia Minstrels so much that was worthy of their money and their admiration. They formed a novelty, goodness knows; and succeeded accordingly in Wellington, as they have done elsewhere. It i appears that there is another company of negroes called the Georgias, playing in Melbourne, and of these " Tahite," in the Auttralasiin, speaks iu terms the reverse of complimentary ; at least he pays them a very negative compliment. Referring to the production of the "Octoroon," he says that some of the jcesssory parts wore filled by members of the Georgia Troupe, and that their singing was less objectionable when blended with the voice! of the white people. Having after a somewhat rambling fashion spoken of tin want of amusement here sufficient to attract the theatro-going public, it is pleasing to le in a position to state that the lessee of the Theatre Royal, Mr. Sam Howard, has made provision for a series of first-class entertainments. He has engaged Mr. Morton Tavares and Miss Surtees; and the stock company has been strengthened by the engagement of Bliss Solange Navaro and Miss Jennie Nye, who in past times have succeeded in becoming very popular with the Wellington public. The new season, aB I may call it, will commence on Tuesday evening, Mr. Tavares making his debut as Sir Harcourt Courtly in '' London Assurance," a eharacter in which he stands almost unequalled ; and he will be ably supported by Miss Surtoes, who bears the reputation of being an accomplished actress. I may mention that tho terms of engagement with Misses Navaro and Nye were completed before the Lydia Howarde Troupe left for the West Coast, and these two ladies w-re expected to arrive in Wellington by the p.s. Luna last trip. "The Daughter of the Regiment" and "Ireland as it Was" will be played at the Theatre Royal to-night. The Odd Fellows' Hall ib again to be in tho possession of a " Mirror" for a short timo. This time it is the Mirror of the World, and it will be exhibited for the first time in Wellington at tho Odd Fellows' Hall this evening. Knowing nothing personally of the Mirror of

the World, I can only refer those who may look at this column for information to the advertisement appearing elsewhere in the present issue. The Mirror is said to comprise the most celebrated views in the United Kingdom, including London as it is. Besides these there are pictures of scenery on the "European Continent and in America, FraDce before and after the war, and " statuary from the principal galleries of Europe exhibited by the aid of the strongest form of lime-light." The entertainment should be both pleasing and instructive, and well worthy of a visit. The Georgia Minstrells did well in Christchurch, and will probably be as successful in Dunedin. Itis, I learned from Mr.De Lias while he was in Wellington, the intention to take these minstrels to Australia and show in the principal towns of the different coljnie.s there. Howorth's Hibernica and Comedy Company left Auckland on the 6th of the present month, en route for San Francisco. It is btated that the troupe intend revisiting the colonies in about three years time. Mrs. Scott-Siddons, the beautiful and talented little lady who appeared on the Wellington stage somo time ago, has been playing with great success at Adelaide. I observe that Mr. Charles Massey, well known throughout this colony as a scenic artist, is in Melbourne, and the other day had a complimentary notice from the Press for the manner in which he painted a proscenium for the Apollo Hall. A Mr. Fred Thorne has made a great hit in Melbourne asSalem Scudderin the "Octoroon." " Tahite" speaks of the impersonation aa being equal for originality of conception to that of Jefferson, whom most actors imitate in that character.

Wilkie Collins' new drama in five acts, entitled " Mis 3 G-wilt," has been produced at the Victoria Theatre, Sydney. Mr. B. N. Jones is the stage manager of this theatre, and Mr. Collier, also wellknown here, is among the company. Madame Simonsen is in Melbourne, and has appeared there with great success as Boss Moiueau in " The Hermit's Bell."

At a performance given by the Globe "Variety Troupe in the Queen's Theatre, Sydney, handsome prizes were given for the best conundrums on the Russo-Turkish war and a boat race on the Parramatta River. Moth.