IMPERIAL OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5427, 19 August 1878, Page 2

IMPERIAL OPERA HOUSE.

The theatre-going portion of the community, ns was expected, muster od in full force on Saturday night at the Opora House to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins and company. Mr. Hoskins, ns all our readers are aware, is making.a final tour, preparatory to taking farewell of the stage, on which ho has played leadingcharaotors for many years in JSngland and many other parts of the world. He has been generally regarded as one of the beat representatives of his time of the legitimate drama, and has always been a favorite with the public, especially in these colonies, where ho has passed a considerable, portion of his life. The crowded houso on Saturday night was one of the best pieces of testimony that could be given to the estimation in which he is held as an actor by the people of Wellington. The curtain rose to the popular comedy of “ The Serious Family

Mr. Hoskins playing Aminidab Sleek and MLs Colville Mrs. Ormsby Dehnaine. The rest of the characters were well sustained respectively by Misses Tilly Andrews, Ashton, and Daley, and Messrs. Grahim, -leran and D’Elmaino. The piece was heartily received by the audience, who gave Mr. Hoskins and M ; ss Colville a moat cordial greeting. The other members of the company also received a fair share of app’ause. particularly Messrs. Hydes, Hill, and Graham. It is almost unnecessary to say that “The Serious Family,” with Mr. Hoskins as Amiuadab Sleek, was productive of great merriment, and the performance as a whole was a finished and admirable piece of acting. The evening’s entertainment concluded with the burlesque of “ 111-Treated Trovatore,” in which Miss Tilly Andrews appeared to great advantage, and Messrs, Hydes and Hill kept the audience in roars of laughter. To-night the celebrated comedy of “The School for Scandal”, will be produced, and another crowded house may confidently be expected.