THE MASONIC HALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 274, 9 March 1877, Page 2

THE MASONIC HALL.

THE DARRELLS IN "EAST LYNNE." There was a crowded house last evening at this place of amusement to witness the well-known dramatised version of '' East Lynne." Before the performance commenced Mr. Keogli came forward and apologised to the audience for the change in the caste, which was found necessary owing to the sudden indisposition of Miss Marion Willis. This, we thmk, marred the effect which would otherwise have been produced, as Miss Patty Holt had to read the part throughout, and it was a matter of impossibility to read and act the ciiaracter at the same time. Mrs. Darrell gave a splendid impersonation of the dual characterof Lady Isabel and Madame Vine. She was frequently greeted throughout the performance with bursts of applause that the audience could not suppress, so true to nature was her acting, especially so in the scene where her eldest child dies and she removes her disguise too late for her child to recognise her. Not a few of the audience were shedding tears ; and no wonder, as Mrs. Darrell carried the audience entirely with her, and made them almost fancy they were looking on a scene from real life. Mr. Darrell made a capital Sir Francis Lsvison, but we think that had he taken the character of Archibald Carlyle it would have suited him better, as he has too pleasant a countenance for people to imagine such a character as Lsvison to be. Mr. Stoneham, as Archibald Carlyle, evinced a careful study of the character, and made decidedly a hitby his rendering of the noble, loving, and forgiving husband of Lady Isabel. Miss Bessie Vivian, as Cornelia Carlyle, kept the house in continual roars of laughter, as she appears to be perfectly at home in such characters. We certainly have never seen a better rendering of the character than that given by her last night. Mr. J. Hooper, as Dick Hare, and Mr. Oily Deering a3 Lord Mountsevern, gave a very good and careful rendering of those parts. In conclusion we must not forget to notice that for once there was not the slightest disturbance throughout the whole of the performance, showing that the prompt action taken by Mr. Darrell at the commencement of the season is beginning to bear fruit already. We sincerely hope that the managers of the succeeding companijs which visit Oamaru will take the same prompt measures to eradicate the nuisance, which has been tolerated here long enough. This evening " Hamlet " is announced, and we have no doubt there will be a good attendance.