RE-OPEITING OF THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 211, 12 August 1862, Page 5

RE-OPEITING OF THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

The .Princes* Theatre was last evening reopened, after being for a short period closed, for tht purpose of. undergoing extensive alterations. Tue alterations have boon extonsive indeed ; in fact, they have gone to tho extent of an entire reconstruction of the hoa?e, wLieli is now one of the prettiest and most comfortable of colonial theatres. The interior is decorated wiih remarkably good, taste, lightness and harmony of color being the chief characteristics ; and when iliumijjMisJ by the large and handsome chandelier which haivis from the roof, the house had a charmingly clogant and cheerful appearance. Owing to the shortuesj of the time for preparation, the de" coratioas were not quite complete la=t night, and we therefore reserve a detailed description until they shall be finisliei. Enough, however, was dona to give an idea, of the intended effect.

There was a large and highly respectable audience every seat being occupied in. pit, dress circle, and private boxes; and it was pleasant to uotico how thoroughly the gentle public seemed to enjoy themselves. This enjoyment was in no small "decree corurlbuted to by the excellent construction of the house, which admits of a, good view of the stage from every part; the comfortable, well-stuiVed seats, ana tho weii-managed arrangements by which everyone was shown to his seat, without confusion or crowding. : , .

In-fore commencing the programme of the evening, the kind struck up "God Save the Queen," the audience standing; while it was played. Au overture, ■ excellently performed, followed; after which the curtain rose npon the first scene of Tom Taylor's Coine'ly of the ''Friend in Need." This is one of .those lively little pieces which heartily amiufl, without fatiguing, the attention. The. interest of the piece turns upon the love of Charles Hustings (Mr. Sand ford Fawcc-tt) for his gnar-liaii's dar.gLLer, Ada -Bo'.tfcml (Mi.-s Tahumey), jv; i trie assistance which Harry riparkiey, (Mr. Tom. F&wcetr,) is abl? to render, not only to the you>><r ewipie but to scvovul others of the dramaticpi-rsonte in Helping i hem out of the scrapes that they have severally got into. But the character of the piece is one who has no particular business in it, except to t-eli a .story, which, lie never succeeds in finishing. Thiri ir-; a certain Yorkshire squire, (Squire Wannup), who-was represented by-Air.-Charles Young, and wlioso broad accent, clownish ways, and ludicrous ai.xiuty to tell the story of the grea run with the bounds, elicited, roars.of laughter As Ada Bedford. Hiss Tabiuviey was lady-like and easy ; and we incline to liie opinion that t!:is young lady will become a favorite with t!te Dime-din public, as a gentee! comcily actress?. The saucy servant-girl (secretly ■ married to the footm? i, bat who carries on a-tre-mendous flirtation v.itii the Yorkshire Squire), was prettily played by Mks Ada Hart. The other eha-raeL-rs were well su> .iued, and tbe piece went oif with the .-utmost vivac' y aud spirit. ; The nt.xt p-_ i tlcn of cne entertainment was the periom:.T.?ce <v ilr. 11. W. Kohler upoji the corr.opeon, the iiage.ik:, cue- concertina, and the rock hannonicon. Upon each of these instruments Mr. Kohler played with the finish and style of a true artiste, and it is hardly necessary tj say that lie was heartily ap-ph-.uaed. The evening's entertainment concluded with the sparkling force of the " Young Widow," in which lur. Charka Young was great as Splash the valet and factotum of Mr. Mand»vilk-. When the valet in disguise of a- dancing master. p;:ys a visit to the widow's- bouse and endeavors to astonish by bis aTitics, Mr. Young was excessively ninti^iug, and his agility something1 sur-pri.-inir. He seemed to be made of quicksilver. His singing of the song "What's a Woman Like," was also exceedingly funny, in. fact he showed himself in every particular ;t tinisiitd actor. The widow was very neatly-.played by Miss Ada Hart, wiio we may mention sang incidentally the charming song "I love the merry merry sunshine." Miss Taburney was Tory rich an-1 sgreepble as Lucy, and Mandeville was •well played by Mr. Tom l-'aweett. At the conclusion of the first piece, Mr. Tom Faweett came forward, and in a few well chosen words, thanked the audience for their patronnge, and while claiming- indulgence for any shortcomings, declared his (letert'siuation to redeem all the promises made to ths public, so soon as the actual works about tke-iiou^e could hecompleted, and the whole company be got over from Melbourne Mr. Young, who was called on af the end of the farce, also addressed a few words of thanks to the audience.

LATEST I>ATES. England May 26 Ev telegraph June 1 Mauritius ."..... June 1(5 Ceylon ( Colombo) June- 17 China (Hong Kong) Slay 26 Calcutta -fuue 9 Sh'Sraiwre June 17 Cajio or liuoii Hope May 2£> A ME'Mi/A— .New York May 20 San Francisco May 10 A ÜBTUAT.I AN COLONIES— Melbourne July 29 t?vduey July "28 Queensland July 10 Adelaide July 9.8 Lmm;-i;sfon July .17 liobait Town July 16 Perth Juiy 5 New Zealand— Jlarlboroußh June 20 Auckland July 31 Wellington August 7 ■ Kawke\s 13ay August 2 Taranaki July 20 Nelson July 12 Canterbury August 6 Wcnganui June 13 Jnvenargill July 26 < A Fatal Sbnte>'ck —" Liberty is fatal to tlie Bourbui'S." fo taii tiic iathc-r of the present, or rather the ex-Kiug of Naples. Eut, su])posiug the ton i* caught, ought lie not, as tried by the sfclitenee above, to be locked up for life. If " Liberty is fatal " to a Bourbon, the most generous, the most charitable thin? would be to deprive him of it. The Castle of St. Elmo we suggest, wouldn't be a bad residence for him. He couldn't object to try what lie had so often recommended to others.— Punch.