THEATRE ROYAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2927, 12 August 1882, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

Rarely, if ever, has a Timaru audience been so thoroughly entertained ua were the visitors to the Theatre last night. “ Old Soldiers,” Mr H. J. Byron’s most racy and sparkling comedy, followed by the farce “ Wandering Minstrels,” constituted the bill of fare. The former is a game of cross purposes, in which everybody gets gloriously mixed about his or her neighbor, and the drollest situations are constantly occurring. The piece is full of amusing episodes ; the continual coruscations of wit and the racy dialogue, carry the audience along most pleasantly. In this, as in all their performances, the Company is remark, able for its general excellence. Although Mr Hall himself of course towers above them all in versatility and thorough mastery of stage business, he is not a star among sticks ; for in's Company is not more numerically strong than individually meritorious. Corporal Cassidy, the ex-cavalry non-com., an old family servant, serves Lionel Loverett in the double capacity of body-servant and faithful friend and guardian. Ho had promised the young man’s dying father to watch over him for ever, and that promise he would keep till death should place him beyond doing so. How bo safely steers bis young master among piratical females, and upsets all the deep laid schemes of the matrimonialists is astonishing, bis wit meanwhile continually bubbling up. Thera appears to be no acting in it. Mr Hall is simply Corporal Cassidy, easy, cool, droll. Major Fang, is an old friend of Colonel Leveret’s, who comes to renew acquaintance with the son and Ur Sefton docs ample justice to the part. Mr J. Hesford as Captain McTavish acted carefully, not without effect. But he is a little inflexible and stilted, which rather spoilt bis delineation. Mr Booth* man acted with bis accustomed graceful* ness and effect, as Lionel Leverett, the easy-going young squire. Cordon Lockhart, is represented (but tolerably) by Mr Henry Teece. Kate McTavish finds a rare exponent in the admirable “ queen of the company," Miss Jessie Gray. This young lady is faultless in action, tone and style. There J 9 in her the loveliness of sensibility which lights up the face of a true artiste ; the inflexions of her voice, her action make her delightful. In joy, sorrow, or perplexity, she is always natural, admirable and loveable; always preserving the demeanour and speaking with the accent of a lady. Miss Gray is an artiste of special merit, and surpassing attractiveness. Miss Euth Gray, as Mary Moss, is second only to her darker and more fiery sister, in archness, liveliness and artistic skill, Mrs Mary Moss (relict of the late Mr Moss) is personated by Miss Louise Crawford, whose ability in this particular line of characters is now generally known. One is surprised afterwards to find that the mincing, smirking, designing maierfamilias , is in reality a very pretty and pleasing girl. The witty remarks, the groupings, the whole stylo of the piece are admirable end make these performances far and away the finest we have seen hero. The entertainment concluded with a splendid farce in which Mr Hall appears

as the ragged street musician. The audience last night was a much larger one than before, and their conduct was free from the objectionable manners that so often characterise them.

To-night ‘‘The G-uv’nor” the piece da resistance will be presented. “ The Guv’nor is another network of amusing complications such as provoke continuous merriment. It has been an immense success in London. Mr J. L. Hall sustains the leading character of Theodore Macclesfield the old boatbuilder of Putney. The interest of the piece turns on the suspicions of the Guv’nor, Mr Butter-scotch a retired confectioner who is always imagining that the most undesirable people are pairing off and intriguing together. Finally he winds up by becoming jealous of bis wife, and orders a deed of separation to be drawn out between himself and his wife. Some mischievous imp is at work, however, and a marriage contract is drawn up between a young couple whose union he had opposed. In fine, all ends happily.