THEATRE ROYAL.

Southland Times, Issue 965, 8 June 1868, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

The success which was predicted for the Nathan Troupe during their sojourn in Invercargill has been fully realised since the commencement of their performances. On each occasion that they have appeared, crowded houses have been the rule. On Friday evening, however, owing to a change in the programme, there was a perfect rush to obtain seats in every available nook and comer — indeed, as far as the upper portion of the house was concerned, it was inconveniently filled, numbers being obliged to stand during the greater portion of the entertainment. The performance opened with a pretty little comedy entitled the " Youth who never saw a "Woman ;" the principal characters were sustained by Messrs Small and Chambers, and a portion of the Nathan family. The piece itself is somewhat [tame, and can be dismissed with a few words of commendation to those who took part in it. The dancing of Mr Chambers next attracted attention by the grotesque change effected in the style of character whilst "tripping on the light fantastic toe." "We] suppose it was by desire that the Masters Nathan performed the particular duet on the cornet-a-piston, which was executed in a style that brought down repeated plaudits. But as on previous occasions, the most attractive portion of the evening's amusement was centred in the acting of the youthful prodigy — Little Marion. Her impersonation ot " the broth of a boy"— Pat Rooney — was so life-like, her conception of the most trivial parts of the comic absurdities of the rollicking Irish youth — anxious too serve his master, but by his miscenception of orders, and confused ideas of right and wrong, committing continual blunders — as to fairly convulse the audience. Indeed we cannot speak too highly of the extraordinary ability and' cleverness shown by Little Marion, whenever she has performed. In every new character some fresh development of something to admire and wonder at becomes apparent, and the audience seem never to tire of the inimitable brogue assumedby thislittle fairy actress. Mr Small, as usual, when singing in Irish character, received the most unqualified applause. He appears to have the happy facility of engaging the undivided attention of his listeners whenever the subject of the courtship of the "Widow Malone, or other equally funny and mirth-provoking songs are on the tapis. The orchestral arrangements are deserving of more than a passing notice. The conductor, Mr Salaman, is a most accomplished musician, and contributed in no mean degree to the success of the evening's entertainment. The same programme was repeated on Saturday night, with the usual amount of success that has attended the appearance of the Nathan Troupe. There will be an entirely new and diversified programme this evening, prominent in which we notice the production of an Hibernian comedy which has received the highest commendations from the press wherever it has been produced.