AMUSEMENTS.

Southland Times, Issue 967, 12 June 1868, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

The chief event of the month has been the appearance of the Nathan Troupe at the Theatre Eoyal. The company consists of the Nathan family — Mrs Nathan, her two sons and three daughters, supported by Messrs J. Small, and J. Chambers. They made their first appearance on Wednesday evening, the 3rd of June, and the talent displayed on that occasion rendered them popular, and fecured for them continued success. Night after night the theatre has been filled, and generally inconveniently crowded. It may be denominated the Australasian Troupe, all or nearly all having been born in Australia, and the colonies may well be proud of them. It is not flattery to assert that no juvenile company that has ever appeared in the colonies have displayed a like amount of native genius and artistic training. Everything they do is done well, in speaking they are clear and distinct, and in action natural, graceful, and truthful — there is a marked avoidance of that straining demonstrativeness that two frequently mara the effect of even, talented acting. The versatility of the Troupe is truly wonderful. In reciting, singing, dancing, or acting they are perfectly at home, and rivet the attention of the audience from the rising of the curtain to the termination of the performance. During the week that this company has performed in Invercargill, a varied and judicious selection of lively farces and burlesques have been produced, everyone of which have been remarkable for the correctness with which each character has been portrayed. The chief of the whole, however, is La Petite Marion, a child of about seven years of age. Her representation of Irish character is inimitable, and she never fails to command the attention of the audience — at one time by mirthful drollery, causing laughter, and the next minute calling forth sympathetic emotions. Among the characters she has sustained, that of "Andy Blake" in Dion Boucicault's comedy of that name, and Felix O'Callaghan in the play of " His Last Legs," are the most conspicuous. This surprisingly clever child, however, appeared to the greatest advantage in the character of Felix O'Callaghan. This play was written expressly for the celebrated Irish actor, T. H. Power, who after playing it in all the principal theatres in Great Britain with extraordinary success, sailed in the ill-fated steamship President, for New York, which vessel foundred at sea, and all on board were lost. Many were the attempts made to find another Felix O'Callaghan, but all who attempted the part failed, until Q-. V. Brooke arose, and made it one of his chief attractions wherever he went. He also met with a watery grave, and since his death no adult actor has been able to obtain popularity in the delineation of this character. It appesrs to have been reserved for little Marion to revive the ipemory of the two greatest delineators J of Irish character — Power and Brooke. In every word and action this child is ! faultless. The other' members of the family, though not so remarkable, are yet well trained and accomplished artistes. ■Miss Julia,, and her sister Selina, are \tooth graceful' and accomplished girls, and

the Masters Nathan promise to becom< as good actors as they are already musi ciaas. Mr Small, as a comic singer especially of Irish songs, is inimitable, anc his acting is always good. We believ< that it was under his tutorship tha' little Marion attained her position o being the star of the Troupe. Mr J. Chambers is far from being ai indifferent comic actor. The com psny, taken as a whole, displays talent of extraordinary variety. "We lean that it is the intention of Mr Nathan, a1 the termination of his Australian engage ments, to take the company to America and England, and we believe that thej will in these countries command even a greater triumph than they have in the colonies.