THEATRE ROYAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 39, 13 February 1903, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

J "SAN TOY." i The Williamson Oomedy Compiny put f up whit is probably a record for New ' Plymouth in the matter of attendance j at the Theatre Riyal on Thursday i evening. The building was packed • from ceiling to roof and many had to be ! turned away. The business done here 1 during their two night season is a clear j indication that the New Plymouth i public know a good show and heartily ) support it when it comes along. The - Company will no doubt now make .New Plymouth one of their regular \ show towns. Of " San Toy " with all L its gorgeous eastern dressing andcalesI tial dialogue, too much cannot be siid > in appreciation and in the hands of the Williamson Company it proved a theat- ■ rical treat seldom witnessed in New I Plymouth. The scenery was on a ' lavish scale and the costumes brilliant •in the extreme, whilst the orchestra under the biton of Mr ■ George Hall was a valuable acqui--1 sition to a sparkling play. To attempt ! to describe the different scenes would ' be to paint the lily, tbey must needs bs , seen to be adequately appreciated. As i to thi) acting, the strength of the comi pany is its uniformity— would ' be difficult to single out one of the leading char (tors for pr.feraoce, though "Yen How" (Mr Olaude Bea- . toch) and his six little wives completely brought down the house, As " Li" Mr ! Fred Grahim fairly carried the auli--1 ence with him in his amorous frivolities ; with " Dudley," a pert little maid, i cleverly delineated by Miss Lilian Digges. The stately " Emperor of Ohina" was truthfully pourtrayed by 1 Mr A. Lifsint. Miss EUie Moore, as ' " Poppy," was also another striking character, and, moreover, her singing ' was a musical treat. In fact, the vocal music right through was crisp and tuneful, and, as sucb, highly appra- , ciated. Tha choruses too were remark- , ably good. Tha remaining characters i were ably sustained as follows: —" Captain Bobby Preston " (Son of Sir Bingo Preston), Mr Arthur Orane; " Sir 1 Bingo Preston" (British Consul at Pynka Pong), Mr Maurice Dudley; " Sing Hi," Mr H. Sweeney; " Lieutenant Harvey Tucker," Mr Ernest Moz*r ; " Fo Hop " (a Chinese Student) Mr James Hughes; "Ko Fan " (of the Emperor's Own), Miss Blanche Wallace. Last but by no means least mast be mentioned the little lady around which the fortunes of the whole assemblage resolved "Saa Toy." To Miss Rose Musgrove fell the task of impersonating this dual and withal difficult role, but, needless to say, she acted the part of the Chinese girl (arid boy) aa if to the manner born. Her vivacity and versatility were really good, whilst her singing, especially in the solo " Fashoda," stamped her as an artiste of the first water. It is safe to say that the New Plymouth public will be on the look-out for the next visit of the Williamson Comedy Company.