THEATRE ROYAL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2535, 20 February 1877, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

The first appearance of Mr J. K. Emmet al the Theatre Eoyal last night, supported by Mr De Lias' company, may be pronounced a success, and that not due to the merits of " Fritz " as a comedy, but to Mr Emmet's preeminent abilities ai a character actor and the burden which ha has to sustain. It is evident that " Fritz " was written to bring into prominence the principal actor's great points^ and these are many, he being undoubtedly a good musician and singer, and a finished actor. It is unfortunate to have seen imitators of Mr Emmet's style before seeing him, but the comparison between his imitators and Mr Emmet is favorable to the latter. Fritz is a character something like Lord Dundreary and Kip Van Winkle. There have been many imitators of Mr Sothern and Mr Jefferson, but not one who has attempted either- of these parts has ever come within leagues of the originals. So with German Character actors of the Fritz type. There have been many who have essayed to personate the "'Deutscher" in eccentric comedy or broad farce, but none that we have seen'can be said to have approached Mr Emmet in that line.' Their singing has been of the Music Hall and Negro Ministrel type— a combination!of both without the originality or humour appertaining to either— a medley of indifferent broken English of the uneducated German and the stage Ethiopian. So .also is it with the singing. . Mr Emmet's is of the natural type, really pathetic where pathos is the sentiment to be expressed, and broadly humorous in his merry moods. It is not difficult to account for the great success*which has characterised his performances in the large centres of population, for they have in them those rare attractions which suit the popular taste as well as the refined, and the popular taste is very often as discriminating as the more educated and critical, when that taste has not been thoroughly depraved by a surfeit of vulgarities.;. The comedy or drama of ." Fritz"—it might be called a drama, for there, are some strikingly sensational incidents in itr—is?not what one would call a high class piece, neither is it an elaborate work of playwright's skill, but it is simply a conception to give scope to one actor's specialities, at the same giving a connected plot, the details of which are easily followed^ and the incidents sufficiently marked to carry the interest of the audience further than would be the case if. everything were sacrificed to the .glorification of the" star." Briefly the plot may be summarised. Fritz (Mr Emmet) and Katarina (Miss Jessie Kaymond) emigrate, to New York to better their condition, and the former to find a sister who has been left an orphan there while Fritz remained' at home. On arrival they fall into the hands of designing men,- and troubles follow, but in the end these lead to Fritz's discovery of His sister, Fritz calling back her memory by singing the " Lullaby," a very simple , and touching piece of instrumentation and song, the refrain of which pervades the music of the piece from the overture to the finish. Fritz gets into greater trouble through claiming his' sister, is cast into prison on a charge of passing forged notes, of which charge he is acquitted through the timely evidence of a person of indifferent character, alaVyer named Grim (Mr K. Glover), because a greater villain than he, one Colonel Crafton (Mr C. Holloway) would not purchase his silence on the former's 'terms. Poor Fritz, gains a wife in, Katariua, and a sister, and we next meet with him as a prosperous miller and farmer, with an addition to his family in. the "person of a little " Schneider." But danger again threatens. When Fritz is away from home for a time, the expire .prisoner Crafton appears on the scene, in company with another expiry, bent on plunder. Kecognising .Katarina, Crafton determines upon vengeance as well as plunder, and he has just placed ■ little Schneider on the mill wheel aud started it so that the poor child would be , crushed, when Fritz suddenly returns ! home, rescues the child, saves his

wife, and works retribution on his enemies by shooting them, thus winding up in orthodox style by exhibiting virtue rewarded and vice punished. It would be impossible in a notice of reasonable length to give all the salient points of the play, or to mention how all Mr Emmet's songs, characters and dances are introduced. For the same reason we must defer to another occasion any notice of the subordinate parts, merely mentioning - that Miss Eaymond and Miss Amy 'J torton played very well in their respective roles. Mr Emmet played his accompaniments on the guitar .and banjo,' giving preference to the former in the beautiful song of the " Lullaby." He also extracted sweet'music from a mouth organ; playing " Home Sweet Home" with difficult variations, while the house listened with rapt attention. The scenery, brought from Auckland specially for the piece, was very effective and appropriate, one scene being particularly noticeable. The orchestra is strong and good, and the opening overture was very pretty. There • were several demonstrations intended for " calls," but Mr Emmet declined to com© before the curtain, and, wisely, for there , was a number of persons in the audience (boys, we should imagine) who appeared to think that shrill whistling and shrieking ought to be accepted as a compliment which no actor could resist. -The sama. programme will be given to-night, aftflf^ which something further may be said i of " Fritz " and its chief character,, as well as some of the minor characters who are deserving of commendation.