Theatre Royal.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3302, 22 July 1879, Page 2

Theatre Royal.

THE,KE^qHA^T; C^ VSNIf E)

The fillilwmselatJiilCvlJhleaiw Koyal j last evening must have been very gratifyj ing; to;;Mr^E; rir^:ODe'lLuiiA the lessee, \ showing that his efforts'to provide high \ class ; amusement,for i the, people of r the Thames, is appreciated by them^ * The | piece placed on the boards was "The Merchant of Venice," with the follbwing dramatis pcr&bh&^Stiyl&ck?Mr 'G. B. j Chaplin; Antonio, Mi* C. Burford; i Baisanio, Mr L. St. Laurence • Grratiano, j Ift'J. :V<A*n&f^^tyMis&Tft^Bi \ Bake of iiTe'h4ce,'lSir"L^iil[f^j^cJß^^| jSalanio, Mr F. Mason; Salarino, Mr C. IMowry;, Ljunce^ot• ,Gpb>q,; Mr^BJjnd \ Holt; Old Gbbbo, Mr McGowan; Tubal, ; M^jLievy';. Balthasar, Miss A. Marsh; Leonardo, Mr Wallace; Jessica, ;Misi Lena Edwin; Nerisfla, Miss Lillie Marsh; Portia, Miss EoseOsbornfi'MrOh'Bplin's representation of the grasping and; Christian hating Jew was a most skilful and artistic delineation of the great Shake- : sperian character. > It is a character' in !whicli near^ all iKe^a^fliyl;|isii6tii of |human nature i« «h iown-7^deadly. hate, Imalice liti& avarice, and t6 properly porj-, {tray the author's ideal,, these require to be brought .'' .^ld,- relief.* Mr; ; Ghaplin succeeded in doing JtbiSi, and, consequently his Shylock isv a success. Of MissOsborne's Portia we can speak in terms of high praise. The passage, commencing , '■.V.^i.V^^i-^M , „ " The quality of mercy is not stained—?! , ■, ■„; . was delivered with rare histrionic ability. Her finejstage presence and her intimate j jacqiiaintance with,the. exigencies of the part jvery, toon established; her as** 'favourite . with the audience. Mr St. Lawrence'b Basstnio was excellent and Mr Bland Holt as Launcelot Qobbo, and Mr 'McGowan as Old Gobbo kept the audience highly amused all the time they were on the stage. To the ladies and gentlemen who took the minor character? great credit is due,: as thejr contributed materially to : the. 1 succest' of the play^ Th' 6 after piece was'a farcefCalled §<iMri and 1 Mrs Peter White,'; ft; which Mf Bland Holt she Wed ins inimitable, powers in; comedy, and' Miss Lena Jfidwin, as Mrs White, found : favor with; the audience. Messrs McGrowan and St. Lawrence also helped to keep, the fun, ftlive." This comedietta is certainly one of the most amusing we have ever seen. . Tp-JUaHT. _ .-. , r To-night an entirely 1 new called " Engaged, or the Scotch Marriage," will be placed on the boards. It is highly spoken of by the Auckland prens. ; ; ■ J ; ' ) \ '.' ':] /*. ['{ (i