Academy of Music.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3582, 19 June 1880, Page 3

Academy of Music.

Th© inclemency of the weather and tbe excitement at Scrip Corner had the effect of only half filling the scats of tho Academy of Music last evening on the occasion of the first appearance of the Steele Dramatic Company. The audience, however, though by no means as large as the excellenceof the performance deserved, was a thoroughly appreciative one, and their hearty applause must have in a measure made amends to the corps dramatique for their paucity. The first portion of the programme was occupied by Byron's now celebrated comedy, " Our Gi r l ß "_ a piece which our old friend, Mr J. L. Hall, has already made famous this side of the line. The plot is clever and unique, and the many amusing situations are replete with the spirit of true comedy. Mr J. B. Steele, as the distant cousin, Fred. Fanshawe, and Mr Haygarth, as the redoutable Captain Ginger, were, perhaps, tbe most successful of the male artists, the latter keeping the risible faculties of the audience in « continual state of activity. They were ably seconded by " Messrs O'Brien, Patterson, and Thomson.

Misses Clara Stephenson and Marie Wilton in the roles of the cousins, Helen i(L>d Lilian Gaythorne at once ingratiated taemselves into the sympathies of the audience, and Miss Hathaway as Mrs Gonn, contributed in no small degree to the success of the representation. We hope that the company will produce this highly amusing comedy again before leaving. The afterpiece was the old, though ever nmusing burlesque of f Aladdin, the Wonderful Scamp." It is difficult to say which character created the most amusement—the Widow Twankey of Mr Haygarth, or Mr Reynolds' Abanazar the Magician. Both disclosed comedial powers of very high order. Miss Clara Stephenson's forte is burlesque and as Aladdin, was highly successful. Miss Hathaway as the Princess sang the songs incidental to the piece in a manner j that won well deserved applause. To night Tom Taylor's great play "The ticket of leave man " wil be produced, and we hope to see a bumper house. The merit of the actors certainly deserves a much better patronage than that extended last night.