THE OPERA HOUSE.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 226, 10 January 1885, Page 12

THE OPERA HOUSE.

" Blue Beard " made his final appearance on Tuesday night, a large and appreciative audience of old and young being assembled to give him a kindly farewell. "We cannot let the pantomino season close without noticing Mrs Lewis' kindliness and liberality in supplying Christmas cake to the children of the Parnell Orphanage, who had been invited to attend by this genial lady. On Wednesday, the grand historical drama "Jane Shore" was placed on the stage in a manner that fully justified the high encomiums of the Press, the scenery being entirely now to Auckland, having been brought specially by Mrs Lewis while the dresses were remarkable for their appropriateness. This drama was first written by K. Howe, in 1713, and created a great sensation. The version presented now has been written by Mr "W. J. Wills, who has done every justice to the subject, besides giving a pleasant ending to what, in reality, was a very tragic one. It is to be presumed that, under the advanced system of education, everyone is conversant with the plot, but for the information of many who did not make English history a special study when young, a slight sketch will not be amiss. Jane Shore was the wife of a London goldsmith, and left her home to become the mistress of King Edward the Fourth. On the death of that monarch, Lord Hastings wished her to live with him, but she rejected his addresses, and this drew on the unfortunate Jane the wrath of Hastings' mistress, who induced her to accuse that nobleman of want of allegiance to the Lord Protector, the Duke of Gloucester, who commanded the instant execution of Hastings, and accusing Jane of witchcraft, condemned her to wander about the town in a winding sheet holding a taper in her hand, and decreed that anyone offering her food or shelter should be put to death. Jane wandered about for three days, whun her husband came to her succour, but was seized by Gloucester's myrmidons. Jane Shore died." The drama gives, however, a more pleasant ending, and we certainly must say a very acceptable one, for the emotional acting of Mrs Lewis in the fourth act made everyone feel so utterly miserable that it requires a wonderful amount of control to prevent one from shedding tears, in fact, several ladies werec very much affected, Mrs Lewis' impersonation of the unhappy hei'oinc being exceedingly realistic. It is easy to go from the sublime to the ridiculous, but from the ridiculous to the sublime is not so easy a matter, and shows the great versatility of talent possessed by this lady, when from the comic part of Selim, in "Blue Beard," she impersonates a character like that of Jane Shore, which gives scope for great and varied emotional acting. That this talented lady's delineation of the character was fully appreciated was shown by the fact of her being culled before the curtain at the conclusion of every act, and receiving a perfect ovation each time. Mr St. Lawrence gave a good rendering of Henry Shore, especially in the second act, where the wife seeks reconciliation with her husband. The Duke of Gloucester was impersonated by Mr Harry Douglas, and a very substantial Duke he made : but no better praise could have been rendered to his impersonation of an unpopular character than that he was called before the curtain several times and severely hooted. John Grist, the staunch friend of Jane Shore, gave an admirable rendering of a bluff, out-spoken Englishman of the true John Bull type, and several times brought forth hearty

applause by his blunt sayings. The other characters incidental to the piece were well and. ably sustained. This play should have a good run, and, indeed, is well worthy a visit. It has never before been produced in Auckland. To send, the audience home with pleasant smiles instead of woe-begone-faces, the sparkling comedietta of " Who's to Win Him" was played, and Mr E. D. Haygarth keeps the audience in thorough $ good humour at his comical impersonation of Mr Prattleton Primrose, his happy rendering of the character forcibly reminding us of our old friend McGrowan. Under the supervision of Mr S. B. Lewis and the courteous business manager, Mr J. W. Dodge, every arrangement is made for the comfort of visitors, and no one will regret a visit to the Opera House to witness " Jane Shore.''