The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1871. "Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 178, 6 July 1871, Page 4

The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1871. " Measures, not Men."

The last performance, tor a season, in that public place of amusement, the Otago Provincial Council, will probably take place this week. It is to be regretted that this, the first, series of these highly popular entertainments should so soon come to a close — should terminate at a time when the performers generally, and the " stars " in particular, were creating a noise and a name. At the same time, it is a source of deep gratification to the people of Otago to know that from their midst have sprung i&uch actors of genius and histrionic talent as are found in our Provincial Circus — men whose fame is being wafted to distant regions by the four winds of heaven. Since the death of David Garrick, in 1779, no actor has ever lived who could equal him for truth, nature, variety, and facility of expression, until the advent of that star of vast magnitude, James Macandrew — an artiste whose unparalleled excellence is calculated to move the spheres (with laughter). Nor is our modern Grimaldi, Mr. Haughton, a whit less deserving of the vociferous encomiums lavished upon him by an enthusiastic and. discriminating public. Did our space permit of it', we should indulge ourselves in the pleasure of writing a lengthened critique on the various nes formances which have taken place at the Provincial Circus during the last few weeks, giving sufficient prominence to the eminently superior acting of that affable, smiling,

though' withalsoffiewhut-pompous artiste, Thomas L. Shepherd — not forgetting W. H. Keynolda — who usually adopts the rdle of the pertinacious, peevish old sire, his acting being very truthful and natural— and the other members of the Provincial Circus ; but we must confine ourselves to a few passing remarks. DuriDg the present season the corps has chiefly confined itself to light comedy, the only really heavy pieces being " The Financial Statement ; or, Figures and Facts," and " The Estimates ; or, How to Save money." The great hit of the season, "however, was the celebrated farce, " Scenes in the Provincial Council," which has had a long run, and which has been spoken of by the Dunedin press in high terms. Those scenes in which the characters have to go through a great amount of gesticulation, eye-rolling, fist-shaking, brow-beating, &c, seem to have been executed with good taste and expression, to the great delight of a grinning audience. That part of the farce where Dr. Webster, who takes the part of an M.P.C., with cool effrontery offers to bet a new hat with any member of the House that he can reduce the departmental expenditure 25 per cent., was a great hit. Other scenes, in which Messrs. Reid, Cutten, Shepherd, Reynolds, and others took part, were equally well received. On the whole, then, the season which is about to come to a close has been marked with great success, and the members of our now famed dramatic corps can congratulate themselves upon having gained a habitation and a name amongst the celebrities of the histrionic art. We would strongly advise them to take a starring tour round the province during the interval between the seasons, for we feel convinced that they would be enthusiastically received wherever they went ; at any rate, we could promise them a kindly reception in Tuapeka.