MR TAVARES THE TRAGEDIAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 220, 18 April 1872, Page 6

MR TAVARES THE TRAGEDIAN.

On Saturday evening Mr Morton Tavares appeared for the first time in Dunedin at the Prince's Theatre in the character of the Cardinal Prime Minister. It is a peculiarity of leading stage characters, such as Hamkt, Othello, Richelieu, and others, that they are capable of different renderings, each of which commends itself as natural, because it is felt that similar events affect persons of different idiosyucracie* in various ways. We can thereore fairly give to Mr Tavares tbe creiit of playing Kichelieu well, while confessing that our own conception of the manner in which the perplexing circumstances in which be is represented to have been placed would affect such a man differs from his in very m;iny material points. Richelieu, whose long tenure of office, in the course of which he must, times without number have had to meet with plotters against himself and to thwart them in their plans, must have acquired a habit of i mastering himself that would prevent violent outbursts of rage. Men like him are seldom demonstrative, even in age. They may be stern, uncompromising, harsh to their opponents ; but habitual self-command tempers ! even their ra-jje. There is no abandonment of self : the bitterest word, the most impeI rious mandate is given with a fall perception of its intended purpose, and precisely in the manner calculated to produce its most telling effect. Mr Tavares appears to have formed a different idea, and alloivs tbe outward manifestation of the mind's storm full disp'ay. The exhausting effect of conflicting emotion appears therefore more physical and outward than spiritual and internal. There are, however, many sceaes in which be evinces great power, and the delight with which his efforts were regarded was shewn by repeated cal s before the curtain in tlie course of the evening. Miss Surtees, as Julie, gives promise of beconrng an accomplish d actress. Her manner is polished aud graceful, her figure good, and her ideal of the characters she sustains correct. Mr Tavares must have been pleased with the manner in which he was supported by the cempany. Nothing mars a flue play like <f Richelieu" so much as indifferent performance of tbe subordinate characters ; but this was not the case on Saturday evening, Messrs O'Brien, Glover, Booth, Thorpe. Musgrave, and Hydes, in their various characters of Count de Baradas, Clievalie de Mauprat, Louis Monarch of France, the Duke ot Orleans, the Friar Joseph, and De Beringhan, and Misses Anstead, Willis, and Raymond, as Francois, Claremont, and ' Marion de Lorme, exerted themselves to render tbe piece effective as a whole, aud shewed tbe same care in the performance of their parts as if they had the leading character to sustain. The consequence was that " Ricbelieij" has seldom been seen to so great advantage in the Colony. This was added to by the excellent scenic arrangements of of Mr Willis. The piepe was well put on the stage, and notwithstanding the counter attraction of the conpart and the wet evening, the house was fairly attended, but not so well as such talent on tho stage and effort by the management deserve. — Star.