THE PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

West Coast Times, Issue 705, 27 December 1867, Page 2

THE PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

There was a double performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre yesterday. In the afternoon the pantomime of " Gulliver on his " was plajed for the first time, to a moderate house. It was repeated iv the evening, to a house dennely crowded in every part and corner of it. Indeed, we had little opportunity ourselves of seeing the play, hay. ing to stand throughout on tip-toe, and peep at the stage as we could, through masses of intervening heads and shoulders. It ttrs, in

fact, a great house, and there was one marked specialty about it — nineteen twentieths of the audience consisted of men, a most unusual thing in a theatre as it is in a church. The fact testifies to the large number of diggers who have come to town to spend their Christinas holidays here.

Tho great attraction at this placo of ainusemont was the pantomime, which was well put upou the stage. The entertainment commenced with Murray's historical drama of " Mary, Queen of Scots," and although the principal characters were creditably sustained, it cannot be denied that every one was anxiously waiting for the pantomime — " Gulliver on his Travels," to which in duo course tho curtain rose.

In the introduction to this there is room for improvement, but after the transformation scene things went more smoothly. The scenery, from the pencil of Mr Wilson, was magnificent — the local scenes were beautifully executed, the perspective being perfectly true, and the drawing and coloring a reality. The succession of scenery towards the close of the pantomime was so fine as to elicit the applause of every person in the house. Mr Wilson is no mere painter ; he is an artist, and one who evidently has not only an intense love of the beautiful, but who possesses the rare power of transferring to canvas that which so much delights himself. His pictures arc life-like, and are real embodiments of what they represent. The various properties, by Mr Liddy, wero most creditably furnished, and 'the machinist, Mr Cooper, is deserving of great praise for his share in produuing the pantomime. The arrangement of the music had been confided to Mr Charles Eigenschenck, and the performances of the orchestra under his able leadership added greatly to the effective manner in which the pantomime was put upon the stage. The Misses Julia and Selina Nathan as Columbines, elicited loud and repeated applause from the audience — by the gracefulness which they threw into every movement ; and the performance of Mr J. Chambers and Master E. Nathan as Harlequins, were superior to any similar impersonations yet presented in Hokitika. It is to Mr Chambers that the success which has attended that part of the entertainment, which may not inaptly be termed the poetry of motion, is due, and the ovation which greeted his pupils' efforts, must have been highly gratifying to himself jis well. We must not forget to make honorable mention of the part of the Clown, which was capitally taken by Mr Frank Towers. There was an originality and piquancy about his manner, which made the audience laugh in spite of themselves.

No doubt this pantomino will have a successful run. The tricks were exceedingly well performed, particularly the table jump, whilst the march of tho children headed by a little drummer in silver and blue uniform, and who went through his part with the utmost composure, was greatly admired. The credit of this is due to Mr Ashton, under whose training they had been. The management have evidently spared no expense in getting up this pantomime, and we hope will meet with the success which their spirited enterprise deserves. This evening the same bill will be repeated, when we anticipate another overflowing house.