THEATRE ROYAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2099, 19 September 1885, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

There was a considerable improvement in the attendance at the Theatre Royal yesterday evening, .when Miss Lizzie Lawrence and her Comedy-Drama Company gave their. second although the weather was most unpropitious. The public is apparently beginning to appreciate the' merits of the leading actors, though considering tha 4 "- they stay only oiio night longer, this is rather late, Perhaps no better proof could be given of the impression they are capable of making on the' public, than the fact that several residents of Greytown have offered the Company a guarantoe to give another performance in that township on Monday next. Gilbert's comedy, of " Sweethearts" stood first on the bills last night. The plot is a very simple one, yet'ft admits .of several exceedingly pathetic and comic scenes, Harry SpreadbrougK is ordered off t* India, and on the eye of starting proposes..to Jenny. Northcott,; who treats him as if he were a mere school boy. He is away thirty years, during which he has gained a high position, and on returning finds her single still. He makes light of his formerlovefor her, untilhefinds out thatshehastreasured. a flower he gave her at parting, when the old affection returns. Wo. should be inclined to call it a drama rather than a comedy. Miss Lawrence Jook the, • part of Jenny Northcott. During,the first act she was exceedingly happy in hor delineation of the character, and the harsh and hearties swit with which she treated the. lover were most natural. Yet was ijot a word or a motion that wasnotthat of a lady. The utter collapse when Harry Spreadbrough was gone formed a beautiful contrast; and brought .down the : house. Mr Dillon represented the lover, and though the part is not.by any moans calculated to allow anyone to shine in it, he had the audience with him from beginning to end, and .was frequentlyapplauded, After an interval there'was a nigger song, the.performer, being clever enough to secure two encores. Miss Lena Robinsotfs song was also encored. The last part was filled with the clover farce " Chopstick and Spikins." The two names represent two friends who have got into domestic troubles, one of them having a virago of a mother-in-law, capitally represented by Miss Norton, and the other a wife who is supposed to have run away from him, Miss Lawrence taking this part. Mr Rede as Spikins was exceedingly funny, Mr Dillon ably supporting him as Chopstick, Miss Robinson representing Mrs Spikins, It is needless to say that the audience dispersed in the best of humor.

East Lynne will be produced to-night, Miss Lawrence taking the characters of Lady Isabel and Madame Vine, in which she has scored great successes elsewhere. It is said to be her best impersonation.