AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 102, 10 April 1875, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

With the close of Easter week came the departure of the caterers for the recreation of the public, and the Princes Theatre was thus left m undisputed possession. It is said that it is an Englishman's privilege to growl, and unless of that nationality and determined to assert his right, we defy a patron of the theatre during the past week be otherwise than pleased. The management had promised that there should be a change of programme nightly, and it must be admitted they have not broken faith, for in the space of six nights four plays were presented. On Friday week Miss Howard appeared as Mercy Merrick in the "New Magdalen." As the piece has been played in Dunedin before, and no doubt will be tanuliar to most of our readers, it may not be necessary to explain the plot. We a re n ot aware by whom the story, originally written by Wilkie Collins, has been dramatised, but the adapter has been singularly fortunate in placing it before the public in such a form as to awaken an interest which commences with the rising of the curtain and never flags to the concluding scene. The heroine of the piece was of course sustained by Miss Howard, and her representation of the dual characters of Mercy Merrick and Grace Roseberry was a most finished piece of acting, and stamps her as an actress of the very highest order. In the scene between the true Grace Boseberry and herself, when she acknowledges her guilt and offers all the atonement in her power, the anguish from which she suffers had a visible effect upon the audience ; but when driven to bay, and goaded to desperation by the sneers and taunts of her torturer, she flings all her good resolutions to the winds, braves her rival, and gives full vent to her outraged feelings, the effect was such as sent a thrill through those present by its almost terrible reality. Again, when she sees the woman whom she has wronged but who has driven her to desperation, about to be dragged to a felon s cell, the nobler and finer feelings of her nature bursts the bonds by which they have been fettered, and by the sacrifice of herself she protects her enemy. In the " New Magdalen" Miss Howard has achieved the greatest success since her advent, there being elicited in its representation powers of a superior order to those exhibited on former occasions. Perhaps the fact that she was better supported by the company than on previous occasions may have much to do with its success. Mr. Keogh enacted the r6le of the eccentric but noble-minded Julian Grey, and although at times somewhat inclined to be stagy, we confess we have never seen him to such advantage. The intended husband of Grace Eoseberry was assumed by Mr. Clinton, and, considering the sighing lover is somewhat out of his line, he deserves credit for his rendering of the character. As Lady Janet Eoy, Mrs. Stoneham ■was most successful, and in the scene where she declares that she preferred being cheated by the assumed Grace Eoseberry to possessing the hollow heart of the true one, she was deservedly applauded. In the very trifling part allotted to Mr. Musgrave, as the Prussian Surgeon, he was, as he always is, effective, and the minor characters were taken with care. * . -,, On , *£ onda y i and Tuesday evenings the sensational play of "Lady | Audley s Secret' was produced, Miss Howard, of course, representing the beautiful but ambitious Lady Audley. Notwithstanding the popularity of Miss Braddon's novel, and the almost unparalleled success which attended its publication, the dramatised versiou has never been a favorite with the public, but it is only fair to say that it.was put on the stage, and the individual characters sustained in a most creditable manner. On Wednesday Miss Howard appeared as Camille in the play of that name. Ab this was a character in which she was reported to excel, a very large audience mustered upon the occasion, and although the first act passed off without any sign of approbation, in the succeeding ones she amply proved that rumouf had but told the truth. In the scene where she consents to sacrifice her own happiness at the entreaty of the father of her lover, and resign him for ever, the anguish which the struggle cost her was portrayed in a most effecting manner. Although a finished piece of acting throughout, we scarcely consider the Camille of Miss Howard equal to her personation of Grace Eoseberry, but perhaps the fault should be charged rather to the character than the actress. As Armand Duval, Mr. Steele is entitled to tlie highest praise, his impersonation of the devoted and high-minded admirer of the unfortunate Camille being one of the very best characters in which we have seen him. As the Count, Mr X)hnton deserves a word of praise, in conjunction with the rest of the Company. As Gaston, Mr. Keogh had but little to do, but he was effective in it, and made as much of the character as was possible. The despicable part of Madame Prudence was allotted to Mrs. Stoneham, and the greatest praise which can be accorded her is to say that the character as represented by her was the very quintessence or hollow-heartednees, selfishness, and greed.