THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 116, 16 July 1875, Page 12

THE DRAMA.

-HAfter an engagement extending over seven -weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Bates take their leave of a Duhedin audience to-morrow evening-." During that time, Shakespeare has been represented by " Shylock/'" " Richard 111/' " Hamlet," and " Macbeth" j Eobeitson by " School" " and " Caste"; while in addition to a number of plays and dramasproduced for the first time, some of Boucicault's most sensational spectacular dramas have been put upon the stage. It can be asserted without fear of contradiction, that during the visit of noother artistes has there been such a variety, the heavy tragedies of the immortal bard being diversified by sparkling comedies, or night last, " Macbeth " was the programme, and we confess we were™ : plays with striking situations and absorbing interest. On Saturday [ most agreeably stirprised at the manner in which the piece was earned through by the company. Mr. Bates gave an intelligent-, rendering of the Thane of Cawdor, the passages requiring fire'and vehemence being delivered with a vigor which was markedly appreciated by the audience. Indeed, if his rendition were open toexception, it would be that he exhibited a superabundance, ratherthan any lack of verve or animation. Although a most careful and studied piece of acting throughout, Mr. Bates' Macbeth cannot be placed in the same rank as either his Shylock or Hamlet. As Lady Macbeth, Mrs. Bates had disadrantages to contend against which had no existence in Ophelia or Portia. In either of those characters and indeed in most others in which she has appeai-ed, Mrs. Bates in I addition to having an excellent conception of the part, has always looked the character, but Lady Macbeth, the unscrupulous strongminded woman, is pictured to our minds as one whose commandinoand majestic appearance is in keeping with the boldness of her designs. That Mrs. Bates does not possess those qualifications is a fact which will be granted, but one is apt to foa-got the defective physique in their appreciation of the natural hursts of passion and envective which Shakespeare has allotted to tlie character. Perhaps, however, the part in which the excellence of Mrs. Bates was shown to most advantage, Avas in the £C ne where the guilty queen walks in her sleep, and, in piteous tones, bemoans the blood which has stained her hands. The other characters of the piece were most creditably sustained, and Locke's music, incidental thereto, particularly the chorus, was given in a manner which would have done credit to an opera company. On Monday and Tuesday, a piece entitled " True Hearts '" an adaptation from the French, was produced, but like all plays and dramas from the same source, its chief recommendation lay in its mysteriousness. It may be deemed paradoxical to assert that, although the piece abounds in plot — in fact, it is one continual change of villainy for another there is in itself no plot proper. The two principal male eha ra / ters are a kind of Robert Macaire and his Fidus Achates. "We are unaware whether the author or the adapter is to receive the credit for the haze which surrounds the whole, but if mystifying the audience be the aim intended, then indeed it must be deemed an unqualified success. On Wednesday night Mrs. Bates took a farewell benefit, on which occasion wa s produced an. American noveltyentitled " Psychoscope," the work of two members of the Fourth Estate in America. We are glad to say that the fair beneficiare had a most substantial house, the lowe r portions heino- incon veniently crowded. We cannot s^y the selection of the piece was a judicious one, as Mr. Bates was almost entirely cut out, the in significant part for which he was east almost totally io-norino- him" Although in many places throughout, the piece abounds in criso and sparkling dialogue, and much of the language put into thp speakers' mouths, is of a nature calling for favorable criticism vet there are many things which is open to censure, and had' ih£ management studied there own interests, they -would have excised one long and highly improper act. The drama, -ivhen properly con ducted, has much in it to commend itself to favor, but certainly such pieces as " Psychoscope " are calculated to brino- the sta^p into contempt. Were it cut down to two acts, and the obiection able portion to which we have alluded excised, it would have been a most enjoyable performance, as many portions exhibit consider able merit, but its excellencies were more thau outweighed by th^ preponderance of the offensive. To Mr. Keogn, the "hero of thp piece, fell the burden of the labor, and, although vilely treated in the earlier portion of the evening, he had a fitting reward befom the curtain was dropped, while the scoundrel was confounded in the most orthodox manner. Mr. Saville received a hearty round of applause for the admirable manner in which he acted as the expositor of the charades, and his recitation of |a Dortion of Tennyson's "Elaine" was a splended piece of elocution At the conclusion of the evening's entertainment a vociferous call wa* made for Mr. and Mrs. Bates. After bowing their acknowledgments, the former warmly thanked the Dunedin public for tfia liberal patronage which himself and Mrs. Bates had received Aw ing the stay, vr *