THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 134, 26 November 1875, Page 12

THE DRAMA.

Ai'tku a highly successful run of tw olve nights, the " Shaughraun" was ■withdrawn on Saturday last, to give place to n new four-act clra.lllll,, adapted from the French, entitled "The Two Orphans." The drama is ot the heaviest description, and being onii rely devoid of anything approaching the low comedy clement, drags considerably. Coming immediately alfer a piece abounding with so much drollery find gomune wit us the "Shaughraun," the contrail was of course more lliaii ordinarily hi i iMng. The plot is far too complicated for us to attempt lv describe it in the limited space at our command, and pourIrays characters ■ ot unlike those depicted by Eugene Sin: in his "Mysteries of I'aris.." The piece was well mounted, testifying to the expense the management had gone to in placing it on the btago ; wliile (he respect i\e characters were more than usually well-drcs&ed. It, ab< unds with dramatic and highly sensational situations — tableaux being formed ;it the end of each act ; but there i=> far too much maudlin MMitnni-nt — the sympathies are appealed to toooften, while some of the characters are perfectly revolting, showing phases of human nature which we would willingly shut our eyes to. Mr. Whcatleigh did not appear to very g cat, acl vantage, and several of the other characters were considerably overweighted. Tie cast numbered no less than twenty-four, and of course tested the entire strength of the company ; but tiiking tho piece on the whole, it c.mnot be pronounced by any me ii'fo a success. It went e.isier on Monday evening, but in consequent eof t!,o wet weather the house was a very poor one. The Icniiile characters, with one or two exceptions, vtoro well sustained, while oi the male characters, Messrs. Steele, Musgrave, Stoneham, and Saville stood prominently forward. The drama was very judiciously ■withdrawn on Wednesday evening, when the "Shauglnaun" was sigain placed on the boards. We would remind our readers that Mr Wheat leigh takes a ben t fit to-i.ight (Friday), whon doubtless a crowded houso will manifest its appreciation of him a$ a genuine Irish

comedian. We understand Mr. Wheatleigh will make his last appearance to-morrow evening (Saturday), after which he proceeds to Wellington, in company with Mr. Saville, to fill an engagement with the Darrells. In engaging the services of Mr. Saville as business manager, Mr. Wheatleagh has shown considerable judgment,, and we feel confident that he will not regret his choice. Mr. Saville will leave behind him a lai'ge number of friends, for by his amiability and obliging disposition he has endeared many to Mm both in. and out of the profession.