AMUSEMENTS.

THE HOLLOWAT DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Notwithstanding the severity of the weather tho Princess Theatre was well patronised last evening, when tho Holloway Dramatic Company gave another change of theatrical fare in the shape of a revival of Dion Boucicault's evergreen drama, " Tho Sh&uglitaun," and tha revival was evidently a very welcome one to many, who wished to renew their acquaiiriaace with Conn, that most popular type of Irish character. Tho merits of " Tho Shaughraun" need no comment here. They have stood tha test of time, and the play has still lost none of its power to attract. Mr Holloway's Company last evening fully sustained its reputation as possessing a high average of f.ll-round ability,

and showed themselves capable of presenting the drama named in a thoioughly.praiseworthy manner in all its varied aspects, nothing being slurred or considered too trifling to require careful attention. As Conn, the Shaughraun, Mr J. P, O'Neill confirmed gcod opinions of 1 his ability as' a first-rate comedian, and his impersonation of the character known as "tha soli! of every fair, the life of every funeral, and the first fiddler at all weddings" would compare well wilh any of the many such seen on the local stage. Mr O'Xeill kept the audience continuously amused, and his happy comedy hns this welcome trait—that it is never stretched to far. That Conn was in the good graces of the audience it is hardly necessary to say. Mr Godfrey Cass, as Robert Ffoiiiott, the_ young gentleman who, under sentence as a Fenian has such stirring adventures in gaol, acted naturally and not without power; while as Captain Molinoux Mr Vivian Edwards played in. his

usual manly ami straightforward style. Mt Holloway appeared himself in the cast as the parisli priest, Father Doolan, and his was one of the excellent character studies which mako a> strong point of the play, and as the policeagent (Hnrvcy Duff) Mr C. E. Stanford gave a. finished study of the character of a blackguard. Mr Harry Hmlson did sound work as tiie sneaking squireen Corry Kiuchola. Both Mies ]da Grcsbarn and Hiss Irby Marshall made the most of the parts allotted them as Clam Ffolliott and Arte O'Neal respectively; Miss Alice Deonvyn, as His O'Kelly. Conn's mother, assisted in some good comedy; while Miss Beatrice Holloway as Conn's sweetheart, Moya, niado a. great deal of her part; contributing niost materially to the abundant humour ot the

play. Several other minor characters .were adequately represented. 'Hie staging of the play was on a complete and satisfying scale, a particularly excellent piece of work being the change in the Eecond act from the interior o£ the prison to the exterior of the gate tower. A beautiful sccno in the -second act is that/ depicting the ruins of St. Bridget's Abbey hy night, lvhilo in the third act the chanting ol lite dirge at tho wake is inodo a specially well-lr-ninigod feature. " The Shaughraun " was received willi mr.uy demonstrations of approval by last evening's audience, and will be repeated this evening-

ALHA3IBEA THEATRE. Last night's performance at the AHiambra Theatre was again witnessed by a fairly largo audience, who showed their appreciation of the nmuseincnt provided them by unstinted apple-use. The week's programme will bo staged for the last time to-night, while to-

morrow night, in addition to tho usual week€iicl cliiiiigo of vrogrtiiunic tho first apDCJirp.iico in Dunedic of Air Walter IMroso" (aeforvocalist) is announced. WIRTH'S CIRCUS. Tho coming season of Wirtk Bros.' Circn», which commences on Monday next on the Oval, should be a, success, as the firm are bringing a. largo number of performers with them. A 7 o /ewer Mum 103 c:W people are travelling with this show. The star of tie company is the strong man (Herr Pagcl). It was Herr Pagcl that had such a narrow escape while-performing with tho lion during the company's season in Sydney. Besides Herr Pagel and the Hoivard Bros., described as " human raco bafflers," ITessrs V.'irfh Bros, 'havo a remarkable wild-animal trainer in the perspn of Mons. Paulo Ponseil. This man is said to enter tho large iron cage and go through ii performance with a lion, hyena, pony, dog, lamb, and goat, making them eat together in a manner as remnrkablo as novel. The programme promised beside the star attractions is very veried.

Intsixlins patrons are reminded that a. vocal Mid dramatic entertainment in aid of the All Saints' choir fund will bB held in All Saints' Schoolroom to-night. -A very excellent firstpart programme, on which appears tho namsa of such well-known artists as Jfiss Grant, Messrs J. A. Haggitt, Gerald Branson, and P. S. K. llacassey m)l be supplemented by the production, ior the first time in Dunedin, ol Wynn Miller's delightful comedy "Dream Paces." As this piece has bean in active, rehearsal for some weeks, unclor tao direction of Mr F. S. Goyen, a good performance may, confidently bo predicted.