THE NATHAN JUVENILE TROUPE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3650, 31 March 1869, Page 3

THE NATHAN JUVENILE TROUPE.

Never since the Prince of Wales .Theatre has been a theatre have we seen it more densely crowded than it was' last evening,' <tn the occasion of the benefit of { that prodigy— La Petite Marion. To say tha^ the house was simply full would be conveying no idea of its actual state— it was packed to sucb u degree that not one more person could by any means have been seated at any. time after the first piece had commenced. The audience comprised most; of the lead* j ing families resident in Auckland, and the appearance of the dress-circle was most gay and enliven-ing-—perhaps the only thing tbat could in the slightest measure detract from the evening's enjoyment being the intense heat. Among those present we noticed his Honor tho Superintendent and several members of the Government, both Provincial and General. The whole house seemed animated with the unanimous deiire of showing their appreciation of the remarkable talents possessed by our little favourite— the beneficiaire. ■Seldom has it been our lot to listen to such real and spontaneous bursts of hearty applause as those which rang within the theatre, and we question whether any living performer could so powerfully appeal to the sympathy of an audience as did little Marion last evening. Had any earnest been wanting of the estimation in which she is held by the Auckland play-going public, it would have been for eyer set at rest by the enthusiasm, amounting at times to a perfect furore, which greeted the tiny Hibernian (for the time being) at almost every step of her progress in the excellent programme of the evening. Another feature of the entertainment which ought also to be recorded was the fact that every visitor to the dresicircle was presented with a portrait of the Little Marion in her favourite character of Felix O'Callaghan, which will, we doubt not, find a place in nearly every drawing-room in Auokl&nd, to be kept as a souvenir of the most talented child-actress that ever visited this or indeed any other part of the globe. The evening's performance commenced with the laughable Hibernian farce by J. M. M»rton, Esq., entitled " The Irish Tiger," played by the troupe tor the first time. Marion of course took the part of Paddy Ryan, the Tiger, and to say that she sustained the character remarkably well would convey but a faint idea of the manner in which this wonderful little creature gave to the audience the picture of an Irish Tiger iv . the good old times. Suffice it to say that her impersonation of this character will add another laurel to those already won in thia class of pieces of the little wonder. It was, indeed, a most complete success ; ani it was diffioult, iudeed, to conceive hovr ou a first performance thia clever child could have displayed such a thorough knowledge of her subject, and ha.ye obtained so clear a perception of the character. Misa B. M. Nathan susniued the part of Kancy with much spirit. Miss Julia, as Sir Charles Lavender, waa as complete as a man ot fashion a 9 one would wish to see ; while Miss Selma, as Julia Marrowfat, fully bore out the encomums which we have previously passed upon her. Indeed, she is a charming little actress, and already displays qualities w.hich bid fair,by-and-by, to place her iv the first r&uks of her profession. Mr. Joe Small, as Alderman Marrowfat, was ludicrously f uuny, »nd he was ably supported in this respect by Mr. Chambers, who in some characters stands fairly unrivalled. At the couclusion of the firat piece a capital duet oa the cornet was performed by the Masters Nathan, who were loudly applauded and received an encore. After which Mr. Jue Chambeis danced a perfect whirlpool of p»3 seul. The gem of the evening followed, which was Mr. Small's well-known soug of "The Unfortunate Man," which was sung in miniature by the little benefioiaire, who was most rapturously eucored, and was oompelled to repeat tho last few verses which she did lioldiug on to Mr. Small by the cuff of hit* coat, and introducing him 'to the audience as the oiiginal bimon Pure, amid peels of laughter, The whole performance concluded with the Irish two-act play of "Felix O'Callaghau." Marion, of course, playing tha part of the makebelidVe doctor, out at knees and elbows, und ever ready to turn an honest penny, Of her renderwg of this part we have previously spoken at length, and therefore need only now s.vythat, evidently flushed by the crowded state of the house, our little favourite played even bttter than ever. At the conclusion of the piece, in auswer to a uuanimous call she came before tho curtaiu and thaukod the audience iv the prettiest and most winning manner in the world for their kind patronage, and announced that on Thursday evening Mr. Joe Small would take his benefit, when she hoped to see a good attendance. She then retired amid a perfect flower-garden of beuquets, which were recklessly thrown afc her by her many admirers. The Nathan Troupe will perform in Auckland for the last time on Thursday next, after which they will leave for the Thames, where w« are quite sure La Petite Jolie will meat with a mosc hearty and enthusiastic reception, as well »s the other niembera of th b excellent company.