THE HAZARD COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 813, 26 August 1872, Page 2

THE HAZARD COMPANY.

The celebrated Hazard Company arrived on Saturday evening by tho Wonga Wonga, en roitte for California. The lessee of the Prince of Wales Theatre has succeeded in making arrangements for their appearance at that theatre on Thursday and subsequent evenings. Tho company consists of Mr Hussey, a highly versatile comedian; Mr J. J. Bartlett, of whom the Australian papers speak in the highest terms ; and Miss Blanche Clifton, a very talented comedienne. There is no doubt the company will meet with a very good reception. They are accompanied by Mr W. H. Cooper, the celebrated dramatist and author of "Hazard." We make the following extracts from Australian exchanges of this company :— "Mr Walter Cooper's drama, 'Hazard,' was produced with great effect. Rarely has a piece appeared to such great advantage on a first night. ' Hazard 'is decidedly Mr Cooper's master piece. It is full of interesting situations, and the dialogue is pointed, witty and colloquial. Mr Hussey. as Jake and Tatwell, succeeded in convulsing the audience by his comicalities and negro oddities. Mr Bartlett played the swell swindler to the life, The cool

assurance and desperate hardihood of the character were excellently brought out. la this style of part Mr Bartletthas noequal." "The drama is truly a sensation drama, abounding in romantic incidents, all of which are well adapted to bring out into full relief the chief characteristics of the dramatis persona, Captain Swyndletoa Wylde, an adventurer, and a cool imper. turbable villian, was admirably personated by Mr J J Bartlett, who acted the part to perfection. His personal appearance, however, was rather against him, as he is too good-looking a gentleman to make a through-going stage villian. He played his part admirably. The characters of Tatwell, a gambler, and Jake, a Negro, were admirably represented by Mr Frank Hussey, who received quite an ovation on account of his new sort and dance 'Little high^heeled boo'.,T gj The piece in which the company will open on Thursday evening will be, "Not a bad Judge," in which Mr Bartlett takes the character of Lavater. An exchange says—" We cannot bestow higher praise than by saying that he took the part with ease and self-possession, and was true to nature throughout. The confidence of the man who had in theory propounded, and had. in practice proved his belief in the fact that man's heart is exposed in his countenance, was apparent in Mr Bartlett's acting of the part, and at the conclusion he was honoured with a call before the curtain."