"ROSEDALE."-NEW DRAMA AT THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1663, 17 June 1875, Page 3

"ROSEDALE."-NEW DRAMA AT THE PRINCE OF WALES.

There is something poetical in " Rosedale," tbe title of the interesting drama in five acts, which was produced at the Prince of Wales Theatre last evening with so much success. This somewhat sensational but really pleasant play hangs nicely upon a little story which glitters through it like a silver thread. The scenery also from the hand of che artist Mr. Thornton, gives a happy coloring to the passing scenes and is creditable to the artist, who we may state pjayed Cavendish May remarkably well. Miss May Howard performed Rosa Leigh with grace and spirit. There was an airiness and girl-like freedom about tbe character which was displayed by' Miss Howard with the vivacity and unsophisticated air of a country maiden. Mrs Jones, as the mother of Rose, was motherly in the extreme and apparently of a stock that is passing away. Miss Stephenson as Lady Florence May, was fully equal to her ideal, and played with that peculiar skill and apparent reality of motion for which this lady has won more "than a "local habitation and a name." Miss Maggie Knight, an Auckland born young lady of prepossessing appearance, looked happy as Sarah, whose character she represented in a most satisfactory manner. Mr Collier, as Elliott Grey, was quite at home, and helped considerably to swell the interest of the drama. Mr Aveling as Matthew Leigh, the the young surgeon ; Mr Holloway as Myles McKenna, and Mr Oily Deering as Squire Cobb, were good and in the execution of their respective parts were highly successful. Mr Collier's little daughter represented the spoiled, .self-willed boy, with power and elicited the approbation of the house. The piece will be repeated this evening; and to-morrow, Shakespeare's " Romeo and Juliet" will be presented to the public, Miss May Howard appearing as Borneo.

Romeo and Juliet,

Miss May Howard an artiste of unquestioned ability as a delineator of character, and whose fame extends over half the civilised world, will appear to-morrow evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre in her great and greatly admired impersonation of Romeo. This play illustrative of the tender passion wrappen in the garb of sentimentality haß been represented for centuries before admiring audiences in the different quarters of the globe, and Romeo has been assumed by male and female actors of various grades of genuis, and more particularly by lady artistes for these last years. The play has several times been introduced to Auckland audiences, and as many times has been welcomed by the listeners, but we believe on good grounds that the character of the passionately fond Romeo, has never been presented to a colonial audience with such fidelity and force of representation as by Miss May Howard, who is said to be unrivalled in her Shakesperian delineations on this side the ocean.. The play has always a fascination about it for young persons especially, and even older ones love to watch the scenes which bring back thoughts of early feeling and memories of joys that never can return. The scenes chiefly axe laid in Verona, and never did lovn commence under happier prospects benuath the "inconstant moon," and " never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Eomeo." With Miss Howard, therefore, as Romeo, swearing by the "blessed moon that tips with silver all the fruit tree tops;" and Miss Clara Stepheneon as the loving Juliet, with her ceaseless " good night ;" and Mr G. W. Collier, as Mercutio, the friend of Romeo, a dramatic treat of no ordinary occurrence may be truly anticipated by the frequenters of the Prince of Wales Theatre.