THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2334, 8 September 1877, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Tiik vow sensational drama, entitled "The Tour of the World hi Eighty Days," was produced for the first time in Auckland at the Theatre Royal, by Mr L'harlco Wheutlcigh and his popular 'dramatic company, and attracted a very favourable audience. The music of the orchestra was very effective, under the directorship of Mr Cope, professor of the violin: especially •' Itule Britannia," which stirred the blood of the youngsters in the pit, wlio literally went mad under the influence of the idea that " Britons never will bo slaves." Th<> scenery was painted by .Messrs Willis, Wilson, and Kinchella. The plot and narrative of the tour wore distinctly marked, and consisted of eight, tableaux, which might have been reasonably termed acts, considering the length of each, which kept the audience until half-past twelve o'clock. This appeared to us to in unnecessary, as several of the tableaux might have been shortened with advantage. In IV.rt, nearly half the audience left the Theatre before the final drop of the curtain. The lirst scene ropresented the saloon in one "of the eccentric clubs, where several members were amusing themselves with cards. Mr Philuas Kngg, a gentleman of the order, then walks leisurely in, and reads from the " MornInp; Chronicle" ;i programme, shewn*:': that a tour of the world can bo made in eighty days. A bet of £50,000 is made with Mr Fogg, who undertakes to perform the said journey in the space oi. time indicated by the " Chronicle." Mr Fogg engages a French valet, Jean Passe Putouf (Mr fri'd Helton) to accompany him, and the performances of this gentleman were of a highly creditable character; his occasional burnt of humour, ami his recollection of not having nnt out his gas before quitting London, and bis eloquent description of his dream that a second fire of London hud occurred from hit; gas burner, were highly relished by the auditory. Juet about the time of starting by the steamer, ;j. bank robbery has been committed, and Mr Fogg (Mr Wheatleigh) is followed everywhere by the determined Mr Fix, an English detective, who appeals in no less than live ditfersat characters, and is as great a nuisance to the valet as to the one-eyed Shrioffcen of Marryat'e phantom ship was t-o Philip V.inderdecken. The acting, dancing1, and several comic songs of Mr Fix, who at last is fixed on the floor by the plucky valet, were natural and eminently" characteristic. Kach character, whether as (lie detective, the priest of Bramah, the Chinese pie merchant, the Californian digger, or the negro steward, was distinctly representative., and apparently perfect. Through all these various disguises, howevcr.tbe keen eye of Fork's valet discovers his master's enemy. Mr Charles Verner, as the Irish-American, was a Kood portrait, and diffused life through the whole of the tour. Mr Wh«aMeigh sustained the character of the gentlemanly fl'ogg with bocoming JjHcdateness and. decorum, but the part did not admit oi' eoesrcely any of those brilliant qualities displayed by Mr Wheatleig?h in the " Shangliraiin," which won for him in this city a local reputation and a name. His acting1, however, was in perfect keeping with the dignified character which he assumed. Mr A. Smith represented the Indian chief in the third tableaux with consummate ability, and another local aotor (Mr Searle) appeared in several characters, but in none more effective than in that of Major White, of the 19th. The part of Nangy by Miss Daley, was sustained with genuine heUrtinoss, and her delight at being kissed by her open-hearted sweetheart Jean Passe Patout, act all the ladies laughing ; the Bcer ; e was irresistible, and completely electrified the spirits of the pit. One of the most beautiful of the tableaux was that representing India, and the showy and somewhat impressive preparation for the burning of the beautiful young widow of the Rajah, an EngMsh girl, by the priests and executioners of Bramah : Mies Tilly Andrews as the widow, and Miss Henderson as her imploring and loving sister, performed, these parts with much dramatic skill, and won the plaudits of the house. Some of the scenery and mechanical effects were very remarkable and very pleasing, especially the station in the wilderness, the attack of the redskins, the occasional appcaranee of the steamer, the various changes according to the countries through whica the tourists bar* to pass, the storm, the sinking of the Henrietta on her changed course to Liverpool, the happy denouement, and the final gathering; in the eccentric cltib-room, where the wager was made, aad where the joyous annotmcement rang through the building that 3lr Fogg had won the wager, and completed his tour of the world in eighty days. The performance will be repeated this evening.