THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2335, 10 September 1877, Page 3

THE THEATRE ROYAL.

"HOUND the World in SO days" was repeated by Mr Charles Wheatleigh and company at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, with much better effect than on the preceding night. The piece was considerably shortened, which was in itself an invprovPTnrr.t, v.h \t vrnx too long before, and their greater familiarity with their parts enabled the performers to put more smartness and go in the dialogue. In a piece where so much depends upon the .scenery and stage effects a first performance is rarely successful : the machinery is stiff, and the workmen and scene-shifters only half up to their work. In subsequent representations all this is altered, and after the first two or three nights everything goes smoothly. The improvement visible on Saturday Avill doubtless be more con- j spicuous to-night. Mr Wheatleigh pkiyed the part of Phineas Fogg with inimitable ! sang froid and graceful ease, and the ! various ladies and gentlemen of the com- j pany did their best in their several spheres . of action. The disguises of Mr Fix were ' very skilfully manipulated by Mr Leopold, j whose protean changes were among the ■ most effective hits of the performance, j The sensational situations, notably the ! .suttee and the wreck of the Henrietta, were j very finely represented, and the interest i culminated in the last scene, where Phineas ' wins the plucky wager by about a dozen < .seconds. M iss Tilly Andrews' acting is as j fresh and charming as ever, and her return ; to Auckland is regarded with much j .satisfaction by her numerous Auckland ! admirers. Our old friend, Mr C. Searle, is : exactly suited as Major White of the 49th. j