THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2604, 12 August 1878, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

THE -— '-— IN PARIS I

j A LONG and highly-spiced bilk of fare was presnted at the theatre onSaturday evening. The first part consisted of a sensational drama, the title of which -purported that we were to witness some extraordinary [ scenes in the life' of an historical personage ' with a bad character. . Strange to say, howi ever, His infernal Majesty failed to turn ! up. Instead we were treated to an unfortunate father with a mistaken taste for : medicine and. magic, whose motives were presistentlv mistaken by every one throughout the piece. The part would be a good one, as also would the play be a fair specimen of its kind, if the dialogue were not so redundant. This fault bores the spectators and does away with a great deal of the effectiveness of Mr Dillon's acting, which is really much better than persons who saw him in Hamlet'and Othello would, believe. Melodramadf this kindsuits him—Mis^Pender m a careful and painstaking .young actress but unequal to arduous roles: Mr Steele and Mrs Walter Hill were as usual well np to'their parts. Miss May deserves some words of special praisr not merely for her acting in "Spadra" on Saturday, but also for the clever and versatile manner in which she has sustained a large number of very various parts lately. The performance concluded with the well-known "Don C-esar de Bazan," in which Mr Dillon sustained the title role satisfactorily. Both he and Miss .Perider met 'with frequent anplause during the evening. - ~ , r ■ ; TO-NIGHT

Mr Dillon plays Henri de Lagardere, in the "Duke's Motto." The Christchurch " Sun " spoke very highly of this acting in this character, which is well suited to his abilities. ■ - ' • ' F-