THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2608, 27 August 1878, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

"ENOCH ARDEN."—FIRST APPEAR- P ANCE OF G. D. CHAPLIN. , \, j When Tennyson's poem of \'Enoch Arden" ! first came out there was a good deal of controversy about its merits as compared with the laureate's other works. JOn one point, however, the critics were uM.nimou_, fits., that it seemed : ; pecuiiarlyl adapted for dramatisation. In a very .short time the poem was produced under, various new names at some of the London theatres, the most famous version bejng'-'The Wreck Ashore,".played -for 'a, long, time at- the Princess's. The edition performed last nigh* is rather lengthy-for so' slight a story, but in all essential respects it is satisfactory enough. The interest centres almost entirely in Enoch, Philip Ray, and Annie Lee. A3 these three characters were, all excellently represented the performance may be pronounced a complete success. Mr G. D. ! Chaplin, • who met with a warsa recepiton, created a very^favorabis impression. He [is.a handsome man 'inthe prime, of life, iwitli a find presence and a i pleasant. ! sympathetic voice. The part of Enoch I Arden did not give him'a great deal of scope j for histrionic display,'but he, neverthesless, jshowed conspicuous'ability; and .we antici--ipate great things of him in legitimate idles. !Intheislaud scene he was very good indeed;f jand brought down the house. At the closet |of the. secoUd;.third; and fourth-acts-he jwas called before the curtain;' an honour iwhich was also conferred on Mrs Walter [Hill, who hadi ;a* very arduous r6le to fill % She was, .however;' well up to ity^and acted* jwiths) great: powers especially in 'the* tliiri act. As Phillip (Ray; MrStefele. was manly jand interesting, and-Enock's childrsu were jprettily represented:by Miss.May aud^ttie Amy Glover. Messrs |Musgraye, Riifford, Emniett^ and O'Brien filled the subordinate parts satisfactorily. The piece was remarks

ably well mounted, some of fthe "_»«_ I Revoking loud applause. acenery >) ' ■ . TQ-NIGHT * •/Enoch Arden" will he repeated' __ Jdrama entitled "Money and Miaerv"* underlined for to-morrow. v ls l'[*¥ 3« ______________________________