THEATRE ROYAL.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2939, 15 September 1879, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

A DRAMATIC season whose duration •will depend upon the measureof support accorded by our capricious play-goiug public was inaugurated at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening by the Chaplin-Osborne Company with the production of a new play, entitled " A Celebrated Case." It is evidently au adaptation from the French, and while free from much of the ilorid romance so characteristic ot the Gallic drama, it possesses the charm of a coherent and moving narrative. The plot is skilfully woiked out, aud while no sudden surprise is contrived by the playwright to carry the house by storm, yet the dialogue maintains the interest of the audience most effectually without any adventitious aids. Nothing is introduced to disturb the sequence of events, nor is there any laboured effort for the elaboration of powerful situations. The drama is invested with an air of reality, and the emotions stimulated are of a healthy character. The lackadasical element is as conspicuous by its abscuce ac the hysteric, and tacts like these cover a multitude ot sins. The incidents of the play ore based upon a murder which had happened twelve years previously, aud this is presented to the audience in the form of a prologue, which is all the better from being acted than merely recited. The remainder of the plot was outlived in our issue of Saturday, and we need not now advert to it further than to say it is ably developed. Mr Chaplin gave a finished impersonation of the principal of the play—Jean Reuaud, the wronged soldier—his acting being characteristically calm, self-possessed, and natural to a degree. MissOsborne filled the dual roleof Madeline, the wife who falls beneath the knife of the assassin, and Adrienue, the daughter. She gave of each character an unaffected and pleasing portraiture, and divided the applause of the audience with Mr Chaplin. Mr Bland Holt as Denuis O'Korke, the good naturcd and imperturbable Irish sergeant, was well cast, while Miss Lily Marsh made an engaging Valentine de Mornay. Mr McGowan represented the Duke D'Aubeterre, Mr C. Burford the soi disant Count de Mornay, and Mr St. Lawrence Rawal do L'angley, the betrothed of Adrienue, while Miss J. Marsh and Mrs McGowan sustained the parts of the Canoness of the Ladies' College, of Hyers, aud the Duchess D'Aubeterre respectively. They were each and all effectively represented. As the child Adricnne, Miss R. Marsh acquitted herself iv a manucr that affords fair promise of future excellence. The cast was a judicious one, and we can compliment the several members of the corps dramatique upon being well up in the details of their parts. The drama itself is one of exceptional merit, and in the hands of so excellent a company should run through the week.

A little five-year old boy, who had seen a peacock for the first time, ran into the house exclaiming to his sister, " Oh Lizzie 1 I've seen a great, great, big monstiferous tail walking around with a hen tied to it."

Not Unlikely.—" How long will it be before you get work done ?" said a lady to an apprentice who was painting her house. "Well, I don't know, maim," said he' "the boss has just gone to look for another ob ; if he gets it, I'll be done to-morrow, Ut if he don't T'm nfrni^ it'll »„!,„ _^_jj.