THIS BROUGH AND BOUCICAULT SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 242, 10 October 1895, Page 2

THIS BROUGH AND BOUCICAULT SEASON.

To judge from the crowded state of the Opera House on yesterday and tho two preceding evenings, "The Second Llrs Tanqueray" might hare held the Welleeley street boards till Saturday, and then not have outstayed its welcome. Jlever has a piece won the sincere admiration of the most discriminating part of the Auckland public as this great play of Finero has done. Its praues, and more than its praises, the praises of those to whose ' artistic power it owes its present success, have been in every njouth. Its place ie to j be taken to-night by a play of quite another Btamp. "Mrs Tanqueray" bad a ! terrible vein of tragedy iv it. Indeed, to those who could understand it fully it was very deep tragedy. "The Importance of Being Earnest" is the lightest of light comedy : one of the most sparkling J pieces of wit that the stage has Eeen for I many a day, or that the gifted author of " Lady Windermere'e Fan " has written. Speakingof it, the " Melbourne Age"saya: — "We have no hesitation in expressing the opinion that it ia with few exceptions the most delightfully and innocently amusing eatire upon London fashionable life produced during the present generation. The wio may be an imitation of the Gilbertian mood, foe certainiy the Lady Gwendoline has been borrowed from 'Engaged; , ib may make unusual calls upon the intelligence of an audience to comprebond in parts ; it may even appear at times puerile and nonsensical, bub in subtlety of thought, brilliancy of wit and sparkling humour, it has ecarcely been excelled. It may be described as the inversion of all conventionalities. People are made to cay and do things that in the existing artificial state of society would seem perfectly shocking— that is, in a Pickwickian senee; extravagance and exaggeration are used with a dexterity that produce ever fresh and titillating coLceptions of the comical side of things; the fun ie ever bubbling over— now in quiet, half drowsy efforts, next like a geyser sending forth its crystal coruscations, that dance and sparkle in the eonbeams, reflecting a thousand beau tie?, and again falling gracefully to the ordinary level of smart colloquialism."

The piece will only be played for two nights, and will bo replaced on Saturday by " The Case of Rebellious Suean."