AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9116, 29 May 1895, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. Melodrama nowadays, except what may be called the apotheosis of it as produced by Mr Bland Holt, is rarely seen on our stage, and it was like renewing the acquaintance of an old friend to see the piece produced by the Mostyn-Dalzeil Company last night, under the title of "Humanity." There are of course tho persecuted lovers, who always come for some inscrutable reason to music, as though they travelled with a private band; the villain, who flourishes like the proverbial greeu bay tree till the last act, when his ruin is swift and remorseless ; and the subsidiary characters, who array themselves for and against the hero and heroine. In tho piece under notice there is a peculiar couple—man and wife— who to save themselves from starvation lend themselves to work the wicked wiles of the bad man of the play. But, strange to say, the wages of iniquity do not appear to benefit them at all until the last act. Through the remainder of the play, the action of which extends over a considerable period, they still remain staiving, and we wonder how they continue to involve themselves in crime without any reward. It is only in the last act that they blossom out into new clothes, and then their reign of prosperity is iguominiously cut short by the dowutall of their employer. Verily, the vagaries of melodrama are wouderful and fearful. Miss Mostyn played the part of Trotty, a rag and bone gathering lad, with much spirit and effect. She sang a coster ditty, but was not so successful as on the first night. Miss Raynham, whose mission on the stage appears to be continually hating and despising Mr Weir, who has a monopoly of tho villainous parts, was very good indeed, playing the character with much pathos aud completeness. She sang " Love's Golden "Dream," but the setting was too high for her to make it a success. Miss Clayton was the female assistant of the villain, and gave a realistic performance of the part. Mr Dalzeil was not a success as the persecuted hero. He has a hard, intractable voice, and his acting is marked by a considerable amount of stagmess. Mr Weir was good as the villain, and Mr Meymott gave us a capital bit of character acting in the part of Rats, and cang "My Old Dutch." Mr Blake, as George Chester, and Mr Orlando Daly, as Mr Dave, both filled their characters very creditably. The fire scene was well done, being exceedingly realistic, and the rescue of Trotty was managed very cleverly. To-night " After Dark " will be played.