THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10785, 12 October 1900, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

The members of the Operatic Section of the Natives' Association deserve every credit for the .performance given last night in the Theatre Royal. Tne programme was a vark4 one, "including both, grave and gay. The latter was represented by the pretty comedietta'" Women Weep" and a clever musical sketch locally -written "Positive and Negative," whilst th? former found an exponent in Tom Taylor's comedy drama "A Sheep in Wolf's OJofching." In the first piece Mn Marsh was exceedingly good as Dora Cbandoa, the character being very brightly played liroughout. The part of Madge Dudley was also nioely given by Mrs F. W. Thompson. • A-lifctte more fire and life infused into tbs, character would have been an improvement, but as a whole it was successful. F. W. Thompson ! deserves credit for his Frank Dudley, which was played throughout with care Imd success, and Mr Winter Hall, though at times inclined to be somewhat heavy,,j)layed the character of Arthur Chandos well. Thje small part of a French waiter fell to Mr Parkinson, -who made a good deal of it. j The little musical sketch afforded Miss May j Wells and Mr Dundas Waiker an opportunity, of which they took full advantage, of displaying their talents as musicians and dancers. The trifle went excellently from j first to last, and the,grotesque dance"at the end elicited loud applause. The comedy-; drama gave the ladies and gentlemen engaged in it an opportunity of showing their ability in a more exacting piece. Mrs Marsh gave a very fine study in the character of Anne Carew. " The part of the wife who plays the Sover to the hunter of her husband to save him from the gallows was very powerfully pourtrayed, ana Mrs Marsh is deservineo? high, praise for feer impersonation, iflss McNeish made a very excellent Dame Carew, spsa&ing the lines-with a thorough appreciation of >the author. A character, though small, was very naturally, ana, therefore, successfully played, was that of Sybil by Miss Ruby j Edgar. Miss Maud Graham liad not a great deal to do as Keziah, but she made the part stand out very strongly. Mi- Winter Hall, as Jasper Carew, played the character with much naturalness and force, and was exceedingly good in the scenes with his wife. Mr F. W. Thompson had a very exacting part in the character of Kester, the old Somersetshire servant, inasnnvch as it had to be played in dialect. Mr Thompson was pood in his reproduction of the Somersetshire tongue, and gave a capital impersonation of the rustic retainer. Mr Wood-Jones, though somewhat too affected, deserves credit for his impersonation of Colonel j Kirke. It is -true he was rather too mild- j mannered in parts for that scourge of the | country, but as a whole tlie part was creditably p'laved. The other characters, by Messrs R. Thompson. E. F. Graham, and Barnard, were well filled. The pieces will be repeated to-night.