Local Intelligence.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1092, 15 December 1857, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

THEATRE ROYAL. Believing as we do that dramatic entertainments when properly conducted are really useful as affording rational and intellectual amusement, we received with satisfaction the announcement that our "Royal" was at length to be re-opened by a company of artiste* of whose professional ability, report had favourably spoken, and whose private worth and respectability were known to many residents in Auckland. In a former issue we stated our belief that the new company had been carefully selected and would be fully capable of carrying out the promises which had been made ib their name long before their arrival here. Our expectations have not been disappointed. Each performance we have had the pleasure of attending has brought forward talent of no common order —taleat not confined to one or two starring members but diffused throughout the company. The House was opened on Thursday night with complete success, and although the attendance was not so numerous in the parquette as we could have wished, we think that the new company had no reason to find fault *rith their reception. During the short time that has elapsed since the arrival of Mr. Bellair, great improvements have been made in the Theatre more particularly in the scenic department. Some really beautiful scenes have been painted by Mr. Varley who besides being a very good actor is evidently an artist of no mean pretensions. The orchestra although small is good consisting of Mr. Davies (leader) violin, Mr. Herz, piano, and Mr. Mcllrath, corneta-piston. Mr. Davies has great command of his instrument and plays with taste and finish. The Parquette has been rendered much more comfortable by the addition of foot boards to the seats and other improvements have been effected, which add to the comfort of the visitors and the appearance of the Theatre. The piece chosen for the opening night was "Fraud and its victims," a drama which certainly possesses the merit of rive ting the attention and interest of the audience from beginning to end. The plot is founded on "the over true tales" of swindling and robbery in high life, which have recently cast such scandal on the commercial community at home, and reduced to poverty and wretchedness hundreds of unsuspecting families. The drama will not bear very close criticism. There is a great deal too much of mawkish sentimenialism about it, and perhaps a slight tendency to pit class against class—the rich against the poor. It is however full of interest, and so far of the right kind, that it enlists "the sympathies of the audience on the eide of virtue and injured innocence, and produces a very proper feeling of indignation against the "hard hearted persecutor and tyrant." As a piece of dramatic writing it is trashy and altogether unworthy of the author who is said to have penned it. But if we cannot praise the drama as a literary composition, or approve altogether of the moralty which it inculcates, we can speak, and with pleasure,. of the very complete style in which it was placed on the stage, and of the capital manner in which it was played. And although it is apiece not calculated to display the peculiar talent of some members of the company it still served to show the more than average ability of the whole. Prior to the commencement of the drama, the National Anthem was sung by the whole strength of the company, and greeted with enthusiastic applause by the audience. To particularize:—Mrs. Bellair, as "the affectionate mother and victim of fraud," played in a ladylike quiet and graceful manner, proving herself, even in this part, —a part, to use a theatrical phrase, out of her line of business—a thoroughly accomplished actress. Mrs. Hill, as Marian, the daughter, had but a poor opportunity of displaying the talent which subsequent performances have shewn her to possess. In one scene, however, this lady created a great impression on her audience -in the scene where she insists on sharing-the

fate of her unhappy mother, who driven to desparation ,by the persecutions of her. tormentor has rashly determined . upon suicide. Nothing could wellbe more touching and pathetic thnn her acting in this scene. Miss Annie Bitwell Patty R-selips, a flower girl, in a very pleasin« i-.umner; Sh is an actress of considerable promise, and has, we predict, if she apply herself thoroughly to her profession, a bright future before her, Miss James played against difficulties in the ungrateful part of Isabel, a young lady who is described a's "proud, wayward, and heartless." We are hound to say that, this young lady made the most of a vt-ry disagreeable part. * Having paid our respects to the ladies we pass on to the gentlemen, and are_ happy to record that both Mr. Bellair and Mr. Hill achieved a success in their respective parts. Mr. Bellair. as Tom Ti umper, played admirably, and at once stamped himself a favourite. Mr. Hill. asPummypot, an alfresco artist, was exceedingly amusing. His style is natural, and he possesses a fund of comic humour which he "has the gond sense and taste to keep within bounds. Mr, B. N. Jones, Mr. Walcot, and the other members of the company weie successful in their efforts to please. At the fall of the curtain the applause was uproarious and the call for Mr. Bellair unanimous, in obedience to which the curtain was raised and the whole company appeared on the stage in acknowledgment of the compliment. Mr. Bellair, advancing to the front, said,— "Ladies and Gentlemen : Having heard that an opening presented itself in Auckland to any company of respectable comedians, myself and Mr. Hill determined to leave Sydney to try our fortunes here. Thank heaven we have arrived safely. The warm and g-nerous reception we have experienced- induces us to believe that our efforts to ple«se have not been unsuccessful. It is our great aim to render this theatre a place of rational and intellectual amusement—a place where any gentleman may bring his wife or daughter with the assurance that nothing will be presented which can offend the eye or shock the ear of the most sensitive. Ladies and gentlemen, on the part of myself, my partner, and the whole company, allow me to return my heartfelt thanks for the very'kind reception we have met with this evening." Mr; Waleot then sang-.-iiO let me like a soldier fall" from the opera of Maritana. He was rapturously encored. This gentleman has a fine tenor voice, sings with taste and feeling, and has evidently received- a musical education.

The farce of "A Prince for an hour" concluded the performances. It is rather a dull affair,-and wa6 only rendered tolerable by the excellent acting of Mrs. Hill, who, as Beppo a young goatherd, mistaken by the Tuscan peasentry for Prince Lorenzo Medicis. kept the audience in the greatest good humour. Miss En.ma James too played the part of Carlotta with great archness and vivacity. At the fall of the curtain the applause was ienewed, and we believe that there was but one opinion as to the sterling merit of the company and a conviction that the theatre will now be applied to its right use by being made the means of affording rational and intellectual entertainment to the play-goers of this City. On Saturday the Theatre was egain opened, but was not well attended. This is easily accounted for, on two grounds : first, the play selected—The Stranger was not one calculated to draw here; and secondly, the night itself is proverbially a bad one for this kind of amusement. The performances went off very well. Mr. Bellair made a very respectable Stranger, although we do not think that very serious business is quite in his line. Mrs. Hill played Mrs. Haller with much feeling, and succeeded in bringing into request a considerable number of pocket-handkerchiefs. Mr. Hill was not quite so good a "Solomon" as we expected. It appeared to us that he didn't take his own view of the character. Mr. Varley was exceedingly good as Peter, and played with an amount of humour for which we were not prepared to give him credit. The farce of the Moustache movement followed, in which Mrs. Bellair kept the audience in a roar of laughter fram beginning to end. For ourselves we have made up our minds to insure our lives before again allowing our cachinatory organs to be set agoing by the sight of that astonishing "all-rounder" which formed the lady's head gear. On the whole we have to congratulate Mr. Bellair and Mr. Hill on the successful commencement they have made, and to express our sincere hope that the enterprise they have shewn will be duly appreciated by the public of Auckland.

Mechanics' Institute.—We beg to call attention to the lecture to be delivered, in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, this evening at 8 o'clock, on "Mental Science," by the Rev. T. Hamer. It was with regret that we have noticed for some time past a falling off in attendance on these lectures ; we trust that the public will countenance, buy their presence on these occasions, the efforts making by the Committee to enlighten the public mind on various departments of general know* ledge, and thereby-to ptomotethe cause of civilization. Free Passage to the Gold Diggings.—The Grace Darling will sail from Queen-street Wharf, on the morning of the 26th.instant for Coromandel, those who wish to try their luck, or test the Gold Fields, are respectfully invited to accept of a free passage to the above port, and in order that parties availing themselves of this opportunity may do justice to the undertaking, and to themselves they are advised to take with them necessary-implements and provisions. Government Gazette. —A 'Government Gazette' of the 11th instant contains the following proclamations by his Excellency the Governor. 1. That the native title has been extinguished over the Okahu Block, Kaipara district, containing about 16.000 acres. 2. Ap. pointing Henry Barnes Gresson, Esq., a judge of the Supreme Court, for the Southern district, also the appointment of the same gentleman to act as His Excellency's deputv in the office of Vice-admiralty for the Southern district of New Zealand. The same Gazette' contains notification of the appointment of William Fitzherbert, Esq., to be receiver of revenue arising from the sale &c. of Waste Lands within the Province of Wellington. The Military Band.—We are happy to inform our readers that, by the permission of Colonel Wynyard and the officers of the Regiment, the splendid band of the 58th will commence their weekly performances, on the lawn in front of Government House, on Thursday next at 4 p.m.