PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3716, 16 June 1869, Page 3

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

The performance last evening was for the benefit of Mr. W. H. Newton, the stagemanager of the Prince of Wales Theatre ; and, although the lower parts of the house were well filled, there was by no means so large an audience in the dress circles as we could hare wished to see. The piece de resistance was the celebrated prize play of " True to the Core," which was first produced in this city with such marked succeßS on the previous evening. The representation last evening was even more complete than on Tuesday, and the whole piece passed off' without a single hitch, the various mechanical effects working most smoothly throughout. At the end of every act the leading characters were called before the curtain, and after the first, second, and fifth acts received with the most enthusiastic applause. The part taken by Mr. J. L. Hall was entirely out of his usual line, but we should fail to do justice to this gentleman if we did not freely admit that his conception of the character of the hero of the play was a most excellent and natural piece of acting throughout, and we have seldom seen Mr. Hall to more advantage. Mr. Newton, as Wallet, the pedlar, played very forcibly a somewhat difficult part, but we cannot con■cientiously say much in praise of the other male actors. Mr. Herberte was cast in what should have been one of the leading parts, but in Ms hands we must confess it was not very effective. Geoffrey Dangerfield, instead of being one of the moat-powerfully acted characters, was one of the tamest of the piece. Mr. Howe, as the Spanish Admiral, sustained his r6le very well ; but the part called for no special display of talent. Mrs. Newton, as Mirah, was an excellent piece of acting, although in some of the scenes this lady failed in true histrionic power. Miss Shepparde made a very fair Mabel Truegold. Of Miss Anstead we have but little to say, as nhe only had two or three sentences to apeak. Nevertheless, with the three or four leading characters who played really well, the piece was as we have said a decided success, and will we have no doubt have a run of two or three nights longer. The entire performance concluded with the farce of "The Widow's Viotim," in which Mr. and Mrs. Newton kopt the house in a state of oontinual merriment. " True to the Core" will be repeated this evening, and Mr. Hall's company will remain in this city for a few nights longer. We heartily recommend those of the playgoers of Auckland who have not witnessed this excellent drama not to lose the opportunity of doing so before their departure.