AMUSEMENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3888, 7 February 1870, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

There was a good attendance at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Saturday eyeuing, -when the performance commenced with the celebrated nautical drama of "Black-eyed Susan, " which was most appropriate under the circumstances, there being a lai*ge number of officers and men belonging to the Squadron present. The part of William was sustained by Mr. Hall, and that of Susan by Mrs. Newton, who played very nicely. The rest of the characters did their best to make the drama a success. In the course of the play Mr. Hall danced a sailor's hornpipe in true nautical style, for which he was loudly encored. The burlesque of "Aladdin" brought the entertainment to a close. Mr. Hall's Widow Twankay is one of that gentleman's beat burlesque characters, but on Saturday evening we thought he failed to bring out some of the beat points in hia usual racy style. Mrs. Newton was excellent as the young scamp Aladdin, and the same may be said of the other members of the company. This evening the performance will commence with the two-act comedy entitled " The Little Treasure," and conclude with the burlesque of " Kenilworth." At the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre theie was a good attendance — much better than usually assembles at this place of amusement. The performance commenced with the drama of "Oliver Twist," founded upon Dickens's well-known work of the same name. The piece was well mounted and played, though if one or two of the company had been better up in their parts it would have been an improvement. Mr. Le Roy's Bill Sykes was a first-rate piece of acting, and proves that this gentleman is no stranger to the boards, although he has hardly given the people of Auckland an opportunity of judging of his capabilities. Mr. OBrien played the part of the Jew-fence Fagin remarkably well, his final scene bringing down prolonged applause. Mr. Souths Burrble, the beadle, hardly came up to our expectations, and Miss Vernon's impersonation of the part of Oliver was but a poor performance. Madame Duret sustained the character of Nancy Sykes with much power ; but her language throughout was of too refined a nature for such a woman as Nancy, who, although she may have been correct m her speaking, could scarcely, from her associations, have been possessed of such polished refinement as that exhibited by' Madame Duret. The rest of the cadi; was made up of Messrs. Newton, Thorpe, Masters, Dunn, Liardet, Mrs. South, and Miss Warne. The performance concluded with the drama of "Black-eyed Susan," in which Mr. Newton and Madame Duret sustained the two leading characters. This evening, the play of " Ireland as it waa" will be presented. .