PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3939, 7 April 1870, Page 3

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

The American drama of "The Pledge, or the Blessings of Teetotalism," resembles ip one respect the English drama founded on George Cruickshank's six illustrations, and entitled " The Bottle "—for it depends for success as much upon a series of tableaux aa upon the action of the piece itself. The great point of difference, of course, is, that in "The Bottle" everything ends dismally, while "The Pledge" ends hopefully for all the personages except one. A New York merchant is shown rapidly descending from a, position of respectability to one of beggary, through drinking and gambling—losing his wife, neglecting hia daughter, and exposing himself to ohargea of crime, as well as to actual imprisonment beoauae of the poverty which he has brought upon himself, A seeming gentleman, who is a rasoal in other ways than that he ia a gambler, is made »n instrument in consummating the disgrace of Mr. Hamilton, the merchant; and a seeming blackguard, who would be a gentleman if he Was not a drunkard, is made one instrument. —a material one, it is true —in Hamilton's retrievement. The agents of moral suasion are supplied by another merchant whose son lovoa Kate Hamilton, and who ia himself intensely good ; Kate's own cheering love for her father being, perhaps, his greatest help, because it is free from the almost repulsiveness with which your intensely good folks set about their works of moral reformation. More ncetl not be said of the plot, because we should really like —for the sake of tho managers, as well as bocause of the attrac. tions of the drama —that very many people should be present on the evenings when "The Pledge" is repeated. It musfc b© said, however, that the way in which Hamilton is almost pounced upon while in gaol, suffering horribly from drink, and induced to sign the pledge, is jusfc an incident which may be cavilled at by those who think they argue when they rail against the operations of active teetotallers. Certainly, the way in which the good-hearted and gentlemanlynatui'ed drunkard who calls himself Speculation, comes round to the taking of the pledge, is the more pleasant, if not morally profitable, incident Mr. Musgrave, as Hamilton, played generally with the concentrated energy which is his great merit as an actor ; and his raving scene in the gaol was very effective. Speculation is a good sample of a not new character —a " walking dictionary of quotations," he calls himself; and oddly apt some of his quotations are when he is maundering drunk. " Mr. Ryan hit off the peculiarities of the paf't capitally, making Speculation a really estimable person, despite his filth, his rags, and his unceasing swallowing of brandy. Speculation was especially likeable when compared with the real rascal, for the latter was not well represented, but was made a personage who could not have maintained the position necessary for the success of his rascality. Mr. and Mrs. McGowan are to be complimented for the way iii which, they played tho pax'ts of a couple of servants. Mrs. Newton was an excellent Kate Hamilton. The tableaux were really effective groupings, and made fine pictures, which were moat effectively lighted. At the end of the first act, the stage being divided, there were shown a drunken row in a low gambling-house, and a happy familyparty at a tea-table. At the end of the second act, Mr. OBrien sang, with very tasteful effect, the song, " Come home, father," which was illustrated by three tableaux ; and for the finale, there was a grouping in which Father Mathew (we think) was surrounded by happy pledgetakers. Each tableau was genuinely applauded ; and three or four of them had to be exhibited a second time. If the house had been tilled, or even well attended, the production of "The Pledge" might have been reported as in every respect successful. This evening, the members of the Garrick Club make their first appearance, the performance being in aid ot the funds of the Provincial Hospital. Hia Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen, and also bia Honor the Superintendent, give their patronage to the club. The programme consists of the drama of "The Heart's Test," an original interlude, and the farce of " Bombastes Furioso." To-morrow, "The Pledge" ia to be repeated, we believe; and a locally-written farce, '' The Philo-Maori," is to be produced, Madame Marie Duret has been engaged for next week.