THE THEATRES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4003, 21 June 1870, Page 3

THE THEATRES.

PEUVTCB OF WALES THEATKE. There was an excellent house at the Prince of Wales Theatre last evening, and a really meritorious performance. We were very glad indeed to see that Mr. O'Brien's old popularity had not decreased, for no lessee has done more to earn the good opinion of playgoers of discrimination than he. He is one of the_few who, in spite of the inevitable difficulties which are attendant upon times of commercial depression, have been true to the instincts of cultivated taste. We are sure that his efforts to keep the drama in Auckland up to a proper standard have not been lost upon the public, and we trust yet to see him adequately rewarded for the consistent and conscientious course he has adopted. The drama of "It is Never Too Late to Mend " is deservedly popuhu\ There is no need to enter into the plot here. The drama itself, or the book upon which it is founded, must be familiar to the great majority of our playing-ffoing readers. That it contains a great moral lesson cannot be denied ; but the drama abounds in a good deal that loses its point in the colonies. For instance, the ideal pictures of the horrors of good discipline in England are exaggerated in these days of overstrained benevolence. We have too fresh in our minds the story of the prisoners who, when let out of a gaol in one of the Southern provinces to enjoy themselves at the races, ran all the way back, lest being late they should be locked out. New Zealand readers have not been accustomed to the horrible place of gaol discipline which is presented in the drama^played last evening. The piece was certainly well placed upon the stage, and reflected great credit on the management. The scenery, if we except the Australian bush scene, in which a river was represented in a country which was supposed to be parched up with drought, was appropriate. The great sensation prison scene was well got up : indeed it was evident that the details of the play had been carefully and skilfully arranged. The principal character, Tom Robinson was powerfully delineated by Mr. Stuart OBrien, who had evidently worked hard to make the piece successful. In the prison scene he fairly brought down the house by fie deep pathos with which he depicted the workings of repentance in the breast of the convict. Throughout his acting he was ca-'eful and thoroughly natural ; and we have not seen a mure meritorious performance for months past. George Fielding (Mr. Clifford) was a very gentlemanly and finished piece of acting, and earned many well-deserved encomiums. In the first scene, and in the j Austialmn bush scene, he played most effec- j tively, while B. N. Jones made up very skilfully for Isaac Levi, and was appropriate iv all other i espects. Mr. Ryan as Meadows, the villain of the piece, played with care, and made the character as repugnant as it j was intended to be by the author. Peter Orawley (Mr. Musgrave) was an excellent piece of acting ; indeed, this actor displays an amount of versatility which is quite wonderful. Mrs. Walter EFU played Susan Merton very naturally. The whole piece was a complete success, and the applause at the close was cordial and unstinted. To-night the drama will be repeated, and those who desire to witness a really excellent performance cannot do better than visit this place of amusement.

THEATRE ROYAL. At the above place of amusement last evening, there was a very fair attendance to witness the three-act comedy of " The Serious Family." Mrs. H. Jackson sustained the character of Mrs.Ormsby Delmaiu, in her usual excellent style. Mrs. Howard (Mrs. Torrens) and Miss J. Raymond (Emma Torrens) also played well. Mr. >S. Howard, in the character of Ammadab Sleek, play ad yery fairly, Mr. South, Mr. Glover, and Mr. Joyce alao acquitted themselves very favourably in their several cha"acters. The announced, farce Avas "A.S.S." For to-night, the same programme is announced.