THE BANDMANN COMPANY.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 100, 30 April 1881, Page 2

THE BANDMANN COMPANY.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.^ There was an excellent attendance at the Theatre Royal last night to witness the performance of Shakespeare's comedy " Much Ado About Nothing." The lower part of the Theatre was comfortably filled, and the circle contained a large and fashionable audience, including Sir Arthur and Lady Gordon and suite. Herr Bandmann having previously appeared in plays of a heavy character, there was considerable speculation as to how he would hit the taste of the public in comedy. The change from Hamlet or Richelieu to Benediok is indeed a great one, and yet Herr Bandmann gave a capital representation of the latter character, and so much to the satisfaction of the audience that the applause was frequent and enthusiastic, and Herr Bandmann received several calls before the curtaia. He was ably assisted by Miss Beaudet as Beatrice, and the various scenes between the two characters were exceedingly amusing, both artistes making the most of the humour and repartee with which the play abounds. One fault in Miss Beaudet' s acting of the part assigned to her was her tendency to go into burlesque now and again, but, with this exception, her representation was a very good one. Mr. J. F. Cathcort made a capital Don Fedro, and the some may be said of Mr. Hall's Claudio. Both theso actors were frequently applauded. Mr. J. H. Nunn played Leonato very carefully. Mr. Musgrave might have made a better Dogberry than he did. Miss Lucy Ashton and Miss Louise Crawford took the parts of Hero and Margaret respectively, playing them fairly well. A little more attention to the "get up" of several of the minor characters and utility men would, to a certain extent, have improved the representation. Some of these wore dresses which might have been in vogue four or five oenturies ago, while others, by way of creating a pleasing contrast, represented in garb and general appearance tha genus larrikin of the present day. The screen scene from Sheridan's " School for Scandal " conoluded the performance. Herr Bandmann and Mr. Hall, as Charles and Joseph Surface respectively, Mr. Cathoart, as Sir Peter, and Miss Beaudet, as Lady Teazle, played their parts admirably, and the picture whioh followed the upsetting of the soreen, and the discovery of "the little French milliner," elicited great applause. To-night "Richard HI." will be given.