THE POMEROY COMPANY. "THE HUNCHBACK."

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 103, 29 October 1881, Page 2

THE POMEROY COMPANY. "THE HUNCHBACK."

Whatever defect 3 there were iv tho production of " Tho Huuchback "at the Thoatre Koyal Ja3t night, may bo attributed rathor to the author than the performers. Tho play, while possessing beautiful lanstiag* and abounding in drauntio aitnatious, yoi contains a»uoh that might, with advantage be omitted; but of tho performance, we oan only speak ill t«?ma of comtneitdation. "The Hunchback." like "Twelfth Night," ie a play rarely plaood upon tha sta»o, and probably for the same roa«on--the difficulty of getting a company auffloiontly atronir to do justioo to tho drama as a whol*.' It is a failing of mauy " stars " to make a point of collecting round them companies of inferior artists, with a hope of appearing by oontrast to greater advantage. Tin* ha 3 been too frequently tlio o&ao in New Zealand, but no greater mistake could bo made. A play cannot be satisfactorily perfovmoct unless all tho performora aro fairly oqual tc tho tat k allotted them, and am ablo to 1 ft» dovetail all the parts aa to tnako 0110 liar' monious whole. The failing referred to ia not ono which can bo attributed to Miss Pomeroy. An artist* of a very high order, she has surrounded herself with a company second to none which has ever appeared ia the colony, and while ¦ those who follow her lead possess excellent qualifications, Mies Pomeroy as tho contrdl figure looos nothing thereby. Misa Pomoroy a Julia' in " Tho Huuchback" is a masterpiece of tlramatio art. It i^ a difficult task to depiob in anything hko realistic form, the various emotions of tho heart— k* 0, wounded piido, aoorn, pathos ; but to son Miss Pomdroy as Julia is bo see ail these represented to the veiy life. In tho ono character wo have the uimplo rustic maiden, tho City beauty, inll of all the vanities and frivolities of a fashionablo belley tho discarded lover trying to emothcr her feelings with affected pride, than the ropontant lover and affectionate daaghter. All these wore, as we have said, most faithfully pourtrftyod, and the applause was fro* quent and enthusiastic. Tho uotitig was equalled by the reading of tlio part, which brought oufc all the boautjr of lan« guage and pentiment. Mr. Hoskins, who played tho Hunohbaok. was, as on previous occasions, received on enfeoriug with loud and continued appltiuso. It is really neodleas to dwell upon his performance— it is impossible for him not to do exoollontly whatever part ho is cast for. He wiw applauded and recalled fiovoral tttrtcs, and in the last act, in the sceno with 'Julia, his ucling, as was that of Misa' Pomordy, wa» grand. Tlio op ni -n wo formed of Mr. FleW in)? on hia first appearance iv tho smill parti of Sebastian,, ju " Twelfth Night," wan hmpit be'frto oat by liia tepr sentution of Sir Th imas Cliff >l' 1 lastrnigiit. Ho possesses a fine voio9 aid npp<iitranoa, is easy and natnr.tl, uui Lnt dram 1! 10 ability far boyOiul the aveia^o '1- cm c'ijtion ot thd oharaoter wib an ix'";ilpiit one, and wai carried oub, iv a umit v r>3' la>uttt<»e v > .JWiiß Jdksie Qttefr, as .i.lle 1. i\ns innch' wore in hor el m'tit 1 i-i, uMi i than in tho role of Olivia* and Micuijde 1 i 1 \\ .ning tho hearty approbation of the a.-. M.cc. In tho lovo eopno Jvilh Modus (Mr. O Urion) eho played charm* i"g : y, and r a ived a rocall, a compliment sho wfll" tlirj'jfvod. Mr. Wallow was' tho quuin'nst Fttt^om ,wo have aoan. Every pen ie n«o ho uttered' provoked laughter, which tho most ill-natured person could not have resisted. The minor parts wero well filled. The dresses wore costly land taste* f nl, and tho rich wa-tlrobe of Miss I'omoroy excited general admiration among the ladio3 of thn circle. Ore drawback there was— tho absenco of pr >ff"*ammes As several of tLo faces are newt- tho Wellington pub'ia tho audience weio ui';atly inoouveniencod by Iho lack of progiainmea. Wo vntlerbtand, h jwover, that tho manaeciuent wero i.ot to blame, as they oiderea them ii-om thoir printer who neglected to do :ver t .em.