Mr. George Leitch's Dramatic Season.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 153, 29 December 1887, Page 3

Mr. George Leitch's Dramatic Season.

? "HUMAN NATURE." The Drury Lane drama of " Human Nature," written by Henry Pottitt and Augustus Harris, and which has just been introduced to this colony by Mr. Goorge Leitoh, was porformed at tho Opera House last ovoning. Evory part of tho theatre was crowded, and temporary seats had to bo added to the ordinary accommodation. The materials of the drama are not new, and in - fact its success, as ir tho case of most of the plays lately produced in Wellington, depends mainly upen spectacular effect and Bonsational situations, rather than brilliancy of pldt or dialogue There is the usr.al ¦equenoe of conjngal happiness, misunderstanding, separation, and ultimate reconciliation, with the inevitablo party of villains whose plottings bring about tho misfortunes of the horo and heroine, and a numbor of minor characters whose experiences form interesting by-plots. The scenery is very ¦varied, and some of the sets are very pleasing, especially those of the garden at Templecombe, the Stonefield baby farm, tho zaroba in the Soudan, and the bele&gnered desert pity. The battle between the Arabs and British troops and the entry of the hitter— as victors, of course— into the city, were very cleverly managed, the tableau being exceedingly pretty. The military display, representing the return of tho troops to Trafalgar-square, was, however, disappointing. Of the characters appearing in the drama, Miss Alico Norton eauied tho palm for her natural aoting in the trying part of Mrs. Tomple, tho porsocutcd horoino of the piece, and little Miss Andrews, an Auckland child, showed romarkablo precocious ability in pourtraying the part of tho boy Frank Temple. Tho scones at the baby farm, with the two half-starved children, ill-treated by thoir brutal guardians, were produced very satisfactorily, tho passage where Frank and another waif indulgo in what is to them the luxury of a laugh being most pathetic. Mr. Sidney was not scon at his best as Captain Templo, and one or two slight inaccuracies in his undress uniform rather offended the eye. The oomedy clement of the drama is concentrated in the role of Horatio Spofkins, a lawyer's olork of tho Gnpjjy school, and an incorrigible rhymester, ¦who introduces his doggrol at all times and seasons. Tho character is somewhat remotely connooted with the development of the plot, but it has beon given the prominence of a loading part. Mr. Leitch's representation of Spofkins was ludicrous in the extremo, and tho audienco were kept in roars of laughter. Mr. Montgomery appeared as Paul de Vigne, a Frenchman, who assists in causing the misery of the two principals, and afterwards joins tho Arabs in the Soudan, where, whon at the point of death, ho meots Captain Temple and confesses his villainy. Tho other characters who take part in the undercurrent of treaohery were consistently impersonated by Miss Flora Ansteod and Messrs. Stanmanr and Clitheroe. The audience seemed to enjoy tho drama thoroughly, and tho leading actors were called to the footlights at the conclusion of each act to receive thoir meeds of applauso or exeoration. The stage management might have been improvod upon, and onco or twice the anger of tho occupants of tho pit was manifested by thoir cries of " stago to let," and similar ejaculations. Tho littlo dofcots in the performance will doubtless bo avoided during tho continuance of the season. "Human Nature" will bo repeated until further notice.