THE QUEEN THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 5762, 27 August 1881, Page 2

THE QUEEN THEATRE.

As wo fully expected, there was a very full attendance in all parts of tho Queen Theatre last night, ,when “ The Pirates of Penzance” was played for the last time, for the benefit of Mr Cary. An impression got abroad, but the management were not responsible for it, that Misses Leaf and Murielle were to exchange parts, and doubtless some disappointment was felt when it became known that such was not the fact. Miss Leaf played the part of Mabel in place of Miss Murielle, and with the natural result that her well cultured voice was heard to the utmost advantage in the sparkling music, and that her longer stage experience and acquaintance with the style in which the opera has been produced elsewhere enabled her to make points that have hitherto remained undiscovered. Miss Leaf, on making her entrance, received a cordial welcome, which must have been exceedingly gratifying to her; and the applause was hearty and prolonged at the finish of the waltz song. Her best effort was in the duo with Frederick in tho second act, “Leave me not alone,” which was never so well sung before. The encore was thoroughly merited. Mr Riverton was the Ruth, We confess to have no relish for male representations of female characters, and, not being able to shake off our prejudice, could see nothing meritorious in Mr Riverton’s performance save his acting, which was very mirthprovoking at times. His vocal powers are quite unequal to the part. Other dispositions of tho cast could not be made ; and, fortunately, it was the last night of the opera ; but wc should not care to see Mr Riverton often in this character. Mr Cary resumed his old part of tho Pirate King, and sung and acted with his customary spirit. Mr O’Neill was the Major-general, and Mr Benbam as funny as ever as tho Sergeant of Police. Both of the sergeant’s songs were encored, and a similar compliment was paid to the unaccompanied ode to poetry. Tho curtain fell on the final scene amidst applause from all parts of tho house. Between the acts, Mr Cary came to the footlights and thanked the public of Dunedin for their liberal patronage of his company. So generous had been their reception in tho various towns they had visited up to tho present, that he had now come to regard himself as a New Zealand man. Ho had made a good start, and hoped by attention to his business and doing his utmost to secure novelties to keep the ball going. His stay in Dunedin was necessarily short, but he hoped to return and present “Billce Taylor” and “Patience”— (applause) —for tho production of which in this Colony ho was now negotiating. To-night “Pinafore” will bo played, with Miss Leaf in her old r6k of Josephine, Mr Porter as the Admiral, and Mr Cary as Captain Corcoran.