CITY HALL.

Evening Star, Issue 10394, 16 August 1897, Page 2

CITY HALL.

Mr Albert Lucas and his company provided an excellent evening's amusement at the above hall on Saturday evening, and a large audience were thoroughly satisfied with what they saw and heard. As a prelude a selection from ' Richard 111.,' scene 2, act i., was given. In this Mr Lucas showed his elocutionary powers to effect, speaking the lines of the Duke of Gloucester in his wooing of the Lady Anne of Warwick with fine force ; and Miss Lilian Chester, as the Lady Anne, lent him material help. Pinero's favorite comedy 'Sweet Lavender' was then given, and it was evident that more than ordinary care had been bestowed upon its production. The characters had been judiciously cast, and the whole performance went without a bitch. Dick Phenyl is one of Mr Lucas's strongest characters, and he made every point in it. Mr Wilton Power, who played Clement Hale, gave the best piece of acting he has yet shown us; and Mr Charles Hill's breezy style just fitted the character of Horace Bream. Miss Chester as Minnie Gilfillan and Miss Edith Leech as Mrs Gilfillan did really good work ; while Miss Nell Ogden made a witching Lavender, and Mrs Dunbar, as her mother, acted as only an experienced actress can. The minor characters were very fairly done. As before mentioned, it was a creditable production. The same programme is announced for this evening. There will be no performance on Wednesday owing to the Tasmania relief fund benefit, but the company appear on Thursday.