THEATRE ROYAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10011, 8 June 1895, Page 4

THEATRE ROYAL.

"THE DOUBLE EVENT." . It is many months since such a crowil packet! itself into toe Theatre Roynl u--1 found its way there last niqlit. Down- . stairs many were glad of standing room, and tho circle was simply crammed, all available seats beim> occupied. Theplaj Is intensely racy, and though it is eseenf tially an expos<s of all that is shady abont * the tnrf, though the dialogue is in places crude, and some rf the situations ludic- , rously nnrenl and stagey, yet this is more than compensated by tho vigor of the piece 1 and its dramatic intensity, intermingled with on irresistible drollery which sua- | tnina the audience at) high tension iron) start to finish. Scenery is Mr DarreU's p strong point, and the manner in which "The Double Event" was staged 1 laßt night reflected the greatest credit upon thoee responsible, and elicited 1 round after round of enthusiastic opplanse, The race for the cap was a fine mechanical effect, and the real flesh and blood finish, a bold conception carried out with thrilling realism. Of the plot of the drama little need be said. It centres round a Melbourne Cop favorite, Calooln, and brings into prominence principally tho plucker and the plucked. Those characters who do not answer to this description nre tbe heroes and heroines of the piece, who poss through many tribulations into opulence, and " hlgb jlnka" at the last. There are plungers, peers, bookmakers, pamblere, rogues, dupes, trainers, jockeys, detectives, Btable boys, mysteries, novelties, curiosities, domestics, punters, lords and ladies, and auxiliaries in the piece, who, all at their appointed time, rush more or less violently on to tbe stage and do something, and without exception all do their particular something well. In fact tho company i 3 a very Btroi.'4 one. Mr George Darrell ob Richard Mareton, a plunger, took up a lot of time and room to great advantage, his noting being, unexceptionable. Mr J. B. Athohvood made a somewhat erratic peer who, however, im« proved on acquaintance and finished np nmoDgat the jolly eocd fellows at the latter end. Ticer Fletcher, a gambler, received an excellent interpretation at the hands of Mr Collett Dobaon. The audience hated him from flag fall (or rather I curtain rise), and the bate grew on them worse as events proceeded, till they could have lynched him comfortably coming up tho straight io the last scene of act four. For the ehadv Israelite, Solly Yates (Mr Edwin Kelly) they felt an undisguised contempt not unmixed with pity, for with all his fanlts he was a moat amusing scoundrel who ended up " stony motherless " — and in gaol. Tommy Noles, a dope, was one of the comical elements of the plecp, and Mr Fred Cambourne accentuated this fact greatly to the delight of the plebhorlc audience. Ike Thureton, a Oornishmau or Yorkahireman (or other variety of foreigner not specified) redolent of tbe turf, found an apt interpreter in Mr J. A. Patterson ; Mr Olemow also making a great hit as Pusher Wells, the jockey. Mr Barry Marschel was a somewhat demonstrative detective, and aa Will Kingdon, a bookmaker, Mr G. It. Ireland must be viewed with considerable approbation. As Daisy, a young lady or uncertain antecedents, who afterwards become Lady Mayfield, Miss Harrie Ireland had a diverse and difficult impersonation to sustain, and was eminently successful. Miss Gill filled the minor part of Edith Kingdon unobjectionably, and Miss Stuart as Nellie White had a lot to do principally in the direction of burlesque, and proved irresistibly vivacious and funny. The numerous minor characters otherwise were, aa we have remarked, in Hko ratio, commendable, and well sustained. Miss Bessie Colville introduced a skirt dance into the last; ace, and was recalled, giving in response an exhibition of a learner at practice. The costnmes in conneo tinn with this drama were diverse and effective, tho several dresses of the ladies being very much admired; "THE SUNNY SOUTH." No old playgoer will aek for a letter of recommendation to Mr George Darrell'a masterpiece, "The Sunny South." It mode its reputation years ago, and time has dealt very kindly with it iudeed, for wherever It goes it Is snre of a watm welcome from those who know its merits. For the benefit of those who are not old playgoer?, however, and may never have witnessed the drama, it is necessary to ppeak of these merits. The drima is particularly full of moving incidents ; iDdeed there is enough adventure crammed into Its five acts as would suffice for two plays. Bat they are ortis» tically introduced, notwithstanding their abundance, with the result that there is not a dull moment during the three hours the drama lasts, The scene is Australia, and Australia at a time when tbe gold fever was racing, fortunes were being made every day, hardships were encountered which brought out) all tbe noblest qualities of a man, and the life of a great portion of the people was as fall Of danger and adventure as the most sensational romance. We are introduced into the society of all sorts and conditions of men, from the callow new chum to the desperate bushranger, as we tread the mazes of a plot of singular interest. The Bentlment of the play is healthy and tbe dialogue good. There 1b plenty of good sound passion in the pleca, broad humor, honest love, and out-and-out villainy of the old typp. Mr DarreU's play is one that appeals dlrecHv to an audience, for U Is neither above nor below tbe standard which they can instantnneonely appreclntP. The ploy had a great reception in Auckland.