THE PLAY-GOER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XL, Issue 3926, 25 August 1873, Page 3

THE PLAY-GOER.

He ce"not flatter, he! An honest mind and plain—he must spook truth. An’ they will ttke it, so; if not, he’s plain. —Kina Leae.

I can hardly confess to a feeling of disappointment at the manner in which the two principal attractions of the week have been placed on the stage. During the first which was brought to an end by a managerial explanation on Friday night, I have had ample opportunities of judging what was within and what beyond the powers of Mr Burford’s company, and, fortified with this knowledge of their capabilities, I was not at all surprised to find that, in the representation of “ Rip Van Winkle ” and the “ Octoroon,” the management added still another to the instances in which mistakes have been committed.

I cannot speak favourably of the two pieces above mentioned, os they were played at the Theatre Royal. “ Rip Van Winkle,” which was played on Wednesday evening, dragged very considerably, and was particularly noticeable for the degree of inattention that was paid to the scenic effects and the dressing of the parts, I have seen “ Rip Van Winkle ” many times, but never before witnessed such a diversity of costume as the cast on Wednesday evening presented. With one exception the dresses were altogether out of keeping. Mr Burford’s Rip didn’t impress me much. There was such a disparity between it and the Rip of other actors I have seen that it *is unnecessary to criticise his performance minutely. This disparity was perhaps more apparent in the earlier stages of the piece, in which Mr Burford presented the idea of a Dutchman, Yankee, Irishman, and Lancashire lad by turns, with equal facility. The sleep seemed to have improved his dialect, however, and his dress, too, was also in better keeping at this period. There was less fault to be found with his acting than in the opening scenes, but he failed to be so effective as other actors have been in those scenes that follow the sleep of twenty years, in which he realises the fact that most of those who were dear to him are no more. Then, indeed, there was an absence of sufficient pathos to give due effect to so startling a revelation. As Dame Winkle, the shrewish partner of Rip, Miss Stephenson acquitted herself very creditably, and the same remark applies to Mr Towers in the character of Knickerbocker, which was ex' cellently filled. Mr Kemp, the scenic artist, took a benefit on Friday evening, and the fine scenery he provided for the burlesques of “ Ixion” and “ Lallah Rookh” secured him a good house. The occasion was taken advantage of by Mr Burford to thank the public of Christchurch for the patronage they had accorded to him since opening here, and to announce that the company would appear for another season of twenty-four nights. The production of “The Octoroon” on Saturday evening did not reflect credit on the management. Here, again, they committed the error of provoking comparative criticism with all the odds against them, and the result was what might have been expected. It is no matter to the public whether the piece was hastily got up or not, and it can be no excuse, therefore, that it was not sufficiently rehearsed, because the management should have seen ■that it ~was before the drama was put in the ibiiia. Mr Burford took the part of Jacob M'Closky, and though his was by no means a bad piece, of acting, it was marred somewhat by a very natural temptation to overdo it by making himself appear as a villain of the very deepest dye that imagination could suggest. Miss Stephenson’s Zoe was" ‘far from being a faultless conception. She scarcely seemed to realise the fact that she was impersonating an acutely sensitive being, equal in all other things to those around hen but possessing that ineffaceable mark of Cain which instils a feeling of degradation and conscious humiliation, and operates with so telling an effect upon her through life. If, instead of being so demonstrative, Miss Stephenson had been less impassioned than she was, she would have conveyed a more faithful interpretation of all the attributes of the Octoroon girl; but in straining after effect, she lost sight of the true conception of the part, and as a consequence the picture she delineated did not harmonise with the originalAt times, however, Miss Stephenson was touchingly pathetic, and if she had played as naturally throughout the piece as she did occasionally, her acting would have created a very excellent impression. If I say that Mr Bromley exceeded my anticipations in the part of Salem Scudder, I must not be understood to mean that his impersonation was a good one. Perhaps of all others in the cast, there was no one who displayed a more conscientious desire to do his best with the part entrusted to him, but how far he succeeded in the task must be measured by the success of those who have gone before him. Mr Bromley will not be vain enough to expect me to say that he was equal to Jefferson or J. L. Hall, or others I could enumerate, but for Mr Bromley, the performance was not altogether devoid of merit. If he should ever play the part again, I would advise him to makeup in such a way that the possibility of mistaking him for Jacob McClosky cannot arises, and I think, too, that a less pronounced application of the nasal organ would be an improvement. Stage Yankees are terribly like stage Irishmen, because you never see them off it. If Mr Bromley cannot be congratulated on his good acting, the fact that he was pretty well up in the language of his part was at least gratifying. Mr Simmons made a passable Uncle Pete. His propensity for the introduction of “gag,” however, induced him to make a bid for the Octoroon girl, and to taik of bringing London to Kaiapoi, and a quantity of other “ patter ” equally mal-a-propos and nonsensical. Miss Andrews appeared as Mrs Peyton, but she was too juvenile in the part, and much too rapid in her utterance. She should endeavour to check herself in this respect, before she allows the practice to grow so strongly upon her as to be irremediable. Mr Hesford took the part of the Indian, and so far satisfied the audience as to be honoured with a call before the curtain. The little Mr Towers had to do as the auctioneer was fairly done; and Miss Follande, as the boy Paul, did not fail to make the most of her port. Taken altogether, it will avoid any misconception if I repeat that the piece was not a success.

The burlesqne of “ Lallah Eookh ” was repeated on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; and Thursday evening, and on the occasion of Mr Kemp’s benefit, it was replaced by “ Ixion.” “ Lallah Bookh ” was preceded on Monday by “ The Swiss Swains,” with Miss Stephenson as Bosetta, and Mr Simmons as Swig ; on Tuesday by “ The Loan of a Lover,” in which Miss Stephenson appeared as Gertrude ; on Wednesday by Kip Van Winkle; ” and on Thursday by “ Killing Time,” with Miss Stephenson as Lady Jane, and Mr Burford as Smiley. On Friday evening, the performances commenced with “Lend me Five Shillings,” in which Mr Towers distinguished himself as Golightly. The new burlesque of “ Orpheus and Eurydice” will be produced this evening. Mr Burford intimated on Friday night last, that

the Reason tickets -would hold good for Saturday and Monday evening on account of the two benefits that intervened, so that holders of them- have an opportunity of seeing the new burlesque. Last week I intimated that the company who were to support Mr Fa : -clough in Wellington had gone on direct to Auckland. I have since ascertained that this change of programme was determined on in consequence of the exorbitant tonus that were arranged between Mr Eairclough and Mr Xyster, who acted, it appears, as agent for Messrs Collier and Macgowan. Since the departure of the company for Auckland, Mr Eairclough and Mdlle Legrand, assisted by Mr Xyster, have been giving a series of dramatic readings and Shakesperian scenes in costume, but with pecuniary results that are not at all satisfactory. I perceive that the Wellington papers enderse the opinions expressed by the Christchurch press as to Mr Fairclough’s merits as a tragedian. Mr J. B. Steele is stage manager at the Queen’s Theatre, Dunedin, and Mr Douglas has rejoined the corps dramatique at that house. “ Formosa ” has been played, with Mr Hoskins as Major Jorum, and Miss Colville as Jenny, and it wouljl seem that the piece has proved a great “ draw.” It is reported to be Mrs Steele’s intention to leave Australia for England about Christmas time. Eugene Beda has had a benefit given to him in Sydney, and it is stated that he w ;, l be taken on a trip to England with a company which is in process of organisation. Messrs Buckley and Holly, negro delineators, took a benefit at the School of Arts, Sydney, on the Bth inst.; and Harry Rickards was announced to commence a fresh season at the same place on the following evening.

From America I learn that the Martinettis, the only ballet troupe that has ever visited Christchurch, were performing in Kansas; that Mr George Fawcett Rowe was playing as Wilkins JMicawber at the Union Square Theatre, New York; that Mr J. J. Bartlett has been earning golden opinions as a comedian at the Opera House, Albany; and that Jefferson, in his inimitable performance of Rip Van Winkle, was drawing densely crowded houses at the Pittsburgh Opera House. Mrs R, H. Cox died a considerable time ago, and Mr Cox is now doing utility business somewhere in the States. Jacques.