THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5010, 10 March 1877, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

“King Bbwe’b DAronTHB,” This, the firat piece selected by Mra Siddons for performance on the occasion of hot benefit, ia one of the moat beautiful little playa that any one could wiah to see. It ia a perfect gem of a play. Poetical in conception and treatment, breathing the moat perfect freahneaa and innocence, it takea the hearers into a higher atmosphere, and gives them pleasure of a rare and refined order.

In her impersonation of the chief character (lolantho), Mrs Siddona gare na a singularly graceful and original representation. She realised moat completely the conception of the poet—the author must be a poet of the highest order—of a blind maiden jealously secluded from the world, waited upon and tended with the moat careful loving solicitude, contented with her lot, and absolutely without knowledge of the great privation which she ia enduring. This waa the conception realised in the opening scenes. lolantho met her strange visitors in the moat charmingly natural manner. Her eyes were open, but it was evident she could not see. She spoke to them with the perfect frankness of innocence, and a tone of fresh, almost childish grace, the effect of which cannot be conveyed in words. When she beard that there is such a thing as the sense of sight, she conveyed the impression that the news affected her in no way. Her manner was simply and quietly incredulous, and it was difficult to convey to her mind more than a remote idea of the import of what was said to her. When, after the physician’s measures had proved successful, and light had returned to her eyes, her acting was simply auperb. She came upon the stage with all the precautions which the blind employ to feel their way. Her habits were unchanged though the light had come to her eyes. And bow it affected them! The flood of brightness dazed her, and the many objects in nature familiar to her touch, but now seen for the first time, alarmed her. The sight of even her father, and the friends of her youth, frightened her so that her head sank upon the old physician’s breast, with ». terror much like that of children who see strange sights. Finally she recognises them by their several voices, and becomes gradually accustomed to the use of her newly recovered sense. It waa altogether the most beautiful and poetical conception, and the most consummate piece of acting that one could wish to see. “ Eip van Winkle ” has made the fortune of Mr Jefferson, " Lord Dundreary ” has done a great deal for Mr Sothern. 11 lolanthe ” ought to do as much for Mrs Scott-Siddons. As a physiological study, her impersonation of the character is, in the highest degree, interesting, and its performance is original, unique, and exceedingly chaste and graceful. The other characters were carefully performed by various members of the company, and the scene—a pretty garden, with hills, in the back ground—was an unusually successful effort of the management. "Thb Honeymoon.” Tobin’s sparkling comedy followed Herz’s beautiful play. The author was evidently a student of Shakespeare and a reader of Cervantes. His plot reflects the " Taming of the Shrew” and “ Much Ado About Nothing." The Duke of Aranza and Juliana have something in them of Fetruchio and Catherine, and Bolando’s humour is much after the manner of Signor Benedick, while bis fate is something of the same order. Jacques (the mock duke), again, is a kind of mixture of Christopher Sly and Sancho Fanza. He is not so sententious nor so shrewd as Sancho, but he has his consequence and conceit, and he resembles Christopher in the knowledge of his precarious position. Out of these materials Tobin has constructed a very amusing comedy, full of telling situations and abounding in the happiest of language. There are various allusions to “ transportation,” “ beadles,” and “ workhouses,” which are anachronisms, but they detract notbing'from the fun of the piece. The representation which Mrs Siddona gave of the Shrew (Juliana) was well marked, and acted with spirit, and discrimination. In the sconce before the bridal she was a very shrew, imperious and wayward. Her taming was begun in the cottage scene, in which her behavour was in fine contrast to that of Fauline in a similar scene in the “ Lady of Lyons.” It was carried on through various gradations finely shaded, till its completion in the last act. The whole rendering was bright, amusing, and clever. The Yolante of Mrs W. Hill was a finished performance, in her best manner, lively and pleasant. The third heroine (Zamora) was played carefully by Miss Lily May. Mr Steele had a good idea of the Duke of Aransa, but was not quite perfect in the language. Mr Burford, as Rolando, who, impolite man, rails in good set terms against the fair sex, gave us one of the best representations in which we have seen him since Mrs Siddons has been playing here. Mr Hill made a most amusing Jaques, doing the mock duke with much humour and facial expression. Mr Stark, as Lopez, was very successful as the country bumpkin, who shows a most comical terror of the Shrew, and he got drunk in the most natural and easy way possible. Mr Graham as Count Montalban, and Mr Musgrave as Balthazar, acted both with good effect. The play was received with much hearty laughter and frequent rounds of applause ; there were many calls before the eurtain, Mrs Siddons on each occasion receiving showers of bouquets. There was a large and fashionable audience.

For to-night "Borneo and Juliet" is announced.