THEATRE ROYAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11541, 30 March 1898, Page 6

THEATRE ROYAL.

THE PRIVATE SECRETARY. That The private Secretary is still capable of attracting large audiences was - proved last night, when Mr Prank Thornton revived Mr Hawtrey’s comedy. Mr Tborntbn claims to Lave played the part ■of the .Rev Robert Spalding more than twelve hundred times. He might be forgiven if,-, under these circumstances, his ■ impersonation lacked the freshness and .’originality which formerly characterised it. Instead of this being the case, however, it is ; pist as amusing as ever. Mr Pred Shepherd's rendering of th e part of Mr Cattermole in • some respects differs from the conception of the character by actors who have preceded him in New Zealand, but it is none the less effective, and Mr George Rowland is easy and natural as Douglas Cattermole. - Mr Carey’s representation of Mr Gibson, the tailor, is one of the features of the production, hut Mr E. Haygarth, as

Mr Marsland, hardly embodies precon- ' ceived notions of an English country ' squire. As Harry Marsland, Mr Cochrane accomplishes what little he has to do conscientiously, and Mr Townsend, both ao regards appearance, and acting makes a great deal of the minor part of the footman. Miss Elsie Carew impersonates Miss Ashford most capably. Miss Meta Pelham , : ia fairly, satisfactory as Mrs Stead, and Miss Madge Corcoran and Miss Florence Poole infuse plenty of life ; into the characters of Edith Marsland and, Eva * . Webster, which, respectively, they, portray. The Private Secretary will be repeated tonight, and to-morrow night Sweet Lavender will be produced.