BENEFIT OF THE MISSES JULIA CORCORAN AND MAGGIE GRIFFITHS, AT THE "PRINCE OF WALES" THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 253, 3 September 1864, Page 4

BENEFIT OF THE MISSES JULIA CORCORAN AND MAGGIE GRIFFITHS, AT THE "PRINCE OF WALES" THEATRE.

The well-filled house at the theatre last night oil (his occasion must have been highly gratifying to the fair Jiaii'/irimrs, for a more miserably wet night could hardly be imagined. The public, however, seemed determined, as we expected, to testiiv to these pleasing artistes their appreciation of the service? they hud rendered during the very Muveasful season ol the Dramatic Company attached to this favourite place of allurement; and when we mention that Love Taylor's highly sensational drama "Hie Ticket-of-Leiive .Man," which has been played hero before with great success ; a grand "pasdedeu" by Miss Grifiitlis, and a dance by the Misses Gritliths and Corcoran anil Mrs. Twight, followed by Mr. Heed's entertainment, and concluding with a new farce, the first time in Auckland, of "The Rival Pages," with fresh di esses, scenery, and appointments, was the bill of fare, we think we have said enough to show the public that the entertainment provided was sufficient to satisfy the most fastidious.

The front seats was nearly filled by a select and appreciative audience, and the back seats crammed almost to suffocation. The programme was everything to be desired. The celebrated Irish comedian, Mr. Shiel Barry arid Air. Win. Reed, kindly volunteered their services on this occasion.

" Tho Ticket-of-Leavo Man " is a favorite everywhere. It is 110 creation of the brain; the character's and scenes presented are easily recognised in every day existence, and are pourtraved by the talented author to ,tlio very life. The piece was lirst produced at the Olympic Theatre, .London, under the management of Messrs. Itobson and Kmden, and is one ol the most successful productions of the present day. Tho scenery incidental to the plav is very well executed here. We have before noticed this drama, suffice it, therefore, to say that the plot is extremely good, the interest never 'flagging till the curtain falls. This piece is partly taken from " Les Drained de la \ ie' and '' Leonard,**' and the author received much abiue for doing so, being stigmatised as a plagiarist of the first water. Mr. Uarrv played Robert Uriarly in a very creditable manner, but we missed the north c ufntrv dialect, which is so essential to a proper representation of the part. We admired his quiet and natural acting when lie returns from " durance vile" to May Edwards ; but, perhaps, he excels most in the scene between himself and Hawkshaw in Mr. Gibson's Counting House. Mr. Daniels as Hawlshaw the - detective, surpassed himself; the words.

'■ i never forget faces" were given in a manner calculated to mako one perforce honest for the future, and the tableaux, " Sam Haw! • slaw tho detective" was capitally done. Ml. Clitlbrd as Dalton, alias tho Tiger, is deserving of praise, as also Mr. West as Mr. Gibson, whose mako \n> excellent. Mr. O'Brien as the infamous old Fence, iUelter Moss, was everything to be desired or rather abhorred, and did his best to spoil Robert liriarly's " littlo game." Ilia by-plav with HawKshaw was excellent. Mr. "Wright, as Maltby the proprietor ot' the liellevue Tea (J-arciens must not bo forgotten. Miss Julia Corcoran as the interesting heroine \M ty Edwards looked and acted very swcetlv ; we do not know in which scene to admire her lii.'st, tlis first or tho last, as the poor wandering singing girl or the happy wife of noble Kobert ISriarly, but the whole part vsis rendered in an exceedingly lady-like and taking manner, and deserved all the praise she received. MissGriflith seemed not to act, but to be, that little rascal Sam Willoughby, and looked so knowing and impudent as to make us feci almost inclined to use strikiny measures to compel him t<> return the pilfered '• couters" to his granny; and last, but by no means lua-t, Miss Fanny \oung, <S tho lodging house keeper and talkative old woman, Mrs. Willoughby, gave us a wholesome horror ot woman's best weapon —her tongue. Messrs. i>arry and .Daniels, at the conclusion ot the piece, were called before the ouitain. Mi. Barry, in a short speach, thanked thy au lienct, ou

the T» rt of 1310 tw ° la . dics > for thoir patronage, and - f or mpd them that, in consoqucnco of numerous -olicitittions, the buck scats would be in futuro Induced to 25., and half price would bo charged in loth places nt -«rl ,ast 9 o'clock, an announcement , ha t was followed With great applause. A short interlude followed, very sigreoablv filled up iiv » wel'i-cxec.ited dance by the Misses Corcoran and Griffiths which was received in a rapturous manner, mi Mr. Jieid g«vo his delineation of Negro life in ,tjoJ sty' o - . . " The evening s entertainment concludcd with the lauehaWe farce of the " Kival Pages," at so late an hour that we cannot particularize it. We should •nlvisc all w ho like a good laugh to go and seo it. \ltoscther the performance was a great success. Tojjjjrht we me to have "Jack Sheppard," a favourito rioci', the " Kival Pages," a programme which, ; vt . ,ioufit not, will prove sufficiently attractivo to draw in overflowing house.