THE SHORTLAND TOWN THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1312, 30 January 1868, Page 3

THE SHORTLAND TOWN THEATRE.

(PBOM A CORRESPONDENT.) The success which has attended the opening of Oapt. Butt's American Theatro in onr township, is, I think deserving of a short notice in your columns, and I am certainly somewhat surprised to have seen so little reference to it before in the Auckland journals. In the first placo Hie establishment of any legitimate place of amusement which will afford nn evening's social recreation and enjoyment, must neceesarily te considered a great boon to the public r ero, moreover when frequenters thereof are nightly treated to a bill of fare that must be generally admitted to be a plentiful repast, at renlly small prices of admiesion. Caotain Butt, from tho vory- commencement of his residence here, has shown himself to be a pontloman of much enterprise ; he goes hoart and aoul into the general advancement of the place—whother in the light of business or amusement, —ani it would be difficult indeed to find anyone to whom can be more appropriately referred the haokneyed but apt quotation of being " the right man in tho light place." I think your own correspondent has already pretty fully noticed the building, its dimensions, and aptitudo for tho purpose for which it was ereoted by Mr. Waltor Deim; all I need add on thia score is the fact that vieitore from Auckland and elsewhere aro at once surprised to find iu our few months' old township » building of such excellent pretensions. The Auckland Amateur Company which came down here tho wook before lust, openod on Thursday, tho 16th instant, since which they have been playing nightly to at first small, but during the last weok, I am glad to say, rapidly increasing audiencos. The success that hue attended their ontertftinments has been quite as agreeablo a eururiee to themselves as it has been to their audience. They have left no stone unturned to oaUblieh themselves as favourites by producing with greut rapidity a tuocoseion of pieces—the production of which as regnrds study alone, must have kept them pretty busy. The sconic artist, and general manager of the Theatre, Mr. Moiifclioiise—so well and favourably known in Auckland in connexion with the Theatro there, but more especially the Odd Fellows' Hall on its first establishment by tie Fawcetts, has put pencil and brush to work on tho American Thentro in enrn6st, tho fitock of scenery which is rapidly incroaeing is really in some instances very effective, whilst the geneial management he displays with regard to tho company change of programmes and variety of entertainments selected is best shown by the improvement in tho receipts of tho house since the reias of government came into hie hands. In addition to the Amateurs themselves, of whom Sir. Hesford is thn stage master, we haye nightly dancing, einging of more than average order —the musio boing presided over by Mrs. Charlo3 Poole. It is not my intention injthe present notice to criticize particularly any single individual of the Company, but will merely in goneral terms say that each ami every one connected with the Theatre eeeuied determined to pull well and strongly together—and 1 feel satisfied that the really enthusiaatio audience that they commanded on Satuiday night will urge them to still further increased exertions. Saturday night must I think have displayed the beet andience that tho house has yet commanded. The programme wa* a vory full one, opening with the ono act drama, of "Tho Clock on tho Stuirs," succeeded by a vocal, acrobatio and tarpsichorean interlude. The farce of " The FourWheeler," really well plnyed, was received capitally, as were likewiso Messrs. Gibbs and Hosford in thoir nigger delineations of tho " Perfect Cure." A capital burlesque nigger opera, arranged by Mr. ffm. Gibbe concluded the evening's entertainement, and dispersed one of tho most enthusiastic audiences I ever remember to have secu collected—apparently well pkasod with the amusement afforded. I must not conclude this hastily written notice without a word about the lady amateurs, one of whom, Miss Clilton, is ploying with some effect. Imn well awo re that in strict politene-s I ahould have given place mix chimes, but as wo live in the outporte I will eimply reverse the order of thing? and follow tho Indies' own procept of leaving tho best for tho postscript.