PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1445, 6 July 1868, Page 3

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

The various characters which Mrs. Heir represents are all such as con only be successfully attempted by a first-class actress, and were such not the case we should say that her impersonation of Mrs. Haller in the" Stranger" as represented at the Brunswick Hall on Saturday night was her best, but we have, however, previously seen her in other, as heavy parts, in which she pleased us equally as well. Mrs. ifeir possesses great versatility as an actress, and can move lier audience from tears to laughter at will. She is, undoubtedly, a finished actrcss, ar.d this, indeed the manner in which she has been everywhere received in these colonies clearly shows. We may mention here that we have been informed that in no city that Mrs. Heir has yet visited has she been so little patronised by the " upper ten" as in Auckland.

The play of the " Stranger" has long been, and will continue to be, a standard favorite play. Its plot is simple aad too generally known to need repetition. The part of Mrs. Haller in Mrs. Heir's hands was played with her usual wonderful ability, and the renewed applause each time she appeared upon the stage showed liow thoroughly the audience appreciated her successful efforts to please. The Stranger was taken by tho leading man of the company, Mr. W. G. Carey This gentleman shows in every part ho plays that he devotes great care to studying the meaning as well as the words of the author. His magnificent voice, which seems to daily improve, came out with splendid effect in the scene in which he relates the story of the wrongs done to his children and himself through his wife's infidelity. Baron Stemfort, by Mr. J. H. Clifford, and Count Wiuterson, by Mr. G. MacCabe, were carefully rendered. Mr. Kemp brought down continued roars of laughter and applause in his part of Solomon, and his laurels were shared by Mr. Power, who acted the part of his son. The part of Francis, the steward to the Stranger, was put in charge of Mr. B. N. Jones, at whose hands it received full justice. Countess Winterson, as impersonated by Miss Shepparde, was an exquisite piece of acting. We must commend this lady for the care which she always shows in the study of, and the easy gracefulness with which she renders, characters which she impersonates. Charlotte was well played by Mrs. Jones. Ihe song of "I have a silent sorrow here," was given by Miss Raymond in the part of Annette, but she seems to be rather nervous, for it was impossible to hear the words. The farce of the " Dead Shot" brought the evening's entertainment to a c]osc._ In it Miss Shepparde acted lier part of Louisa Lovefcrick with lier usual ladylike taste and effect, while the part of Chatter was done full justice to by Mrs. Jones. Mr. MacCablo, as Hector Timidi kept the house in a continued roar of laughter, and Mr. J. H. Clifford acted the part of the bashful Mr. Wiseman remarkably well. Mr. Thorpe's Frederick Thornton' was also very good. Auckland has not for some time been favored with so talented a host of stars as are be found in the company, and we only hope that the spirited lessee, Mr. J. Bennett, will find that his venture will repay him. For this evening the play of "East Lynne," dramatised from Mrs. Henry Wood's novel of that name, will be produced, and we hope to see a. full house to meet Mrs. Heir in her imperoona* tion of the faithless Lady Isabel.