PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1840, 7 December 1869, Page 4

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

One of the largest audiences we ever saw in the Prince of "Wales Theatre assembled yesterday evening to witness the appearance of Mr. Montgomery as Hamlet. We must confess that we -were disappointed in his performance, which to us seemed to lackevenness. It certainly had the charm of originality, but this of itself was not sufficient to compensate for the want of energy displayed iu his acting. Mr. Montgomery's reading is excellent; his voice is exceedingly pleasing, but weak ; and his physique unequrl to the impassioned scene 3in which '' Hamlet" abounds. The ecliloqny, "To be, or not to be," was the best that Mr. Montgomery gave us, and was beautifully-rendered, but neither his advice to the players nor the reflections on the evanescence of'life when apostrophising Yorick's skill, were what we had expected. They 'anted, the one earnestness, the other concentration. The first scene of the first act we consider the finest part o hie performance. The interview with his fatber's ghost was somewhat weafr, but in the interview with Oohoiia —although rather too much was made of the arras.—and in the laet scene of all, in the trial of skil!, in his bout of arms with Laertes, Mr. Montgomery was ali fire and life, and his death scene most effective. Nor trust we forget to notice the stormy interview wirh the QiiPen. "pp po'nt where he lii*?<>s the poi trait of his father it went rotisiiificvntly, but when, no longer able to Ueep his o' , rwrought feelings under control, he still retained his seat, instead of Bpurning his chair from him and starting at once to his feet,we were, to say the least of it, surprised at the conception. Mr. Montgomery was honoured with repeated calls. Mr. Morgan's King was well studied and carefully played, but the whole effect was spoilt by the apathy he showed when he found the Queen had drunk of the poisoned chalice. Mr. Clifford's Laertes was anything but a good performance, while Mr. Musgrave's Pol.-nrna was quite the contrary; his advice to his eon was a perfect gem. Mrs. Newton's Queen was well played— better than we had expected at the heads of that lady. Mrs. Hall's Ophelia we did not like; the part suits her not. We are compelled reluctantly to say the same of Mr. Hall's gravedigger—it <vas too comical. The props were not such as we have a right to expect from the Prince of Wales. The new drop scene we hail as a great improvement, though rather too cold in the colouring. The ventilation, and attention to the comfort of his patrons, nmet he more carefully studied in future by the lessae, if big houses are to be the rule and not the exception. 'Xhe orchestra vie once again welcome with pleasure ; it is so long since we have heird any decent music. Managers, as a rule, me too remiss in this portion of the entertainment.