PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1841, 8 December 1869, Page 4

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Mi:. Walter Mo.vnK'MKUY appeared last averii"" us ("lauda Melnotto in tho " Lad'- of ljyons," Mrs. .1. 1.. Hall, as l'aulino Dc-i-ohappelles. 'iho weather was not. V. ry propitious, but tho iioueo was full, although not.no crowded as on the previous ovonirig. Tho result of tho performance may bo told in a few words. Mr. Montgomery succeeded in working up tho audience io a of enthusiasm which lias 110 precedent in this city —at least within our oxpt rienrc. " ! ho Lady of Lyons" occupies £0 fixed a position 011 tho British stago, its populaiitv has beon so uninterrupted, that every part Jf it has concentrated some speciality or excellence of a long succession of eminent actor-*. The o 'casionul inflation of sentiment is so concealed by an exqu site refinement, that it is one of tho mo't characteristic of the works of its distinguished author. Moreover, it, marks very precisely an epoch of public taste. It is the fruit of Mr. Bulwor'e, nonLord Lytton's, French studies, at a timo when Lamartine and Chatoaubriund were iho rago. Whatever may be said of particular passages or soino improbabilities, tho whole is perhaps the completest dramatic pieturo that c:in be found illustrating the vicissitudes of hieh wrought passion asd sentiment.

It is biro justice to Mr. Montgomery j.i gay that we havo seen tho Claude Melinite of tho illustrious actors who have passed 11 way and of the most distinguished actors yet living, yet httva not s-en tho int- rpretation of (he pirt aB given last night excelled. Mr. Montgomery fairly conquered soino prejudices occasioned by what at first appeared to be mannerism, but which is evidently tho result of very careful study. Tho effects produced by the astor are entirely simulative, and react upon tho individual, a circumstance which may account for Somo dofects noticeable in Mr. Montgomery's ordinary manner. Bat such a performance as that of l ist evening could only be the result of well dofinod conception, accurate determination of the scope, meaning, and purposo of the text, nice disc limitation of situation, perfect masterv of minor details, and an attontion to the minutest particulars of co»tume. Tho plot ia so well tinuwri that ic will not bear repetition. 'The story of the gardener's son aspiring to the hand of the heiress of a rich merchant, his suit being contemucd, his becoming tho dupe in iho bends of a revengeful and rejected suitor, his going to tho wars, proclaimed by tho French Directory, bis return laden with wealth and honours to claim tho hand ho had at onca betrayed and wedded, has been told a thousand limes. Mr Montgomery's conception of tho part i-i thoroughly intellectual. He nover from tho first to the last forgets the dignity which is duo .to tho misforluno ho has caused, or (0 his own misery. Even the repentanco'and triumph;; of Olaudo Melnotto is subdued ; theruia 110 displiy of energy un'il tho fourth act, when the path is shown to him by vvhich he can rotrievo honor and win a reputation. The close of tho fourth act was on" of the most impressivo scenes that could be witnesseo", j and fairly brought tho house down, for tho stago wan covered with tho tributos paid by th'! audience in acknowledgment oi tho nowcr of the actor. In the fifth act, wherr* tho denouement ia disclosed by the forcible Keizuro and tearing of tho marriage contrast, of Pauline with Beausoanf, (horn i» another most effectivo scenc, and again the house manifested i">* sonso of the eixcejlence ot the perfirni'.rtco by ropcatcd bursts of applause. Sir. Montgomery gave tho best pnW' last ovonir<; that could bo given, of his perfect conversance with tho snbtkties of reading, for his pauses were made to convey not a little of tho forco Ilia; wits displayed in tho uttorances immediately

tot.owing. Wo have hoard it charged auainut iwr. Montgomery I hut fie is " unovon," but I evenness is more frequently t.hun not. the di»'inguishing foature of mediocritTon-pre-sent accurately tho vicissitude of fate or fortune would teem to preclude whit, is known as the level oi tho context. At, the same time there la a purpose sometimes manifested in tho slightest intonation, which, if fulfilled uceor.JlUfj to the promise of it, marks tho true artist. In the part of Claude M-dnottc Mr. Jioutgonjeiy gives a great manv instances of this excellence, which we need not oWrvo is of a purely intellectual character, and for this very reuaun the highest type of merit. To realise this it will bo noceasary to sec and hear him. The Paulino Deachapelles of Mrs. Hall was an excellent performance. But we are accustomed to associate something majestic with the pride and sorrows of tho rich bur»hcj 'a daughter. Tho depth of her humility as woll as the violeneo of her grief is extremely domonstrat ve. But what Mrs. Hall laekcd in physique she compensated in pathos. As a | whole the performance of so arduous a part nt Bhort notice was most credituMo to (he lady Her resentment and her sorrow were womanly and tender. Her success was acknowledged by a shower of bouquets. The other parts were played tolerably well We must give a word of special praise to Mr" Muflgrave as Dumas, which was played with etceHont judgment. Th'.re wna no " hlu-li- " While effect was given to the brusque character ol the soldier. Miaa iiajmond, we think it was, who played tho part of the Widow Melnotte. She played the part to as to leave little to bo desired. n i ght Mr- Montgomery will appear ub Macbeth, when we shall have au opportunity of seeing him in a part of a very different description. Mr. Montgomery'* performance tuliy ]u.itiGo3 his reputation, and we will be ' perfectly satisfied, und so we think should i ae be if his success should be equ il to hi 3 I undoubted merit. } — J Absent.—A gentleman called to see a liuly, i and was told that she was out, although he saw the lady s head reflected in a mirror placed ! opposite to the open door. One hour after lie , mcL the lady at the house of a friend and 'i observed, I called at, your house just, now . but did not have the pleasure of scein" you ." I am very sorry, but I had to go out in great haste, was the reply. " J,] sucli great, haste <, madam that 1 suppose you left your lie:id ( behind you, as I saw it in the glass." " It is \ reij possible, for I am so absent," ,

' j PTJKK OF EDINBURGH T'TE/.TitR. j | Bi'lweb Lyttun - a " Richelieu" was pro- i duesd nt the iHiuo of Edinburgh fcheittm yes- } terduy evening, to—considering the «:afo of I t'nc weather—:i fair lumso. Mr i'.onrv • ulboS piaved t]io rote of ?lichciiou. Tho first act. went smoothly ; the second and third InU jjKj'-vly ; the fou;tli magnifiers;;];.', and tho fifth di»«idc'lly well, hi Uv> rH'eovul ;-»csne of the first iief, the ir.tn;vifw with Do Mauprat, on ilia part both of tho t ■ irdi'.Vu'l and the needy ppi'iidthrift cnurti-r, v.*u: ;ui admirable piece of noting, which evidently delisted tho audienro, Mr. Talbot, giving vho lines commencing— 11 Bah ! the mate for beauty Should bo a mid not a irv noy'chco^" in a in'inner which showed to advantage tlio fine elocutionary powers ho possesses; tho climax frpO which was reu/dvvl at thy address* lo " jVJy Micros* * bVunco, my wedded swivt } S ranee." Nothing worthy of punicmlar comnaeat then presented itaott until in tho second sc-mo of tho third act, when tho bravo high-spirited old church* warden, turning fiercely on hia would be murderer, exclaim';— iC To thy IrcctP, c«uwl For pardon ; or I toll ihouidndt livo For such remorse, did 1 hate thee. I W'jtiid hid fheo .strike, that I misfit be avenged !*' Th f> mandate «?ia so imperative, the action so pcifect, lhat it seemed f.o h->ii«> longer but an if the word? had Va'i'ii this of Mr. T tinol'd <nvn brain. in !hu fourth act, : Mr. Till boh siho .vi dto pvn'; advantage. Alterj nafely, n« his h'»p. i? ot in his .s'.home • fur thwarting tho ambitious do*i<*ns «»f ilu« (wily Barudap, ros i or foil with (lie ciiuulCHtunccs of tho homo, •■•■> did tho i! Tv and impetuous churchman ootir.iiaud or entreat, until Harada* nays to him — My lord, tho King c.u.r.oi. b Uevo your j-'minenco ■mi far forgo la your duty and hid i;r ntri'.-dfl i As to resist hi* inandiito." ' 'I hen di.i tlic of r?oino riao j cr[ijal to the :i::d tlius icpli(?d — \round her form ! draw The awful circle of our hoVmn c!iui\h ! hut a foot, within that h-dy ground And »»n thy head—y Cl > tliouyh it woio a crown — I launch tlie curso of Rome." Air. j'alhot pure tho nbovo pn«sa*;e in-"'ft f'ircihly, and appeared to tin-roughlc iiientify himotd' with Hichclieu, to think as Kicfcc!ieu, to ppenk as Hieht'liou. tju'dlv, comen the— * 4 Hoign, Richelieu !" of Louis; tho exclamation — 41 lVrunee !" and ut once llto w!»ohi sccnc chunked ; no loniser weuk an i di-'pit'il- );', no | longer tlie heartbroken Pudcrini; prelate, -ut t tlie haui'litv Miuiitcr dispatching majij dato« on every si le. and in a moment maater 1 of the situation. The cuddon transition was exeollont, yhowir.it what a thorough r.one. ption of tho rharacfor Mr. Tit lb f had arrived at. The deliver}' of his last apcoeh— t: No, let Us own it: th»jro id Ono above," was a fitting co: to an cxcellcnt: p?rlormanee. Arr. SoberLs* f'hev.tjier De Mauprat was well played ; hut \i\ tho latter seeno, indiircrently dressed, and we cannot compliment that

guni.cmari o'i /us una 01 mo lex.'. :Ur. Her' ert'? plavod Oou*it Dm Banidii.s very well indeed ; and Afr. HowoV .Tusmph wan ua ijood as anything we remember to have «<»en fit Unit gentleman's hands Tor somo time pa>t. Madam JJurcl admirably pourintyccl Juii.i Oo Afortomar; and in tho econo in which she disclose to tho Cnrdinttl (the suppled), the apparent buscnt»33 of her husband, C -Ue mado a decidod hit. Miss Polly Le«\UbN Francois \va j a capital performance, but h«r dres.* was obj- ction-ible. "W.j to eon th<> inevitable Hessians a f .;:iin, and really mast upon Uu rn inurement tho advi-jibility of paying more attenticn to the unities. | " Poor Villicoddy," with Mr. Mydos as the unfortunate pmevshi'm, followyd, and provoked ro.irs of laughter.