DUKE OF EDINBURGH THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1842, 9 December 1869, Page 4

DUKE OF EDINBURGH THEATRE.

Mr. Talbot appeared at the Duke of Kdinburgh Theatre yesterday evening, in what is generally considered to bo bis best character, that of Sir Portinax Macsychophant, in the " Man of tho World." It is a comedy, written by Charles Macklin, equally celebrated as an author and au actor, and to whom we are indebtod for tho glorious farce of " Love a la Mode." Tho whole interest of tho comedy centres in Sir Pertinas, originally a noo iy Scotchman, eventually a rich man, and a member of the Legislature, and who has grovelled into a position that neithor by birth nor oducation is ho fitted to occupy. His principal characteristics aro hypocrisy, be»garly pride, and griping avarice ; he is obsequious to his superiors, aud tyrannical to his dependents. The story of his career is developed by himself in an interview with his eldest son, whom he has, as ho fancies, trained up, with tho advantago of a superior education, to follow in hiß footsteps and place the coping-stono of rank and fortuno on the house of Maaycophant. The son, however, better bred, and with truer feeling than the fkthor ever possessed, falls in lovo with the wrong lady, a portionleis ward of his father's, whose desiro is that he Bhall marry the daughter of Lord Lumbcroiurt, and with her a peorage, a whole patrimony and three " impleucit " boroughs. The daughtor, strangely onoutrb, has also mado a choice of her own, namely, thu yoimgur son of Mir j.-'ertinax, known as " my cousin Sandy." The old man's objoct is of course to confound the machinations of tho young people; the ond as might bo expected, that tho young folki altogether confound him and his plans. Upon this turns the whole of tho plot, and as may bo supposed—although Sir Pertinar is the centre figure, the only leading part in the comedy—he musi be thoroughly supported by every menber of the company playing 5n tho peco. In this respect, and despite Mr. Talbot's endeavours, his unmistakeablo Scotch accent, his excellent acting, and his true conception of tho part, the performance yesterday (veiling must be pronounced anything but a success. Everyone engaged in the representttion must be perfect in his or her dialogue, o: the comedy, whioh mast be run off like a log line "Onitb.2 real, cannot pess'V'y go wc.l. "The company at the Duke lasi night suppurted Mr. Talbot as badly as they woro well droiscd. We willnot individualise on the presenc occasion, as tho piece will be reproduced to-night, and wo hope that this unfavourable report of last night's doings may spur thom on to :"rosh exertions, and induce them to give that assistance to Mr. Talbot, without whicl, ho cannot possibly succeed. The Irish farce of " The Happy Man," in which the company was evidently mora at home than in " The Man of the World," concluded the onterlainment.