AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 2003, 20 June 1870, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

PRIXCK OF WALKS TIIEATRK. Tili.tti: was a very good :ittt-rnlim-i* in the lower port iou of this theatre on Saturday evening, when the performance commenced wit li Shakespeare's play of' Macbeth." .Macbeth was ii>ijn'i-so;;illfd by Mr. Stuart O'lirii'ii ; Muciliifl'. by .Mr. Ryan, but the latter gentleman was labouring under great disadvantages, as !h' was suM'criug from a very severe rol l ; Mr. 11. N. Jones, Uauqun ; .Mr. Musgruve, Duncan ; Mr. Clifford, Malcolm ; ami the other male characters were sustained by dillcrent members uf tlie- company. Mrs. Waller Hill w;is Lady Macbeth, but this lady is physically unlittcd for Ihc part, although she read the text very fairly. Locke's original music was played, ami some of the choruses were passable ; but the whole of the musical arrangements were want insr in spirit and uniformity. Mr. O'Rrien doubled the pari of Macbeth with that of Hecate. AL the cotielu-ion of tlie piece, he and Mr. Itvin received a call before the curtain. The performance concluded with the laughable farce of " The Governor's Wife," in which Mr. and Mrs. MoGowau appeared, and created much amusement. This evening (lie drama of " Never too Late to Mend" will be produced.

TIIKATRK ROYAL. This place of amusement was well attended 011 Saturday in both the upper and lower portion of the house. " f.adv Audlcy's Secret" was reproduced, Mrs. Harry Jackson sustaining the character of Lady Audley. We have before noticed the piece at length as played by this company. With one exception, the cast was the same as on the previous occasion. That exception was Mr. .South, who took Mr. Kavner's character of Kobert Audley, in consequence of t hut gentleman's indisposition, llie change bad the effect of spoiling many of the best scenes, for the part was whollv 1111suitcd to Mr. South, who, although he no doubt di 1 his was utterly unable to impersonate this character, much to the detriment of tlie whole piece. We should imagine it to be bad policy on the part of tlio management, potting Mr. Kayner's name on the bill night after niirlil when they know that lie is unablo to appear. Tisis sort of thing is all very well in case of sudden indisposition, but when that indisposition is prolonged it is utifair to the public to continue to keep the name of the chief actor in the programme,and it will nut fail to do injury to the bouse unless it. is discontinued. Alter the first piece there was an interlude of singing and dancing by Mr. Howe, ami Mrs. Jlowurd, Mi's Raymond, and Mr. Olover. The performance was concluded with the slashing farce of "The Wandering Minstrel,' ' ii: which, as .Tem liaegs, Mr. Howard kept the houie in a roar of laughter; Mrs. Jackson ulso played in the farce, although -lie appeared to be labouring under severe indisposition. Indeed, the p evailing epidemic of coughs and colds seems to have seized specially upon the members of tlio theatrical profession, for several members of this and the company at the " Prince" appear to have been simultaneously all'ectcd. This evening the performance will commence with the fine comedy of " The Serious •Family."