THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4749, 5 February 1877, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Mb. Joseph K. Emmet appeared for the| first time.on Saturday, night, as Fritz " Our Cousin German," and drew a fuU' house. He has been received'in all places l where he has performed with such unreserved applsiuse, that a first night is not altogether favourable for estimating his merits very accurately. The fact is, his' performance abounds in peculiarities andexcellence which replace each' other a manner that contributes to a result that'is very complete and unique. The comedy, as it is called, is framed upon a plan to give the fullest opportunity for the specialities of the leading .performer; The opening repre-) sente the arrival of Fritz in New York, who' proposes to make his way as a musician, for he can play the guitar, the banjo, the; niouth-harmonieon, and is otherwise- full of , resource. Katherina, his companion (Miss Raymond), is taken from him by an infamous ColoneL Crafton (Mr. Hollo way), but he learns that his father, a wealthy old German,; who died in somewhat mysterious circum-; stances, had left an -infant daughter, whom it becomes his leading object to diecover.] He knows a plaintive lullaby " upon the guitar which his father used to play to his children, and this is the means by which he hopes to attain his object. The exigencies of his own position and that of Katherina suggest various disguises, and these are assumed-with great.rapidity, each one being accompanied by a song in broken English and German, and with musical effects, which have the merit of originality besides being peculiar. This musical melange is the great, feature of the performance. The "lullaby" and other plaintive melodies he accompanies himself upon the guitar ; in his humorous songs he employs the banjo, and whet he chooses to exhibit special power he has a practically unlimited array of striking resources. Ho plays on a child's instrument called the month-harmonicon a number of airs with variations, which performance is surprisingly clever. If it were the tune alone the effect would not be so great, but the variations are of great rapidity and range, and replete with; improvised harmonies of singular delicacy. The applause Mr. Emmet, received for the pleasure afforded by this performance was of the most emphatic character. Another speciality is "an anvil" accompaniment, a drum accompaniment, in which the drumsticks " play" a most prominent part. The characters sketched comprise that of an old German nurse, a German flower - girl, a German milk-woman, aud an Alpine guide; all of them worked up into striking individualities. These sketches are conceited with great freedom, but they are thoroughly refined in the treatment of them. There is a vision represented, to which the "lullaby" forms a touching accompaniment. This and other very effective scenes are contributed by Mr. Thornton, who was vociferously called to appear before the audience, and bowed his acknowledgments accordingly. It will be gathered from the above notice that the entertainment is Mr. Emmet's "own" from first to last. He has personal qualifications of a very positive kind for pleasing a large audience. He never allpwe them to grow dull. He is all action to the minutest detail. His geniality instantly engages his hearers. There" is a nigger character in the piece played by Mr. Power, whose business it is to keep the attention of the audience during the changes, and this is exceedingly well done. Mr. Emmet proposes to himself to keep his patrons thoroughly amused for the three hours he plays to them. He is not so much bent upon interesting their intelligence as in cwakening curiosity by a series of graphic portraits, each of which fulfils its aim and purpose, by eliciting a merry mood and hearty laughter.