THEATRE ROYAL.—THE STEWARTS IN "IF."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5396, 4 March 1879, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.—THE STEWARTS IN "IF."

The change of programme announced in a pve-vious-issue took place at the Theatre Royal last night, when the talented Stewart Family produced their new performance— " If ; or, An Old Gem lie-set." The plot, so far as the first part of the programme is concerned, is not a new setting for a jewel; it is rather the trelliswork, awkward, and cumbrous upon which the vines hang, the vines being represented by the spirited, elegant, and characteristic impersonations of the individual members of the Stewart Family, and the fastidiously-excellent tracery of music, mirth, and merriment with which tho performance is surrounded. To attempt a description of the characters pourtrayed, or even the tithe of them, would bo a ditticult task. We may, however, say that the musical selections especially were really excellent, and tho connection was never lost. One feature ; that took immensely was the song of the 1 "Union Jack of Old England," accompanied by a graphic display of tho union of the St. i George's Cross, the St. Andrew's Cross, and ! the St. Patrick's Cross. The introductory verses are— The story 111 tell of this noble Old Flag, As my father once told it to me ; And fresh cause to love it, as Patriots should, In the course of my song you will see. | For Scottish, or Irish, or we. Who havu made a new home in Australia, the \ free, A holy alliance unites all the three In the Union Jack of Old England. I The various emblems were made to fold into each other, so as to produce the Union Jack. , It was in the second part that tho real meaning of the play was displayed. It was a gorgeous representation of the old fairy-tale "Cinderella," and introduced the company in many interesting tableaux, as well as in a variety of excellent musical selections. Tho performance was, throughout, a most pleasing one, and will, we have no doubt, draw large audiences.