THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5638, 11 December 1879, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.

THE LINGARD3. A Comedy entitled 44 The Pink Dominoes, !J which baa an unprecedented success in London, was produced last night by this talented company. The piece is not altogether uuknowD here, having been previously performed in thi3 city, with indifferent result. It depends almost entirely upon clever acting for its cffect, but the plot ia very ingenious, and the denouement exceediugly ludicrous. Two married women— Lady Mabel (Mi*s A. D, Lingard), and Miss Bella Neville (MissM. Melrose) — suspect the true exuse of their hiubauds keeping late hours, so they write letters making an assignation with then at a Cremorne masquerade—the ladies to wear " pink dominoes." A demure little waitingmaid, Clotilde (Miss Blanche Leopold) has appropriated a similar garincut, and is to meet their nephew the same in the same pl»ce, while the uncle of the ladies has been iuduced by a chance rccontre to play the same "little game." All parties meet at the I '' gardens," Sir Ilarry Goring (Mr. Craig), Char.'ei Neville (Mr. Lingard), \Vi!lie Waiver (Mr. Warner), Josiih Bibb (Mr. G. Leopold)— Mrs. Babo having gone out of town. At the gardens they become m xcd up, some of the gentlcmeu get drunk, the serving maid yields to the influence of champagne and kisses all the gentlemen, the masks ard lifted and the mis assortment is terribly suspicious as well as ridiculous. The best part of the story is the unravelling the complicat r on in the third act. That the picct* was thoroughly successful was intimated by the genuine applause which followed. The comedy was followed by Plu'.o, a classic and musical extravaganza of the old Hay Market and Frank Talfuurd pattern—the dressing beiug excplleufc, aud notbiug wanted but the art of Mr. Beverley or Mr. Feuton to make it equal to the iauciful absurdity of which it is the bright and pleasant vehicle. The story narrated the descent of Kurydice (Miss Lingard) to I fades, followed by Orpheus (Miss Melrose), sustained by the lyre received from Apollo (Mijs Quinn), and pursued by ArisUeus (Miss B. LeojJold). In Hadss Pluto (Mr. Lingard) falls in love with Eurydicc, and Proserpine (Mr. G. Leopold) honours Orpheus iu the same fashion. The piece bristloa with pun', which are delivered with accurate point, some of them being very tortuous examples of this form of verbal ingenuity. Miss Lingard has an excellent voice. She siugs popular music with capital effect. She received the compliment of several encores, and her acting and talent appeared to great advantage. It is lnr.lly necessary to say what Mr. Lingard makes of the Kiug of Hades aud Guouod's music. Mr. Leopold as Proserpine requires only to bo thought ol to suggest a inoac ludicrous figure and a pleasant petformance. The songs and dances are all very good. The curtain fell to loud and general applause. Bjth pieces will be repeated this evening.