THEATRE ROYAL.—LYDIA HOWARDE COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6000, 9 February 1881, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL. — LYDIA HOWARDE COMPANY.

This company commenced their season last night to a good house. The piece selected for the opening was a musical extravaganza ■ entitled "Robinson Crusoe," Miss Lydia Howarde in the title role. In performances of this class the principal features must appear grotesque and farcical—the success being in proportion to the height of. the absurdity. When extravagance is environed with picturesque scenery, and the actors provide many varieties of special business, the amusement is sustained. The principal performers were Mr. Harry Power, Mr. George and Miss Blanche Leopold, Miss Rose Andrews, Mdlle. de Glorian, Miss Vincent, Mr. Carter, Mr. E. Mowry, and Mr. J. Stark. As a compensation for the extravagance there was a good deal of excellent dancing, several songs in character aud out of character, and choruses. The choruses were not well managed, but this was no doubt owing to insufficient time for rehearsal. The material for success is plentiful enough. Another salient feature of the performance was a series of personal and local "hits," which the audience relished very much. The management appear to set considerable store by this! species of pasquinade. It elicited repeated applause. There was one very effective scene showing a palm grove, and a cascade in the distance. The tiring of the several parts was very good. First performances must be taken as provisional. To judge from the applause which greeted the company at the conclusion of the burlesque, the performance was satisfactory. Some of the jokes were very good. To-night will be presented Byron's burlesque of "Ivanhoe."