ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7919, 11 April 1887, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

"HAZEL KIRKE." At the Opera House laefc Saturday night, "Hazel Kirke," Steele Mackay'a four-act comedy-drama, was produced for the first time iu Auckland, by the Royal Comedy Company, before a well-filled house. It is a thrilling and powerfully-written play, with a strong dash of sentiment in it, as was clearly proved by the number of handkerchiefs that were being plied during the progress of the piece. Even the gentlemen in some cases found it necessary to blow their noses, but this was doubtless due to the cold shivers produced by the way the wind whistled round the "old mill." The plot has already been given, so that it

only remains to say that the dialogue is well and brightly written, and the scenery good, especially in the first act, which is laid in the yard of the miller's house. The old mill, with its waterwheel, and' fateful dam in the background, joined with the pretty creeper-clad house and the old trees, and distant landscape, make as charming a picture as one cou'd wish to see. Among the characters, first and foremout, of course, is that of Hazel Kirke, the heroine—a part that was most ably filled by Mies Agnes Thomas, who, as usual, displayed very con-' siderable power as a tragic actress. Her rendering of the part in the third act, where Hazel returns homeless and wretched to the mill, to seek her parents' forgiveness,, was most painfully realistic. Miss Ann Taylor, as Mercy Kirke, the wife of the old miller, was a most excellent conception of the prim, but kind-hearted, and upright old mother. Miss Beatrice Lyster, took the part of Dolly JDatton, Hazel's cousin, and played it with a brightness and verve that made her a warm favourite with the audience. Dunstan Kirke, the stubborn old miller— a man after the stamp of farmer Allan, in Tennyson's "Dora" — was admirably acted by Mr. G. W. Anson. Mr. G. S. Titheradge gave an irresistibly comic interpretation of the character of Pittacus Green, the eccentric individual who makes love to Dolly Dutton, and on several occasions fairly convulsed the audience with his drollery. Barney O'Flynn, Lord Travers' valet, was another mirth-provoking character, which was made the most of by Mr. F. Beverly. Mr. E. C. Calvert sustained the part of Squire Rodney very creditably; and Mr. Frank Cates gave an adequate, although rather stiff, rendering of Lord Travers, the man who marries Hazel Rirke. The minor characters were also well filled, especially by Mr. Darcy Stanfield, who represented Met, the faithful rustic who saves Hazel from drowning. The applause throughout the play was frequent and hearty, and at the end of the third act the principal characters were called before the curtain. and loudly applauded. On the whole "Hazel Kirke" iB the best play the company have yet produced, with the exception, of course, of "Jim the Penman," and every person should make a point of going to see it.