ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8156, 18 January 1890, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

THE STREETS OF LONDON.

Like a good cook, Mr. Warner gives his theatrical patrons plenty of variety. On Thursday evening he presented them with " Hamlet," by Snakespere, and last night he staged "The Streets of London," by Boucicault. It would hardly be possible to find two plays more widely unlike than Shakespere s great masterpiece and Boucicault's f>resent-day comic melodrama, and it is needess to comment on the wonderful versatility required to play the part of hero in these two pieces. Mr. Warner sustains them both in a manner which is beyond praise. His qualities as an actor are now well-known here, and from the applause with which he is nightly greeted it is easy to see how completely he lias won the affections of Auckland playgoers, particularly the patrons of the pit. Melodrama has a powerful effect on the feelings of this section of the public, aud combined as it was with Mr. Warner's infectious jollity and clever .acting, it roused them last night' to an unusual pitch of enthusiasm. The Streets of London' has already been played here, and it is therefore unnecessary to describe the plot. It is to a considerable extent a spectacular drama, and the manner in which it was staged last night deserves a word of praise. The first scene in the second was specially beautiful. It represented a London street in a snowy winter night, with St. Paul's in the background. Altogether it was a charming stage picture, and the audience were not slow in recognising the fact. The big sensational scene, however, is at the end of the third act. In this we are treated to a house on fire, with a gallant detachment of the Auckland Fire Brigade making heroic efforts to extinguish it. The effect was finely worked up, and the climax was capped by the introduction on the stage of a fireengine and a pair of real live horses. The applause, we need hardly say, was tempestuous. Another attractive feature in the play is a strong vein of comedy which was capitally brought out by Mr. Warner. He took the role of Badger, a low-comedy character, which gave him abundant opportunities for creating mirth. At times he was screamingly funny, particularly in the scene with the little street arabs, where he makes them sing "My Grandfather's Clock." In this ludicrous episode he was ably supported by a number of ragged little Auckland urchins, who bore themselves like veteran actors. The audience was convulsed with laughter. In figure and features Mr. F. Stephenson is singularly well adapted for playing the villain, and as Crawley, a money-lender and the villain of the piece, he looked and acted the part in a very realistic manner. _ At the end of the third act he was the subject of a rather amusing incident. The rest of the company came before the curtain in obedience to an emphatic summons from .the audience, but Mr. Stephenson did not appear. This did not please the pittites, who whistled and yelled for Crawley for nearly five minutes. At last he put in a reluctant appearance, and was greeted with much groaning and laughter. Paul Fairweather was satisfactorily filled by Mr. Stewart, and Mark Livingstone by Mr. Seaton, though the latter was somewhat stiff. As Puffy, Mr. Oily Deering was very amusing, and thoroughly pleased the audience, and Mrs. Puffy and Dan Puffy, played respectively by Miss Leighford and Mr. A. Phillips, supported him fairly. The part of the bold and stylish Alicia Crawley suited Miss Deorwyn much better than some of her previous characters,' and she performed it in a meritorious manner. Miss Gracie Warner filled the role of Luoy Fairweather in the sweet, fresh, and bright. way which has so charmed her audience in all the plays staged by Mr. Warner. "The Streets of London" will be repeated this evening, and on Monday evening Mr. Warner will appear for the last time. It will be his benefit night, and he will play the first act of " Hands Across the Sea," the. second act of "The Streets of London," the balcony scene of "Romeo and Juliet, and the screen scene from " The School for Scandal "—a truly delightfu melange.