ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8584, 4 June 1891, Page 5

ABBOTTS OPERA HOUSE.

For many years past Tom Taylor's drama, "The Tioket-of-Leavo Man," baa been before the theatre-going public, and probably it has never, on any single occasion, failed to enlist the sympathies, arouse the enthusiasm, and command the approbation of a mixed; audience. As a work of dramatic genius it is not particularly; brilliant. As a matter of fact, it now and then borders upon the rogionsof declamatory twaddle, but the ! misfortunes of the much-persecuted hero and : his .impregnable virtue throughout severe trials * and grievous afflictions, always have the desired effect, always "fetch" tho great and discriminating British public. The struggles of that unfortunate young man against an adverse fate, which to the last moment is absolutely overwhelming, his gallant and herculean .efforts to be nice and good win, -of f course, the warmest;' sympathy _of all; and when, eventually, his god-like .attributes are recognised by those who had cruelly misjudged him, the orchestra plays slow music, the principal characters pose in more ,or less graceful * attributes.;. to • limelight effects, the curtain falls, and; the audience hugely rejoices. ' Shortly it is of tho " villany vanquished" school of drama, often nonsense but ever a draw. In producing this play in the Opera House, last night, Miss Jennie Lee thought fit to change its usual title to " Sam : or The Tickeb-of-Leave Man," thus giving prominence : to the character she pourtrayed. It is almost a pity , that in giving her part the principal place in the title she did not also make it tho principal part in the drama, because a good deal more of Sam and a good deal less of ' Bob Brierley's ; exasperating noes, might have proved highly acceptable. At all events what was seen of Sam and his vagaries made everybody wish for more, and probably very few would have regretted a curtailment of the more serious business. As the merry, high-spirited, and tricky "Samuel Willoughby, Esq.," Miss Lee, avoided the errors of extravagance into which a less capable and cultured actress would have fallen, and her representation was one of tho most natural and spontaneous efforts to, which she has yet treated ' the Auckland public. Brimful of playfulness, and never absolutely still, her every action was boyish in the extreme, her every word and intonation characteristic of the wayward thoughtlessness, the cheeky recklessness, of exuberant youth. She presented, in fact, what would be generally accepted as an accurate delineation of 'a mettlesome, wildish English ; lad, and it says, a good deal for Miss Leo's artistic perspicuity and consideration, that she did not, as many an actor or actress similarly placed would have done— permit the subsidiary part she played to overshadow tho others, and mar the action jof the drama. Next in point of merit to Miss I Lee Was, unquestionably, Mr. Carey, in his careful, natural, and even impersonation of Jim Dalton.. As that astute and atrocious villian—by the way even he, according. to his own act, is a victim of circumstances, a martyr to the persecutions-, of an unfeeling world—Mr. Carey was really en good that save if in the ' third act scarcely anybody not-iced his acting at all. In each phase of the character,' however, he Was equally excellent, acting as conscientiously when he had nothing striking to do as when, in the' afore-mentioned third act, he had : lots of the " fab'' which is as balm unto the actor's heart. ; Mr. Barry Marschell's Bob. Brierly was a careful, manly, impersonation, a trifle stiff perhaps, but giving promise of much better things. The part of Ha wkshaw—perhaps the original and certainly the best known of these extraordinary creatures-the stage detectives — was taken by Mr. J. P. Burnett, an I a most business-like officer that gentleman made. Of course he-made a big hit in the'taproom scene ; that little bit of business about the, letter always tells, and he and Bob were honoured with a call. The garrulous Mrs. Willoughby was cleverly and umusingly played by Miss Georgio Leighford, while Miss Ada Lee was a charming May Edwards. Mr. Lester as Green Jones gave a capital bit of eccentric comedy, and Mr. Cambourne's Melton Moss was successful. The drama will, be repeated this evening. * To-morrow night Miss Lee takes a benefit, when she will appear in her worldfamous impersonation of " Jo." It is almost unnecessary to bespeak for her a bumper house on such an occasion, more especially as the people of Auckland may never again have the opporsunity of doing honour to,this accomplished, versatile, and cultured artiste. Miss Lee, it is stated, leaves for England shortly to take part in a new play which is soon to be produced, and her many New Zealand friends may, in wishing her good-bye at the close of her present tour, be wishing her good-bye for all time. Under such circumstances nothing need bo said , with the view of securing liberal patronage for her benefit. Miss Lee's capabilities deserve the practical recognition of an overflowing house, and that recognition will no doubt bo most heartily and willingly accorded.