THE BROUGH-BOUCICAULT COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9442, 23 February 1894, Page 5

THE BROUGH-BOUCICAULT COMPANY.

To-morrow evening a short season of comedy and romantic drama, limited to fourteen nights, will be inaugurated by the BroughBoucicault Company at the Opera House, which should be memorable in the annals of the Auckland stage. It is some eight years since this clever company was first organised, and it is now, one may say, part and parcel of Australia. The members of it, by constant association for such a long time, have so carefully worked into each other's methods that the effect is surprising. They have acquired a degree of finish, which, apart from the individual capacity of its members, entitles it to the fullest measure of respect. The representations to be given during the coming season will certainly show Auckland playgoers the remarkable state of efficiency possible, though not often exhibited, on the Australian stage of to-day. The company is identically the same as has been appearing in Australia with such unequivocal Buccess, and comprises the following Mrs. Brough, Misses Noble, Romer, Temple, Gibson, Major, and Messrs. Brough, Boucicault, Titheradtje, Ward, McIntyre, Carey, Chichester, and Hards. The present tour of New Zealand has, according to Southern files, been a veritable triumph. They come with an extensive repertoire of the most successful of modern plays, which will be presented with that lavishness and taste which have always characterised the productions of the Bijou Theatre in Melbourne, and the Criterion Theatre in Sydney. So far as company, scenery, furniture, and the stage appointments go, the performances will be an exact replica of those given in the sister colonies, which have been pronounced by press and public to be as near perfection as possible. A leading dramatic critic, writing a short time back on the famous comedy companies of the world, placed Daly's American Comedy Company, of London and New York, of which Miss Ada Rehan is the star, and the Broufih and Boucicault Company, as the two best comedy companies in the English-speaking world—a judgment upheld by the wonderful and long-sustained success of the American company in London, and the B. and B.'s in Australasia.

The season commences on Saturday night with Svdney Grundy's remarkable drama, "The Village Priest," a play of .absorbing interest. It was originally produced at the London Haymarket, Mr. Beerholm Tree being the Abb 6 Dubois, and Miss Rose Leclercq the Comtesse de Tremeillan. It is not only regarded as the very best piece that Grundy ever wrote, but one of the strongest dramas of the present day. It was first produced in Melbourne by the Brough-Bouci-cault Company, in September, 1892, and is vividly remembered in that city to this hour. On the first night, the performance was crowned with phenomenal success, and the drama ran for nine weeks to large and enthusiastic audiences. In Sydney likewise, it had a memorable run at the Criterion Theatre. Mr. Boucicault is responsible for the production, which, according to the critic of the Sydney Morning Herald, " may be fairly summed up in one word—Memorable." It is announced that "The Village Priest" will be staged for two nights only, and will be followed on Tuesday night (27th) with H. and E. Paulton's successful farcical comedy, " Niobe," (All Smiles), which is enjoying a phenomenal run at the Strand Theatre, London, and seems likely to establish a record run. The comedy has been successfully transferred to America, and will shortly be , staged at Amsterdam, for which purpose it has already been translated. The third production will be " Sophia," Mr. Robert Buchanan's adaptation of Tom Jones, which is said to be a skilful piece of dramatisation. It was played in Sydney about two years ago, with much success, and it has recently been played in Melbourne and Adelaide with highly satisfactory results. " The Idler " will likewise be produced for the first time in Auckland, and has been pronounced by the writers as the best play which has emanated from the pen of one whose ability as a dramatic author England hftß recognised for us. Mr. C, Haddon Chambers. "The Idler is the second play of Mr. Chambers, he having scored a genuine success in London and New York with "Captain Swift," which likewise met with mucn success in Australia and throughout New Zealand. The elements of "Theldler " are simple but strong, and the situations of thrilling human interest. It will in all probability also prove one of the big draws. Another farcical comedy, likewise new to Auckland playgoers, which is included in the repertoire is Dandy Dick," from the prolific pen of A. W. finero, originally produced in February, 1887, at the Court Theatre, London, where it achieved a great success, running for over 500 nights. It also enjoyed prosperous runs in both Sydney and Melbourne with the present company, and is said to be one of Jrinero's most amusing comedies. Another attraction will be the latest London up-to-date success " The Amazons," a sparkling comedy by the same author, in which Miss Pattie Brown made her London debut and a play which should just suit this band of finished comedians. Two old favourites in the shape of " Diplomacy," and " Caste" have been wisely included in the programme by this enterprising management; whatever may be the result of their enterprise, our visitors may confidently look forward to an enthusiastic reception; and all well-wishers of the stage must hope that the perfect harmony and finish which characterise their performances will meet with due appreciation from their Auckland patrons.