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New Zealand Mail, Issue 752, 30 July 1886, Page 14

“In the Ranks ’’ drew a large audience on Saturday uight, and thus finished a most successful week's business. The piece appears to be exceedingly popular, as -well it may be, for, both as regards acting aDd stage management, it is one of the best performances ever given in the Theatre. Calls were frequent on Saturday night, Mr Marsh, as Gideon Blake, being liberally hooted and hissed for the admirable manner in which he played his part. The seventh representation of “In the Ranks” by Messrs Rignold and Allison’s Company was given Monday at the Theatre Royal in the presence of an immense audience. The performance was under the patronage of Sir George Whitmore, Commander of the Forces, Colonel Butts and the officers of the Wellington batallion. There was a very good attendance of the Volunteers, who appeared in uniform. The piece went as smoothly and as successfully as on any of the previous occasions of itß production, and the principal characters in the play were frequently the recipients of loud and enthusiastic applause. There were the usual number of recalls, the principals having to come before the curtain and bow their acknowledgments. During the barrack scene in tbe third act the Garrison Band, und|¥ bandmaster Cimino, admirably performed a selection from the opera “The Bohemian Girl.”

The closing performance of “la the Ranks” on Tuesday evening by Mr Rignold’s company •. drew a very large audience, and it appears likely that if the management had thought proper to continue the play for the remainder of the week they might have done so profitably. The entertainment was under the patron a gei of his Excellency the Governor, who unfortunately was unable to be present. There was, however, a party from Government House. The play gave as much pleasure to the audience as ever, and the applause and recalls were as cordial as on the first night. It is not too much to s*y that “In the Ranks ” ha 3 been the most successful piece ever performed in Wellington. Mr R. B. Wiseman, the well-known theatrical agent, arrived in Wellington on Sundav by the Waihora from Napier to make final arrangements for the appearance at the Theatre Royal next Monday of Mr W. E. Sheridan, the eminent tragedian, with the .company which had been formed to support him.

Mr W. E. Sheridan, the celebrated tragedian, supported by Miss Louise Davenport and a specially selected company, will appear for the first time in Wellington in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening. From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that a large number of plays will be acted in Wellington, and we understand that it is intended that there eh ill be a fresh bill each evening. Tbe parts which Mr Sheridan will take will be chiefly Shakespearian, but dramatic works of several classical authors will also be presented, among them Massinger’s “ A New Way to Pay Old Debts.” The Presß in all places where Mr Sheridan has played agree in according him the highest possible praise, more especially in tbe parts of King Lear and Louis XI., which are described as masterpieces. A very successful entertainment was given at the Marist Brothers’ School, Boulcott-street, last Friday evening in aid of the Sacred Heart Society and School. The building was full to overflowing, and among the audience were the Rev Fathers Kerrigan, Deroy, Moore and

Lane, Dr Watters, and the Marist Brothers, The first part of the entertainment con-isted of a two-act comedy, entitled “ He would be a Soldier,’’ in which several ex-pupils of the school took part, Masters S. Ros/, E. Gormley and O. McManaway particularly distinguishing themselves. The second part consisted of the following programme, each item of, which was well received, and in most instances encores were; responded to :—Song, “ Eileen Alannah,” Mr J. W. Taylor ; comic song, “ The Judge tickled the Counsel,'’ Mr W. D. Lyon (encore, “ My Katie, dear ”) ; banjo duet, Nigger melodies, the brothers Godden ; recitation, “ Shamus O’Brien,” Mr S." 'Ross ;' song, “ Dermot Asthore," Mrs Hickson ; duet, piano and horn, " Norma,’’ Messrs G. Robertson and H. Curry ; comic song, “ Mynheer Grogensen,” Mr Ramsay ; song, “You and I,’’ Mr J. W. Taylor. Mr George Robertson played the accompaniments.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable weatbor on Saturday evening the popular free concert at the Athenaeum Hall was very largely attended, every available seat being occupied. The Rev L. M. laitt presided, accompanied by the Rev W. C. Olliver, who delivered an excellent ten minutes’ address during the interval between the. first and second parts of the programme, in the course of which he expressed a hope that' the bad custom of late shopping on Saturday nights would soon be discontinued. He also gave some interesting statistics' in relation to the expenditure on drink and the number of people who lost their lives by its 'use, which, he said, far exceeded the number of those who lclst their lives in New Zealand rivers, appalling though that number was, as shown by statistics laid before Parliament. The following programme was submitted, many of the executants receiving encores :—Overture, “La Souveraiue,” Mr E. J. King’s String Baud ; song, “ The Roll Call,” Mr J. Gooder; song, “ Gates of the West,’’ Miss L. Bragge‘; recitation, “ C’rect Card,” Mr J. Clark ; song, “ Strangers yet,’ Miss Williams ; song, “ The Battle of Stirling,’’ Mr Wilson • song, “ Tapping at the Garden Gate,” Miss Williams ; violin solo, “ The Blue Bells of Scotland,f -Master F. -King ; song, “Anchored,” Mr Gooder ; and comic song, Mr D Lyon. Mr E. J. King, junr., acted as accompanist.