AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 771, 10 December 1886, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS.

“ THE EIGHTS O’ LONDON.”

At the Opera House last night week Messrs Macmabom and Leitch’s Company produced G. R.'. Sims’drama “ The Lights o’ London.” This drama was played here under the same management some time ago, and is well known in Wellington. That it is popular is proved by the fact that the Opera House last evening was well filled. It is a play that is made popular by its literary merit as well as by the attractive surroundings of the plot and the number of character studies that are- found in the caste ; and, well played, “The Lights b’ London ” is one of the very best of modern dramas. It is a piece that puts the ability of stage manager and scene painter to a severe test, and to> this test Messrs Macmahon and Leitch were equal, and it may safely be said that the scenery could not have been better, or the sets more complete than they were last night. The bridge scene by moonlight was a very fine one, and Mr Vaughan, the painter,, deserves- every credit for the work he has done in- this and the other pieces produced by the company. Certainly no better scenery has been seen in Wellington than that used in “The Silver King” and “ The Lights o’London.” With respect to j the acting in- the piece, it cannot be Baid that it was of the very best, though it was meritorious generally and occasionally very good. Mr H. N. Douglas’ Harold Armitage was a fairly good performance of a part which, is not a wonderfully good one. Mr Montgomery was overweighted in Clifford Armitage, and lost a good many points.. Mr Vernon was a fair Seth Preqne, and Mr E) B. Russell was- rather good in Jarvis, the showman. One of the features of the performance was the oapital style in which several small parts were played. Mr Foley’s Philosopher Jack,' Mr Berkeley’s Percy de- Vere, and Mr Harcourt’s Gusty Jack were all exceedingly well played parts,, and gave quite a tone to the act in which they are engaged. Miss Kate Douglas was conscientious and painstaking as Bess Marks, and Miss Ida Herborte Bbowed an intelligent conception of. the part of Hetty Preene, though she is inclined to be amateurish.. Miss Flora Anstead was a capital Mrs Jarvis, and played; the part with a great amour.t of dash and spirit. A performance which deserves all the credit that can be given to it is MiBB Docy Mainwaring’s representation of the lady whose name is Seraphina. Miss Mainwaring’s acting in this small part was wonderfully good, and, if anything, d little- too true to life. The market scene was well put on, and in it Mr Foley made a great hit with a comic song.

Messrs Macmahon and Leitch’s company played “The Madman” and the fourth aot of the “Lights o’ London” at the Opera House Monday evening. The-bill, as a whole, was the best the company has yet produced here. “The Madman ” afforded Mr George Leitch opportunities for displaying that he has even greater ability as an actor than he has yet shown us, and his representation of the part of Walter Chisholm will rank as one of the most successful dramatic efforts that have been made on , the Wellington stage. In the act where the madman, after seeing the vision, "kills hiß enemy, Mr Leitch’s acting was particularly strong. He was well supported by the other members of the company, Mr Montgomery as Captain Marsden "and Mr Vernon as Mr Medlock being particularly noticeable. The piece was excellently staged. The fourth act of the “Lights o’ London ’’ made up a capital hill. Dion Boucicault’s charming comedy-drama, “ Led Astray,” was produced at the Opera House, by Leitch and Macmahon’s dramatic Company, last Tuesday night. On the whole the piece was well played, and gave general satisfaction. In Count Rodolphe Mr H. N. Douglas appeared to greater advantage than in any other character liß has performed during the season, his acting in the fourth act being especially good. Although the character was somewhat out of her line, Miss Flora Anstead gave a very acceptable impersonation ®f the much-neglected and romantic Countess Artnande. Miss Kate Douglas, as Mabhilde, was pleasing ; and Mr Marshall made a veryfgood Mount Gosline. The other characters, particularly the Countess, Rudelphe’s mother (Miss Ida Herberte), and George de Lesparre (Mr Montgomery), were capably filled. The piece was well staged, with all due attention to detail. The only scene in the piece offering any scope for scenic display—the snow scene —was well put on, and reflected great credit on the scenic artist. It may be mentioned that the costly and handsome furniture used in the pieco was lately imported from England by Mr H. Fielder. Macmahon and Leitch’s company have made matters lively at the Te Aro Opera House during the week. They kept the ‘ Lights o’ London ’ burning on Friday and Saturday, and on Monday evening placed that powerful melo-drama, ‘ The Madman,’ on the boards. It was well mounted and staged, and drew a big house. It was followed by ‘ Led Astray,’ one of Boucicault’s comedy dramas, full of vivacity and good sentiment. The play took well for a couple of nights, and brought the company to their closing night, in Wellington, yesterday, when that comedy farce of pleasant memories, ‘The Librarian,’ was to be presented under vice-regal patronage. Hence the company goes to Napier to play a short season.