“POTTER OF TEXAS.”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 931, 3 January 1890, Page 14

“POTTER OF TEXAS.”

If one may judge by the reception “ Potter cf Texas ” was given by the very large audience that filled the Opera House Wednesday night, the play is likely to prove a great success in Wellington. In dramatising the novel Mr Darrell has kept pretty closely to the text, and has, so far as was consistent with theatrical used the author’s dialogue. Necessarily',' - ''alterations been made in the tenor of the story, but they are very slight, and do not materially affect the plot. The principal change is in the concluding scene, where Charles Errol, the Australian hero of the story, is made to take Lady Annerley, instead of Ethel Lincoln, to his heart. This idea is perhaps rather awkwardly carried out by the dramatist, and whether or not it improves the play is a matter for opinion. But so far as the story itself goes—and a very bright and pleasant story it is—Mr Darrell must be said to have bandied it well; and he has made of it an entertaining and interesting play, with plenty of humour, such as people need at this festive season. Wednesday’s production of the drama was a decided success, and the aodienca were exceedingly sympathetic. The principals were called before the curtain twice, and th 6 leading situations wero warmly applauded. The piece was well acted, too, every part being played in good style. Mrs Darrell’s Lady Annerley was emphatically a powerful performance, keenly natural, and full of force. The character, aB it is drawn in the play is a very nice one, and the conflict between the woman’s love and her hate is beautifully drawn. Mrs DmTell was quite equal to the situation, and her representation of the jealous bat loving woman was light and shade itself. Mr Darrell was also seen at his best as Charles Errol, which he played in good manly fashion. Mr J. J. Kennedy was Sampson Potter, the ostensible central figure of the play, and made as much of it as was possible, adding considerably to the success of the piece. Mr C. Hill and Mr F. Clifford as the Orientals Osman Ali and Niccorie, played their small parts excellently, and Mr George Chalmers mada quite a character study of the insignificant Lubbins. Misses Mabel Tracey (Ida Potter) and Maud Appleton (Ethel Lincoln) did all that was required of them in good style. The other parts wers all well played, down to the Detective, of which Mr Stilling Duff made a good deal. Mr Frank Gerald was a first class Arthur Lincoln, and Mr F. C. Appleton as Lord Lincoln, and Mr Berkeley as Van Cott, were efficient. The stage management generally was unexceptionable, and in all other respects the performance was an even and meritorious one. Mr Darrell has

undoubtedly made a hit with “Potter of Texas,” which he will no doubt repeat with bis other pieces. It is his invariable custom to keep the best of his plays till the last, and as he has “ The Soggarth ” yet in hand, the rest of the season should be satisfactory alike to the company and the public.