MISS DE GREY'S FAREWELL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7191, 4 March 1885, Page 3

MISS DE GREY'S FAREWELL.

It was pleasant to see by the packed house at tha Princess Theatre last night, and the demeanour of the audience, that Miss De Grey has gained the sympathy of playgoers during her etay here; and it was equally satisfactory to learn, from the few remarks she made at the close of the performance, thifct she leaves us with kindly feelings towards that publio she has striven to entertain. Miss De Grey remarked that she and the majority of her company had come amongst us as strangers, and that she felt they had been received and listened to aa old acquaintances. And, independently of any desire to say pleasant things at parting, it must be allowed that Miss De Grey has thoroughly merited the support accorded to her, She has not Blighted New Zealand by bringing here what is colloquially ttrmed a "scratch" company; but, on the contrary, her combination is as good on the whola as any that has visited this Colony for a long time past. Secondly, her repertoire has been well selected, and comprises many of those sterling old comedies which are, unfortunately, Been too seldom nowadays. And thirdly, Misß De Grey herself haß appealed very 3trougly to our sympathy by the extremely conscientious work she has given us. Those who have watched her must have formed varying estimates as to her ability, and it is certain that many must have disagreed with her conception or her method in this or that character. But at the same time none can have failed to recognise her thoroughly artistic instincts, and the well-directed, painstaking efforts by which sho haß worked her way from a position of tentative approval to one of assured popularity. And that MiBS De Grey does not owe all her success to the power to charm by picturesque posse and sunny smiles has been proved once or twice during the season, and was again proved by her per formance in "Adrionne Lecouvreur" last night. The part, like that of Oamille, is one in which several of the leading actresses of the day— especially the great French tragedienne—have achieved signal success, but Misa Da Grey can play it here without challenging comparison. The story is a pathetic one of a young French actress, whose love is threatened by the jealoua machinations of a titled rival, to whose revenge she eventually falls a victim. There are several passages of intense power and pathos, all of which make heavy demands upon the power of the "star," and there is finally a long and very trying death-scene. We have already expressed the opinion that Miss De Grey is at her best in a lighter class of work, but it must also be admitted that she showed last night a force and a dramatic intensity probably beyond the expectations of her audience. The repeated call.) before the curtain accorded her demonstrated this much. As regards the other memberß of the company, their support was as efficient as usual, and Miss Florence Cowell especially did; well in a part of great opportunities—that of the Princess de Bouilliou. The faults of that very useful actor, Mr Selten, were unfortunately rather conspicuous in the part of Maurice de Saxe, but he nevertheless found favour with his auditors, as also did Messrs Hilton, Brodie, and the other members of the cast. The company leave for Christchurch to-day.