PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9323, 14 January 1892, Page 3

PRINCESS THEATRE.

" THE LADY OF LYONS."

The presence of a very large audience at the Princess Theatre last evening furnished proof positive that Bulwer Lytton's love play, "The Lady of Lyons," fully maintains the popularity it has always enjoyed on the British stage. The beautiful language of the drama, which is literature of the highest order, the romantic story, the elegant dresses, all have their attraction, and perhaps we shall not wrong the fair sex in ascribing to the lastmentioned of these titles to popularity in the play the highest place in their estimation. Miss Hansen, who represented Pauline Deochapuelles last night, wore sonic beautiful costumes which, it may not be doubted, were greatly admired, and in this connection it may be fairly said that throughout the whole season the various performers have " dressed" the characters they were for the time being impersonating with an attention to detail that" is noteworthy and praiseworthy, while, on the other hand, the setting, in the way of scenery, which the management have given to the pictures that have been nightly presented lias not been such as has enabled the performers to do full justice either to their work or to themselves. The ■ deficiency in this respect has, however, been overlooked each evening by the audience, who have recognised that the merits of the performances have been so groat as to thoroughly entitle the company to the large measure of support that has been continuously accorded to them since the opening of the season. The reception that the representation of " The Lady of Lyons " met with was no less cordial and gratifying than that which was vouchsafed to the previous bills. If Mr Bentley does not make such a hit in his impersonation of Claude Melnotte as he has done in " Hamlet," " The Bells," and other plays, it is because the same opportunities for artistic acting do not present themselves. Yet the quiet dignity with which he played the part was a potent factor in the success of the performance, in which there was but one feebly represented character. His elocutionary display was admirable ; the wellknown lines beginning with "A palace lifting to eternal summer" were delivered with fine effect; and his acting in the powerful scene in which Claude offers to Pauline the best atonement he can make, when she realises the deception that' has been practised upon her, was marked by a restrained force that evoked the warmest plaudits of the house. In this same scene Miss Hansen played with an intensity of power that was most effective and that probably surprised many in the audience. Not only here, but in the other scenes in which she appeared, Miss Hansen infused aglow of passion into her part that considerably neutralised the artificiality of the character of Pauline. Miss Deprwyn portrayed with admirable skill and effect the character of the proud and worldly Madame Deschappelles, and the cynicism of Colonel Dainas found suitable expression from the lips of Mr Alderson, the representative of that officer. Mr Holloway appeared as Beauseant, Mr Greenaway as Glavis, and Miss Thornc as Widow Melnotte, and other parts were sustained by Miss Holbrook, Messrs Stevens, Craufurd, MGowan, Foster, Hill, Lovejoy, and Money. There were loud "calls" wheii the curtain fell upon the principal scenes, and the play went well from beginning to end. The intervals were rendered enjoyable by the well-cboscn operatic selections performed by the orchestra. ■'The Lady of Lyons" will lie repeated this evening.