AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10328, 8 April 1895, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

: PMRCESS THEATRE. The weather was so severely cold on Saturday night that it was hardly to be expected that there would be a large attendance at the. Princess Theatre, where a change of programme was made' by the Lueaa Dramatic Company, but there was as a matter of fact a very satisfactory house, the stalls, which were almost crowded, being particularly well patronised. The performance was, notwithstanding certain hitches, which Were entirely ascribable to one of the performers, decidedly the oest, for a first anight, given by the company since their season was opened, and its merits were not lost upon the audience; whose ■ applause was frequent and unstinted. The scene from "As Yon Like It," upon which the curtain was raisedt was not so successful as it might have been. The selection from the play chosen for representation ; Was a portion of the scene in the forest of Arden, Hiss Frances Ross appearing as Rosalind and Mr Greenaway as Orlando; but, though both acted well, Bliss Ross's memoryi proved so unreliable that she had thrice to seek rhe aid of the prompter; and the short scene was, in r.ohsequence, in large degree spoiled. Mr Greenaway. supplemented the scene by reciting the "Seven Ages of Man"— Jaques'a speech being for the first time on record delivered by Orlando—and this furnished such a rich elocutionary treat that the audience were content to overlook trie deficiencies which it was probably detigned, to cover, and Mr Greennway was twice recalled before their plaudits ceased. The comedy-drama "Al-mo," which formed the principal , dish in the bill of fare provided, was last played in Dunedih'so many years ago that it will have been unfamiliar to the majority of those present; The materials of which the play is composed are such as have been frequently employed, but Messrs Palgrave ■Simpson and Herman Merivale, the authors of "Alone," used them very deftly, and constructed what is not only a good-actine play,' but is" also a well-written play. 'J he comedy received from the members of the company what was on the whole a very creditable production. The interest of the play centres. chiefly around two characters— Colonel Challice (an old widower, whose affliction of blindness has left him "alone" in the world) and Maude Trevor (who has obtained ah engagement as reader to the former). Maude is actually, however, Challice'a daughter, who was, wliile a school girl, virtually banished from herhornefor a social crimeshe was supposed to have committed, and was, moreover, believed by her father to be j deadj but in this evening of hie.life stole back to his side to win back tha paternal love she had lost. Mr Lucas had evidently made a careful study of the part of Colonel Challice, and gave a wellconsidered _fend consistent impersonation of the character, bht though Miss Ross had a feood grasp of the part of Maude Trevor, and infused much womanly feeling into her generally admirable rradillg of it, she was again subject! to strange ! lapses'of memory, which discounted of course the j value of, her performance. Miss ma Lawrence sustained the part of a frivolous widow who is never happy unless she has a doctor dancing attendance upon Her to prescribe for her.supposed ailments and who is not disinclined to make a second matrimonial experiment, Miss Laurence played the character with the volatile gaiety neces-ary to its efficient representation, and was so successful in it as to merit the approving recognition which her acting sained. Mr Greenaway had a somewhat thankless part to fill in that of Captain Cameron, out gave an effective impersonation of the character, his best points being scored irk the1 second act. Mr Paten's touch is perhaps too heavy for the character of Dr Micklethwaite, but nevertheless rendered good service in it. In the part of Strattou Btrawless, a man who had expectations (in which he is disappointed) from Colonel j Challice, Mr Moss provoked laughter, but ho ssemed to have wrongly conceived tbe part, and its plausibility was niissed in bis interpretation of it. .The same bill will be repeated ta-night. CITY HAIX. There was a, very fair attendance at the City Hall on Saturday night,, when the Kennedy. Dramatic Company produced "Leah tho Foryaken," which was played at the same place not long since. Miss Lilla Wilde assumed the character of Leah, and very creditably represented the part, her acting at times bring rather forcible

notaMy at the conclusion of tho second ant, whfiie I I eah parrs with ttndolf in the hope of reioinii » hiw on tbu morrow, and in the a-ene where the feSk eNi"C" B1 lltt8™ *« terrible"cuJfe Mr liran* Norton also appearerl to couaidtirable adyantiute as Rudolf; while Mr Harry Savil'e as V. her.Lore™, Mi,,, Hentie Howa/de, as Oa.ne G-/rtrude, and Miss Uly, Hill, as Madeira, ft \l MUd their parts well, the other characters in tho piece being portrayed with varying degraen of success by other members of the company. The piece, which was wel staged annaared (o be much enjoyedl by tho a , l( H.f n c c X manifestori their appreciation of the efforts of tlw p ß rformtrs by applauding them very heartily, Miss Lilh Wil.le and Mr F. Norton coining In for a large share of the applause.. The piece will bo repeated to-night, ♦ TM' m TOrf 0v a'eh^ the company tender a benefit to Mr J. J. Kennmly, an <l as ha has mada a number of pprsonal friends since' he came to Dunedin and is also a popular actor, thore Should be a bumper house upon tho occasion.