PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 714, 5 August 1865, Page 5

PRINCESS THEATRE.

The new lessees of the Princess Theatre, Messrs IvLumford and Donne, Lave no doubt fully realised that working against time in the renovation of a Theatre, and in the production of fi new burlesque, is the most mindly ;>ruuo-is kind oi w >rki g against time that is within their experience. They have done a very great d' a', rs mu-t ha v e been patent to every one i*re=»<-iit last evening ; and they have frankly acknowledged that what they hive yet done is not nearly all that they have set themselves to do. We are confident that, with the earnest of the intentions of the lessees afforded by last nighs's performances, the public will be content to note the nightly approach to completion of the work undertaken, and will cheer onward those who have undertaken it.

Time was a brilliant and very crowded house on Monday. All the private boxes were occupied ; in the circle, there was a large number of ladies in evening dre-s ; and in the pit and stalls there was a thickly packed crowd, all present being in the best and most considerate of tempers. The interior of the Theatre never looked cleaner, more comfortable, or more brilliant. The contemplated improvements in the lighting have, we believe, not been completed, and possibly some modification of the additional lights will be found advisable. It is not fair, however, to form an opinion on an incomplete work ; and a day or two will enable all that has been designed to be carried out. The new-act drop has not yet been finished, but it is certainly in a forward state. Mr Donne came forward between the pieces, and apologised on behalf of his co -lessee and him«elf. He assured the audience that the labors of preparing for the opening night had proved so much greater than were at first supposed possible, that nothing but a binding condition in the lease that the Theatre should be opened last evening, had prevented the very unpleasant announcement that there would be a delay of a day or two; but the public, he said, might be assured that the least the lessees were resolved to do was the utmost they had promised. He regretted that there should have been some inconvenience and annoyance as to the reserved seats in the circle. It had been found impossible to re-number the seats in time, after the improvements made in them ; and because there were no number?, many who had not secured tickets had taken reserved seats. This was made worse by the fact that upholsterers and carpenters and paper- hangers had been at work until after seven o'clock that evening ; and thf-ir presence aided many of the visitors to enter before the announced time for opening. But the inconvenience as to seats should not occur again ; and whether in making and keeping the Theatre really comfortable, or in prodi:ci\g novelties in the best style possible, the lessees were resolved that the success for which they hoped should be deserved, if any exertions within their power could deserve it.

The apolegetic explanation was ample to cover greater deficiencies than occurred. The performances were excellent, and were complete to a degree considerably above the average of opening nights. There is not, we believe, a bettpr company for the class of pieces it is intended to produce, to be found in these Colonies ; and a few nights' playing together will make a marked ditfcrtnee in the spirit and certainty of the different members' " playing up" to each other.

The opera and the drama have been so often played here and elsewhere, that we need not say anything as to the merits or the plot, of " The Daughter of the Regiment." Josephine is a character which is an established favorite with Miss Julia Mathews; and absence from the stage has not in the slightest degree lessened the arch vivacity with which she plays it. Indeed, we are inclined to think that Miss Julia Mathews never acted and .sang in a •way more certain to secure admirers than she did last evening. Her appearance as the vivandierewas the signal for an enthusiastic welcome from all parts of the house. Some of the pretty poutings and coaxings of the old Sergeant by the spoiled "child of the regiment," were irresistible from their guileless boldness and piquancy ; and the attempts of Josephine to ape the ways of the very high society into which she so suddenly finds herself removed, caused continuous and most hearty laughter. The music was all capitally sung by Miss Matthews. No doubt, the introduced air, " Ever of thee," was the most telling with the bulk of the audience ; for it was sung with real power of expression, unusual in the rendering of a piece of music which, though pretty, is very much hackneyed. But the " Salut la France," and " Ask me not why," were given in a way that, artistically considered, stood comparison with the more popularly successful song; and the Rataplan was rendered with great dash. Mr John Dunn was capital as Strgeant Scalade. Very rough and blunt the old sergeant was ; but tenderness for the adopted " child of the 21st," and real kindness of heart and

of manners, were constantly cropping out through the hard crust resulting from campaigning with the first Napoleon, in his first days of " glory." Mr J. L. Hall, as Guillot, gave an unpretending but good representation of the peasant turned hero, from love whHi he calls despair; and Mr Wilmott .vi I Mr Howe deserve praise for what tlxy did a.s tie Duke and Pumper-ni.-kd. Miss 1) Uv Green was an unexcep'i"nnMy tx^tlent Marchioness; and Mi? "Ward had assigned to her the unim^ni taut part of the Duchess. The actors and actresses, it will be st?en, are chiefly old and thoroughly established favorites here. Most of them have made Northern tripa since last they appeared in Dunedin ; but their friends did not fail to receive them back with favor ; and, at the conclusion of the drama, the curtain was raised in obedience to a unanimous " call." Miss Mathews had been called before the curtain at the end of the first act ; and Mr Dunn, who led her forward, had to gather up for her a shower of bouquets. Before the commencement of the burlesque, La Petite Laura danced a sailor's hornpipe with wonderful spirit for one so young ; and there was an encore of the heartiest kind.

H. J. Byron's burlesque " The Pilgrim of Love, or the Magic Carpet and the Enchanted Horse," is one which demands an unusual amount of preparation for its production. Properties, machinery, and scenery, are all greatly in demand ; and there has certainly not been an equally successful first attempt to supply those things in Dunedin. The story would he long if told, and we fear that we might not tell it as effectively as it deserves. Therefore, we shall not attempt to teli it connectedly. Of course, there is a charming young Prince, and a more charming young Princess, who fall in love without having seen each other, and who are then brought together, all by means of those bewilderingly good fairies who rule in burlesques, and who triumph over very bad sprites, who are bad for no particular reason, except to prove the strength of goodness, when there comes a tough tussle between the two. But the supernatural agencies are put into novel shapes ; and a Parrot, in particular, plays a very important part. The whole story is better compacted than is usual. It is not likely that any realist will allow himself to understand it, or that any one who is content to believe nothing which is not probable will derive the slightest enjoyment from it ; but those who can still, child-like, find something worthily to be called more than amusement, from reading " The Arabian Nights," may do worse than spend the time necessary for following the fortunes of Prince Ahmed and the Princess Aldegonda. Those characters were played by Miss Julia Mathews and Mis 3 Marian Dunn — and the latter was greeted with applause which showed not only that she was well remembered, but that still greater treats from her acting and singing were confidently expected. Of Mis 3 Mathe\v s 's singing, the best pieces perhaps, were 11 The mocking bird," which was very well accompanied, and her share in the "Ah ! che la morte" duet, with Miss Dunn. Mr Flail's make-up as the Parrot, was excellent, and his imitation of polly's gabble and gobble were surprisingly correct. We shall find opportunity for noticing the other actor? and actresses hereafter. Miss Dunn sang "Troubador enchanting" very sweetly ; and she took part in several of the grotesque concerted pisces. There is a good deal of dancing in the course of the burlesque, most of it necesBirily of the "nigger" cast slightly modified. Mr Tannett has painted several new striking and good scenes. An interior, and a Moresque court-yard, with baths and fountain, may be mentioned as amongst the best ; for of the concluding scene we must reserve our notice, as it was evidently not quite finished, and there is mechanism about it that wa3 stiff in its working last evening, as is the nature of such things on first nights. We believe that an extensive panorama is all but completed, of the cities and scenes which the Parrot describes to the Prince; but it was not exhibited last evening. The " magic carpet " scene is another case in which no amount of preliminary trials will do as much towards securing eflect, as one or two trials in public. We feel confident that to-night the burlesque will go well ; and that thenceforth all will work so smoothly as to secure a marked success for " The Pilgrim of Love."

It should be added that M. Fleury has again resumed his place as leader of the orchestra ; and that he seems to have good men to aid him in the instrumental department.

The " Wakatip Mail" of the 26th ult, says: — " W"e have nothing later from the reefs at Skipper's to report, except to state that Miller, Pinkerton and Cotnpauy have again struck rich stone, and that all parties are busily engaged opening up ground. The reefa have been much visited, and several shares have changed hands in claims that require to be prospected before the reef is discovered."