THEATRE ROYAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2925, 10 August 1882, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

Mr John L. Hall’s Byronic Comedy Company arrived in Timaru yesterday, by the Express, and opened their season in Mr H. J. Byron’s comedy of “ Our Dad.” There was a good, but not a full, audience. This was not surprising, as the advent .of the company had scarcely been suddenly announced before they were actually here ; and the town not having been “ billed ” or sufficient publicity given to the night fixed for opening, half the people in the town and district were not aware that any performance was coming off. That we feel sure, is now remedied ; and we predict for to-night a house crowded with the numerous friends and admirers of this truly splendid comedian. Last night, what the audience lacked in numbers they made up in enthusiasm. From first to last the performance held everyone's attention, Tand kept the audience in a “ merry mood." The comedy itself is of inferior merit as to plot: in one or two places there occurs a hiatus, and the “wind up” is unsatisfactory, for it leaves a good deal unexplained. This, however, is lost sight of in the drolleries, the repartee, the admirable dialogue, and the laughable situations in which the play abounds. It is sufficient to say ot the story that its interest centres in Samuel Tottles (Mr J. L. Hall) a retired restaurateur , a rich widower with one son, who is foolish enough to marry a consequential young girl (Miss J. Gray) whose brother (Harry Teece) and lover (A, W. Boothman) have made a compact together, for their mutual profit, that she shall marry Tottles. The lover continuing his visits to Mrs Tottles is by Tottles banished from the house. The husband and wife get on very unhappily together, and finally separate. While this is going on, however, the son is courting on his own account, and keeping it secret from his father. After an absence from home Tottles returns while everybody is at his son’s wedding breakfast. At that festival everybody is finally made happy. The play is in three acts and is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end, Mr Hall’s rendering of Tottle's part is simply an inimitable portraiture; his get-up, his accent, his attitudes, and his perfect realisation of the author’s conception are absolutely faultless. His efforts to banish the refreshment line” of his younger days, and to fall in with the ways of polite society are immensely funny, and his discourse is at every turn sweetened with a bit of humorous philosophy, and plentifully besprinkled with genuine wit. His conduct with his wife when he is infuriated by the persistent attentions of her lover, and daring his conversation with Horace, his son, is perfect. His acting, throughout, is simply marvellous. Captain Eaffler, whom Tottles forbade his house, was well played by Mr Alfred Boothman. Miss Ford, as Horace, was fairly successful, but it is to be regretted no male character was available. Cobiiam Brown, Mr J. H. Hesford (40 years in the India House, Sir), played with much care and exactness. 0. Lilford, the adventurer (Mr H. Teece) was not well played, the character being probably unsuitable to Mr Teece. Bungs, the waiter, .as represented by Mr Harry Sefton, was a magnificent performance, second only to the splendid acting of the redoubtable Johnny himself. He hardly ever Opened his mouth without giving utterance to a rich joke. Mr Sniggler, Topham, and a boy, are minor characters and are well rendered' Of the female parts the chief are those of Julia, the wife of Tottles, and Kate Trenchard, his cousin. The former proved herself equal to the representation of the ashamed discontented erring wife of the rich plebian. The latter (Miss .Crawford) acted with the utmost propriety, yet with a very delightful unaffectedness. Miss Minnever, the gushing bridesmaid, also acted very creditably. The attention of the audience throughout was unflagging, and the applause hearty and frequent. The stage appointments were good, the players thoroughly prepared with their parts, and the business was carried on ( without excessive intervals. We must* express our undiminished admiration for Mr J. L. Hall, who is (like Mr Hoskins) one of the evergreens. His acting is simply delightful for its perfect taste and finish, and he is on the whole well supported. Mr Sefton as Bungs, bids fair, in his peculiar line, to rival Mr Hall himself. Between the second and third acts, Mr Hall found it necessary to remonstrate with a number of young men in the pit, who were poisoning the atmosphere by smoking. It is to be regretted that it should be necessary to do this, and we trust it may not occur again. We look for a crowded house to-night. We understand that as Mr Hall was the first player in this theatre, so he will be the last—for it is doomed, its hour is almost come, to be cleared away to make room for a new building. “ Our Girls ’’will be played to-night. This is a sparkling comedy, of which the plot turns on a perplexity among fortune-hunters, caused by an eccentric will, which leaves one of two girls heiress to a fortune, and the puzzle is, which one. The appearance of a scapegrace relation complicates matters still further, Mr Hall’s part is that of Capt, Gingah, dividing his attentions between a widow and the possible heiress. The piece is full of fun and affords scope for the highest art of the comedian.