AMUSEMENTS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 20, 30 October 1871, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

f at the Theatre Royal “ Susan Hopley” | wa s played on Saturday evening. We I cannot say that we altogether admire it, E but it certainly will bear a rather favourable comparison with some of the pieces which have lately been placed upon the stage here, and moreover, it comes up to what many correspondents have complained of lately, a moral. Virtue is triumphant in the end. The simp e country girl Susan Hopley withstands temptation, and has her reward in marrying the man she loves.. In this respect W 8 far prefer Susan Hopley’s fate to that of Formosa. The piece has been frequently played before on the Thames, and of its many incongruities we do not here intend to speak, although we think that much of. the ghastly business might be cut out with advantage. Some of the situations are ridiculous from the fact of their impossibility, not to say improbability. Of the acting of Mr and Mrs Steele as Susan Hopley and William Dean we will say nothing. Their reputation was made years ago, before the Thames was in existence, and. to apply the terms usually made use of theatrical notices to their rendering of the parts, would be only a fulsome flattery derogatory to ourselves and ridiculous to them. We will take no notice of the ghastly parts; the author has made them so peculiar that it would be difficult for any actor to make anything out of them, even the very good scenic effects on Saturday evening did not altogether relievo them of their absurdity. Mr and Mrs Howard, as Dickey Dean and Gimp, were, as usual, immensely funny. Mr South, as George Remardon, had a part allotted to him of which something might have been made, but in substituting “gag” for the author’s text he did the latter a great wrong, and we were' glad to see that he received what he merited, an open rebuke from Miss Bowring, which, no doubt, prevented him from coming forward in reply to the quasi call which was made for him at the fall of the curtain. The old favorite burlesque “ The Enchanted Isle" was the afterpiece, well mounted with excellent scenery by Mr Williams it could not fail to he a success. It abounds in the usual amount of extortionate puns, and gives full scope for the acting of Mrs Keogh as Miranda, Mrs Howard as Ariel, Mr Howard as Caliban, Mr Joyce as Alonzo. It is certainly one of the very best burlesques placed on the stage in Grahamstown, and no doubt will prove a remunerative success to the lessees. Tonight the bill will be repeated.

Academy of Music. —The talented company which has lately been playing at this house, under the lesseeship of Mr B. N. Jones, terminated a most successful engagement on Saturday evening. There was a good attendance. The “ Lancashire Lass” and the laughable farce of “ But, however,” comprised a very attractive bill of fare, which was highly appreciated by the audience. During the engagement just completed, the Company have performed a variety of pieces of ancient and modern drama, from Shakespeare to Dion Boucicault, including the “ Heir at Law,” “Merchant of Venice,” Othello,” “School for Scandal,” “ Lancashire Lass,” and “ The Serious Family,” &c. Shakespeare’s plays must always be popular, so long as the English language is spoken ; but whether the same may bo predicted of Boucicault’s productions is more doubtful. It is certain, however, that at the present moment Boucicault’s plays are most popular. In defence of the play of “Formosa,” its author, in writing to the London Times, said “ that it paid,” and no doubt it lias been remunerative here also. It is a piece which Miss Colville renders most attractive. Nor is the moral it conveys a bad one. Mr Hoskins has performed in many parts in the plays we have enumerated, and one of his best is, in our opinion, “ A party by the name of Johnson.” Mr. Hoskin’s lago was also a very finished piece of acting, and so was his “Major Jorum” in “Formosa,” although the characters are totally different, and the times, places, and circumstances diametrically opposed Mrs. Hill as Cicely Homespun in the “ Heir at Law ” pleased us amazingly. There is something in this lady’s stylo of acting which makes it most agreeable. Mrs. Jones as “ Lady Sourby Creamly ” in the Serious Family was inimitable, her makeup being perfection. Mr B. N. Jones was, as he always is, quite at home in old man’s part. His Sir Peter Teazle vied with anything we ever witnessed here or elsewhere Mr. Burford, in some of his parts, was very successful, especially as Shylock, although, perhaps, he was a trifle too loud for a small theatre., A little moreattentiot to dress would have made him excellent as Robert Redburn. We cannot close this notice without paying a just compliment in praise of Mr. Hydes, who, as a comedian, has few equals on this side of the line. Our limited space will not admit of our giving a full detail of the several performances which Mr B. N. Jones has produced during the stay of this company at the Thames. It has, upon the whole, been a most successful visit, and we hope to welcome the management back again.