THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5180, 9 December 1884, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

♦ " Forget-Me-Not" was played at the Theatre Eoyal for v the third time last night, to an immense audience. Nearly every seat in the dres3 circle was taken, and pit and stalls were crowded to their utmost capacity. The performance was under the patronage of his Excellency thq Governor, who was present with Miss Jervois, Major Eccles, A.D.C., and a party of friends, occupying seats in the centre of the circle. From first to last the play went perfectly — as, indeed, it always does. Miss Genevieve Ward asserted her usual hold over her audience, who applauded her heartily at various points of the performance, particularly after her wonderful acting when she so pathetically appeals to Sir Horace to allow her one last chance to redeem her evil life, to nnix with honest people, and especially "to feel the clasp of one good woman's hand." Her subsequent fierce denunciation of his former life, and that of men like him, was given with terrible force and energy, and the delivery of the words: "There would.be noplace in the world for such women as I if it were not for such men as you \" hurled at him, as they are, with every accompaniment of envenomed hate and scorn, gained the actress her customary tribute. As for the representatives of the other characters in the play, the presence of so large and ap.preciative an audience appeared to act on them as a stimulant to more than ordinary efforts. Mr Vernon has not yet played the part of Sir Horace Welby with such warmth and spirit j and Miss Flora Anstead succeeded in giving the part of the amorous old maid unwonted prominence, and was rewarded with especial notice by the spectators. Her impersonation of the luckless old duenna is most amusing. Everyone engaged came in for rounds of applause, and the curtain had to be raised after the first act and again at the conclusion of the piece.