THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5568, 18 May 1896, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

UNCLE TOM'S CABIN.

The medley of tragedy, farce, hymns, plantation melodies and nigger dances based on Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous story, was produced by Pollard's Opera Company to a very good house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night. Some changes have been made in the cast since the piece was played here last year, but, on the whole, the production was a successful one. Miss Metcalfe deserves i great credit for her singing and pathetic acting as Eliza Harris in the first and second acts, and for the tragic power of her impersonation of Cassy in the last act. Miss Maud Beatty, as George Harris, acted with much ability and effect. In the part of Aunt Ophelia Miss May Beatty had a character totally different from those in which the public are accustomed to see her, . and she acquitted herself exceedingly well in it. Miss Rosie Stevens as Mrs Shelby, and Miss Nellie Wilson, as Marie St Clair, were both good. Little Alice Pollard, who. has not been seen on the stago for a considerable time, but who gives promise of a successful career on it, represented Eva with much naturalness, winsome grace and pathos. Little Eily O'Sullivan did capitally as Eliza's child. Mr "W. Percy was a very good Uncle Tom, and acted with power and pathetic dignity. Mr Harry Quealy doubled the parts of Mr Shelby and the lawyer Marks. The latter, a broadly farcical character, gave him an excellent opportunity of displaying his comic powers, and he took full advantage of it. Mr Alf Stephens sustained the rdle of Simon Legree with a good deal of force and tragic power, .and wa3 amusing, if a trifle exaggerated, in

the comic part of Phineas van Tromp. Mr B. Nable was good both as the kindly slaveholder St Clair and the brutal slaveholder Haley; and the same may be said of Mr George Young's impersonations of Tom Loker and the auctioneer Skeggs. Master C. Albert made a capital Topsy, fairly revelling in the fun of the part. The grotesque dancing and uncanny gambols of the three "Happy Hottentots," and the somewhat inconsequential funnyisms of the "two little nigs" caused much merriment. The hymns, plantation songs and other choruses were, as a rule, well rendered, and the orchestra was as well up in its work as usual. The piece was well mounted and dressed, though some of the slaves had rather fair complexions, even supposing them to be mulattoes.

This evening Audran's sparkling comic opera La Mascoite will be produced.