THE STAGE AND THE PRESS.

West Coast Times, Issue 301, 10 September 1866, Page 2

THE STAGE AND THE PRESS.

SUBSIDIZED CBITI- INDEPENDENT CBITICI3M. CISM. " Evening Star," Sep- Melbourne " Argus," tember 6. August 27. " At the Prince of " Unless the manaWales Opera House ger of the Princess's lust night the operatic Theatre desires to dedrama of ' Bob Roy' grade the character of was performed in & his- place of entertainstyle of exceUenco ment, and cause it to which reflects the be shunned by all adhighest credit on all mirers of the genuinij who took part in its drama, it is difficult production. We re- to conceive why he gret that our limited placed before his paspace to-day compels trons on Saturday us to hold over a night such an arrant lengthened notice of piece of rubbish as tho performance, but ' Lugarto the Mulatwe may say that Mr to.' The author of Bartlett's was far this melodrama, or above the average im- whatever may be the personation of Rob proper name for the Soy, and really tur- precious production, prised us by his tho- had apparently two rough knowledge of objects in view in the requirements of writing it, viz., to such a character. Miss crowd into every act Julia Mathews left as many breaches of nothing to be desired the commandments as as Diana Vernon, and , possible, and so to sang admirably. Mr construct his plot as O. Q-. Smith appeared to divest it of every as Francis Osbaldie- particle -o& interest, tone, and completely As he has been einiwon the admiration of nently successful in the audience by his both objects, the sort beautiful vocalisation, of infliction which Miss Rosa Cooper's had to be endured by conception' of the the 1 audience on Sacharacter of Helon turday night may be Macgregor was mug- much better imagined nilicent — her acting than described. It was a beautiful reali- .wus gratifying, howsation of tho author's ever, to observe that intention, and we the piece was estihave'no hesitation in mated at its . true pronouncing it one of worth, for while moat that lady's best efforts, of it was listened to Mr Andrews was a in silent disgust, the capital Baillie, and intended tragical paswas evidently tho- . s iges were received roughly acquainted with ' appropriate with the character, laughter." At the end of the — — piece the principal "Australasian," Aug. actors were called be- 25. fore the curtain." " I do not know why ' Macbeth ' was "Eveuing Star." played last Saturday (Passivt.) night at the Theatre Royal, unless to demonstrate the possi- • ■ bility of its being done at all with very few of the requisites for its being done well. . . , v ' $Tot that the other ' parts were generally ill-played, -but they were played flatly, and in a respectably perfunctory manner, and the setting of the piece was, to be per- , iectly candid, villanous. That is, it was villanous compared , with the gotting-up of ' Macbeth ' on a good many other occasions at this theatre. The ' scenery was incongruous, and sometimes inappropriate ; the dresses were ludicrous anacronisiris, and the witchtm all and sundry were unweird - like. Mrs Yiucent was singularly unimpressive ; she seemed to have abandoned herself to stock-mannerisms, and though now and then there were glimpses of real passion and feeling, .they were but glimpses, and only served to make the rest of her acting , more unacceptable. ." i y "The 'Ragpicker' has been followed aach night by what the bills describe as ' Professor Stevens and Son's uniqueentertainment,' and 'Mr Walter Airey, the great cosmopolitan clown.' As to the first, there is nothing in it which has not been done over and over again in this city, and some- , times better done ; and the ' cosmopolitan clown ' is interesting, as showing to what an extent utterly blank •tupidity, * without humor, grotesqueness, quointness, or any other amusing quality, may presume upon x the patience of an auv dience, and yet find people, as blankly stu- / * pid as itself, idiotically to applaud. Following upon the acrobats and tho clown, who is tnot funny, has been that foolish farce ' The Spitfire,' which was made popular kero by Mr Jefferson, and which has been transformed into a very broad burlesque by Mr Hall— so broad, indeed, that I would not willingly see Mr '- Hall in it again." -* — The London correspondent of the " Wei lington Independent" says :'— " lam told that Sir Charles Clifford, having scune business to transact in your colony, is likely to leave herein September next for New Zealand, where he will remain for a short period, and .then return so as to be back in England by May next QV thereabout!,