THE GUV'NOR.

West Coast Times, Issue 4212, 13 January 1883, Page 2

THE GU VNO R.

A crowded house last evening at the Theatre, greeted the first perfbrmanoe of "The Guvnor" here, by,. the Willmott Combinationj and the merits of the play, as well as the general excellence of the performance, were fully deserving of the large attendance which was present. Tbe plot of the Guvnor consists of a series of diverting errors, into which falls the Guvnor, a jealous and irascible old gentle* man, with a young second wife, and a grown up son and daughter. The son falls in love with the daughter of a deaf boatbuilder, and as the son has an impediment in his speech, the scenes between him and the boatbuilder are exceed- J ingly amusing. The comedy is, however, so full of strange situations, and pungent dialogue, that we have no >?pace to describe it. It was certainly the most amusing and the best played performance seen in Hokitika for years. The ipplause was frequent and the laughter constant. Mr John Hesford played the "Guvnor" with excellent effect. The part is an arduous one, and would fail in tho hands of any but a thoroughly competent actor. " Teddy " was admirably rendered by Mr Eerie, who has rarely been seea to better advantage. Mr Wilkinson was, as may be imagined, exceedingly comic a 9 the deaf old boatbuilder. His •emarkable mistakes through his defective hearing, kept the audience in roars of laughter. Messrs Herman, Marter, and Simmons, and the Misses Howard, are deserving of mention for their presentation of minor parts, and Mr Brooke is to be complimented for his M'Toddy, " the gentleman from Glen Matcuken?' Mr Willmott made a first appearance as " Vellum," and did what little he had to do very well. Of the ladies, it may be said that they were all excellent. Misses Crawford, Lawrence, Nelson, and Johns played with spirit, and the remaining and minor characters were all respectably played. The comedy went more smoothly than is generally tbe case on a first night. It was indeed an unequivocal success, and we advise those who enjoy a well written, well acted play, to pay a visit to the Theatre this evening, when " The iTUv'nor" will make his final bow to a Hokitika audience. As the comedy pro seeds the who'e of the characters become terribly mixed, and to the Guvnor the position reaches one of confusion wor3e c ntounded, i until " more lighu*' is thrown upon each of the unfortunate mistakes, in the concluding act. Mr C. Marter, who took tho part of Jelico, a Paul Pryish individual, appeared to know more of the true state or affairs than any of the others. He certainly played well* In saying this, we may hazard h\3 frequently expressed opinion, that we "may be mistaken, but we don't think so." Miss Amy Nelson never appeared to bettor advantage than as the young wife of Butterscotch, dressing and playing the pirt admirably. A word of praise must be spoken in favor of the scenery, by Mr Hall, which added very much to the general effect. On Monday evening, a benefit will be given to Miss Ford, who has been most unforturate in meeting with a severe dislocation, which, has prevented her taking part with the other members of the company for some considerable irae.