PRINCESS THEATRE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 4918, 21 November 1882, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE.

. The Hall Byronic Company opened at the Princess Theatre last evening, ' after a visit to the other parts of the colony, and were welcomed back by a fair house. Byron's favorite Comedy, " Our Girl* " was the piece selected for performance, and in the hands of the present Company it could hardly fail to meet with a good reception. There is a little chnnge in the cast since the Company's last visit here, and to some extent this is for the better. Mr R. W. Rede is exceedingly natural as Dr Fleming, and the character could scarcely have a more satisfactory representative. Mr J. R. Brooke is not a very successful Tiptimas Tipkins, and Miss Lizzie Lawrence, though a careful actress, seems too young for the character of Mrs Gunn, the widow. As Captain Gingah, Mr Hals acting is highly appreciated, and he is really a good exponent of this eccentric, im-pecunious.money-huntingmilitary man. As a comedian he perhaps excels in the character and seems to keep everybody in good humour. Mr Boothman is one of the best supporters of the Company, and he is especially good in the impassioned scenes of the part allotted to him. In the hands of Mr Teece, Arthur Medwin, one of the lovers so frequently in attendance on the young ladies of Gay thorne Hall, was played very well, hia manner and gesture becoming that of a jealous young man. Master Henry Hall is well up to his work as "buttons." Miss Jessie Gray is rapidly improving in her acting, and is much more successful in the character of Helen Gay thorne, one of the young ladies, than when the Company were here last. Miss Ruth Gray, as Lilia Gaythorne, fills her part well ; but improvement ia not nearly so noticeable in her as in her sister. The performance proved a highly enjoyable one, and the arrangement of the scenery was tasteful and attractive, reflecting creditably on Mr H. Sef ton as stage manager. To-night, the Company will produce " Imprudence," which will be played here for the first time, and the sole right of which has been eecured by Mr Hall's Company for New Zealand and the Australian Colonies. The play is a very popular one, and will be presented to-night by a powerful cast.an old favourite, Mr H. Sefton appearing as Capt. Ruttlefish, with Mr Hall in the principal pc rsonage of Mr Parminter Blake. The Company put each item of their repertoire on the atage in first-class style, and the new piece to be presented to-night should be the means of bringing a crowded house.

At Christchurch yesterday a deputation from the Railway League waited on the Commission to submit evidence regarding a line to the West Coa-t. Dr Pollen replied that he regarded the duties of the Commission as merely confined to the extension of the main trunk line northward, and considerable dissatisfaction is thus expressed at the attitude taken up by the Commissioners. '