THE FIRST COLONIAL THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 943, 2 April 1908, Page 18

THE FIRST COLONIAL THEATRE.

The following is a reprint of Barrington’s ode on the opening of the first N.S.W. theatre:— From distant climes, o’er wide-spread seas we come, (Though not with much eclat, or beat of drum) True patriots all ; for it be understood, We left our country for our country’s good ; No private views disg.uc'd our generous zeal; What urged our travels was our country’s weal; And none will doubt but that our emigration Has prov’d most useful to the British nation. But you enquire, in us whence springs this rage. “To strut and fret our hour upon the stage?” Could aught, within our former practice, teach, Talents like ours, dramatic fame to reach ? List, list, oh list, before this Court I plead, Our claim well founded to Tneatric meed. He, who to midnight ladders is no stranger, You’ll grant will make «n admirable Ranger; To seek Macheath we have not far to roam, And sure in Filch I shall be quite at home ; Unrival’d there, none will dispute my claim

To high pre-eminence, and unequall’d fame. As oft on Gadshil! we have ta’en our stand, When ’twas so dark, you could not see your “hand,” Some true-bred Falstaff we may hops to start, Who, when well-bolster’d, well will play his part. The scene to vary, we shall try in time, To treat you, now and then w th Pantomime ; Here light and easy Columbines are found, And well-try’d Harlequins with us abound ; From durance vile our precious selves to keep, We oft had recourse to the flying leap; To a black face have sometimes ow’d escape, And Hounslow-heath has prov’d the worth of crape. But how, you ask, can we e’er hope to soar Above these scenes, and rise to tragic lore ? Oh ! we have forc’d, too oft, th’ unwilling tear, And petrify’d the heart with real fear; Macbeth a harvest of applause will reap, For some of us. I fear, “ have murder’d sleep-’’ His lady, too, with grace, will dream and talk ; Our females have been us’d at nigh': to walk ; While Shylock thirsting to extinguish life, With ready hand will whet the murderer’s knife; Sometimes, indeed, so various is our art, An actor may improve and mend his part; “Give me a horse,’’ bawls Richard, like a drone; We’ll find a man would help himself to one. Grant us your favour, put us to '-he test; To gain your smiles we’ll do our very best, And. without dread of future Turnkey Lockits, Thus in an honest way, still pick your pockets.