PRINCESS THEATRE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 107, 15 May 1875, Page 13

PRINCESS THEATRE.

The lessees seem determined to adhere to the promise made at the opening of the season of giving a change of programme nightly ; and considering the vast amount of labour thereby entailed, it is a matter for wonder the performances are so successful. During the week the public have been treated to a variety in point of quality as well as quantity, "The Lancashire Lass" giving place to " Richelieu," which in turn was supplanted by the emotional drama of " Temptation." Though, of the same class, as regards plot, as i" Camille," "Frow Frow," and " Bast Lynne," still there is much of the comic to relieve the pathetic parts, and the audience is not left, as in those plays, to * dwell upon scenes of a mournful nature. Of course the leading 1 characters were sustained by Mr. and Mrs. Hoskinß, and having said so much, it were needless to say they were sustained in a manner beyond criticism. Mr. HosMns knows how much effect is given to the success of a piece by attention to scenic effects, proper stage furniture, &c., and he has put that knowledge to advantage. The consequence is that when drawing and ball rooms are sought to be represented, there is no need for bringing the imagination into play. We havo never Been a.piece produced during the season in which every member of the Company appeared to such advantage ; but if it would not be invidious to make special mention where excellence was the rule, we would refer to Mr. Austin Power, who, by his clever representation of the foppish Marquis evoked much amusement, which caused his disappearance from the stage to be regretted. Mr. Booth, also, is entitled to mention, and in the closing act, as the bashful lover, his nervous timidity and absence of mind was most ludicrous, without being overdrawn. To Mr. Keogh was allotted a character for which he was admirably suited, and as is always the case when assuming representations of a similar nature, it proved a most successful one. The other two characters in the play were in the hands of Mrs. Stoneham and her daughter; and although we have inadvertently placed their names last, it was decidedly not because their merits entitled them to a subordinate position. On Wednesday night "Paul Pry" was produced, with Mr. Hoskins, of course, in the character of the same name. We are not aware if it be one of Mr. Hosldn's round of characters, he never having before assumed it to our knowledge ; but if not, he is to lie congratulated on his representation of the prying, inquisitive old busybody. We have seen George Coppin's Paul Pry, and considering that he has made the character as it were his own, we could discern very little advantage in his personation to that of Mr. Hoskins. Although the piece is one requiring a very large caste, no less than sixteen characters figuring in it, the bulk of the work devolves upon some five or six. Mr. Musgrave played Colonel Hardy, the choleric old soldier, and from the ability displayed in that character, we are inclined to think that he would make no mean Paul Pry. Miss Marion Willis was Eliza, the daughter of Colonel Hardy, sustaining the character with a spirit and vivacity we were pleased to witness. Miss Colville enacted the character of Phoebe, maid to Eliza, but really we failed to see why she was supposed to be so, inasmuch as in the plot of the play she always assumed command. Miss Colville had one fault, and that was, she was far too stylish in her toilet for a lady's maid, for we suppose servantgalism had not reached its present ascendancy [when the play was written. However, be that as it may, she appeared in an as fashionable an attire as otight to satisfy the most aspiring of the class. Mr. Booth, as Harry Stanley, sustained the character with a dash and spirit that was most refreshing. With the exception of Mrs. Subtle and Mr. Witheringtoa — sustained by Mrs. Stoneham and Mr. Clinton — the other characters were merely subsidiary, if Aye except that of Frank Hardy, undertaken by Mr. Eoscoe, and sustained very creditably. The management have now a fine stock company, for although, as we said, the caste was a large drain upon its resources, they were not by any means exhausted — indeed, one or two of the leading members of the company did not appear during the evening. We notice Avith. regret the announcement of the intended departure of Mr, and Mrs. Hoskins, and we are sure the very many who have derived pleasure in witnessing plays put upon the stage in the creditable manner they have been, will re-echo our sentiments.