THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 117, 23 July 1875, Page 12

THE DRAMA.

" All the world's a atage, And all the men and women are merely players ; They have their exits, and their entrances." Exit the Bates ; enter the Darrells. Eccles and Moneypenny retire at the approach of Borneo and Claud Melnotte, and the audience, which was convulsed at the eccentricities of Toodles and Bamboozle, is hushed to solemn stillness at the tragic fate of the daughter of the Capulets, Such is the stage; and such, in truth, is the stage of life. No matter how great the actor, or how conspiciioxis the part he may have taken in the drama of life, no sooner has his star disappeared from the firmament than there arises another whose effulgeney totally obliterates the memory of that passed away. After holding undisputed sway at the Princess Theatre for almost two months, Mr. and Mrs. Bates took their final leave of a Dunedin audience on Saturday night, and they carry with them the good wishes of all who enjoyed their friendship. On Monday evening the vacancies were filled by the appearance of Mr. and Mrs. G-eorge Darrell, who made their bow to a Dunedin audience in Shakespeare's poetic tragedy "Romeo and Juliet." The piece, however, was played in anything- but its entirety, a considerable portion of the first and last acts, beside scenes here j and there, being eliminated ; nevertheless it was put upon the stage in a very creditable manner. Mr. Darrell appeared as Romeo, with Mr. Steele as Mercutio, the splenetic Tybalt being in the hands of Mr. Clinton. To the play-going public of other times — those who have seen her in the palmiest days of the "lamented Brooke — Mrs. Darrell was no stranger j and one could scarcely credit that twelve years had passed away — so lightly had the hand of time pressed upon her — when listening to the clear ringing tones which had held the masses entranced more than a decade since. It is unnecessary to criticise the acting of Mrs. Darrell ; the p\iblic, both at home and in the colonies, have long since pronounced its verdict, and it is quite sufficient to say that, while time has added much to the merit of her personations, she has lost none of that freshness and grace which made her siich a favorite in times gone by. Although Mr. Darrell is no stranger to Dunedin, on Monday night he may be said to have made his debut as a delineator of Shakespeare ; and, as might have been (expected the old Princess has rarely seen such a number within its walls as assembled to see how he would go through the ordeal. For once rumour had not lied, and, before the curtain dropped upon the first act, the audience became aware that an actor of more than ordinary ability was before them, and the very high eulogiums bestowed upon him by the Northern Press, a tribute deservedly won. 'Tis true Mr. Darrell is not without defects, but they are of such a nature as lie easily within his power to remedy. With a commanding figure, a naturally graceful carriage, and features capable of great facial play, he has everything in his favor, and it is, therefore, to be regretted that at times he asstimes a super-majestic stride which borders on the melodramatic, and mars some of his otherwise faultless scenes. On these occasions also, his voice is allowed a similar liberty, and, although naturally flexible and effective, it becomes forced, stagey, and markedly at variance with the truthful and life-like character of his personations. There is no doubt Mr. Darrell has all the elements to make an able actor, for beside being an excellent elocutionist, he neglects not the slightest point which will add to the natural effectiveness of a situation. With plenty of fire and vigor when occasion demands, he is never betrayed into rant, and, though swayed by the most intense and powerful passion, his energy and vehemence is never overstrained. Considering the short experience he has had upon the boards, it speaks volumes for his industry and talent that he should have at this early stage of his career reached a position in his profession which it has taken others of confessed ability years of struggle and toil to attain; and, if we are not much mistaken, the day is not far distant when his foot shall be upon the topmost round of the

ladder. The Friar Laurence of Mr Keogh was a most creditable i performance, his make up being so genuine as to deceive many as i to his identity. Mr. Steele as Mercutio looked the character to the life, and in the scene where he imitates Peter's attentions to Juliet's nurse was warmly applauded. The other characters call for no especial mention, if we except Mr. Musgrave, whose grotesque attitudes were provocative of much merriment. On Tuesday evening Mr. and Mrs. Darrell appeared as Pauline and Claud in Bulwer's " Lady of Lyons," a "piece in which it was existed both would show to much advantage. Mrs. Darrell's impersonation of the haughty and imperious beauty was a finished piece of acting throughout, her love for the Prince being depicted with a winning grace and tenderness as bewitching as her storm of invective was scathing on discovering her betrayer's duplicity. The character has been undertaken by other ladies at the same theatre on recent occasions, but, judged by comparison, Mrs. Darrell' b conception and rendering of the vain but true-hearted Pauline was unmeasurably superior to those who have preceded her. Of Mr. Darrell we are unable to speak in the like unmeasured terms of commendation, for although in many parts he exhibited abilities of the highest class, at times he was faulty, and his" performance as a whole was not such as we had given him credit for after witnessing his performance on the opening night. Were wo asked to point out one particular part to which we take exception, it is more than possible that we would be unable to do so, and our reply should be that the defects were those rather of omission than commission. • One cannot see Mr. Darrell on the stage without becoming sensible that he is possessed of high histrionic abilities ; but, paradoxically, his Claude Melnotte of Tuesday evening, while serving to confirm that idea, also left the impression that a something was wanting to make it a success. The beautiful description of the Palace of Como, which Bulwer puts into the mouth of the hero, was delivered in a manner which should more atone for the shortcomings to which wei have alluded. Low," distinct, and telling every syllable of this magnificent piece of word-painting fell upon the ears of the audience with an effect which was observable in the breathless silence with which it was received. It may be that in the remarks we have" made we may be deemed hypercritical, but ■we disclaim all intention to be so. Mr. Darrell has many, very many excellencies, but he has also some defects, and as those defects in a great measure lie within his power of correction, we deem it our duty to point to them. It is always more pleasing to bestow praise than censure, "and in writing of both Mr. and Mrs. Darrell, the balance of labor is sure to lie on the pleasurable side. "Leah, the Forsaken" was the piece selected for presentation on Wednesday, and although the same play has been produced during the engagement of Mr. Hoskins, the cast was materially different on the two occasions. The Nathan of Mr. Booth was far preferable to that of Mr. Clinton; Mr. Saville was a bad substitute for Mr. Hoskins as the doctor ; and the selection of Mr. Huntley for Mr. Keogh, as the old blind Jew, was anything but an improvement. The Leah of Mrs. Darrell is decidedly the character in which she has appeared to most advantage, the scene in the fourth act in which she hurls maledictions on the head of Rudolph being given with an intensity and awe-inspiring vigor which causes a thrill of horror to pervade those who witness it. Mr. Darrell's Rudolph is infinitely superior to his Claude Melnotte, but we feel sure that he has not been seen at his best yet. It has been announced that through the entire engagement no piece will be produced a second time. This, while giving the public plenty of opportunity of judging of the versatility of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell, must be a great strain on the other members of the company, and should be a weighty reason why any shortcomings on their part should be very leniently dealt with.