THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 124, 10 September 1875, Page 12

THE DRAMA.

Mes. Daebell took her second benefit during the present engagement on Friday night last, the pieces chosen being " King John" and "The Sough Diamond." Although, there was an excellent house downstairs', we regret to say the dress circle was not filled to anything like the extent the excellence of the performance or the merits oi : the leneficiare merited. The Torsion of "King John" produced was played in throe acts, but those were the particular parts, in which, the grief-stricken Queen Constance and Philip Faulconbridge are kept prominently before the audience. Mrs. Darrell gave a most classic and highly finished interpretation of the character, and at the conclusion of the second act, in which she denounces the conduct of the French King with scornful reproach, she was greeted with, the most unqualified appla\ise. Indeed, we have rarely seen such an unanimous expression of feeling, the whole audience applauding as if but ore person. As the daring yet somewhat philosophical Faulconbridge Mr. Darrell was very effective, the scene with his mother being carried through with a reckless abandon quite in keeping with Shakespeare's conception of the character. The part of King John was in the hands of Mr. Steele, and were he a little better prepared in the text would have been all that could be desired. On Saturday night that wellknown and highly popular drama, "Bob Roy," was produced, and went capitally through from the rising to the drop of the curtain. Mrs. Darrell, of course, undertook the character of the remorseless spouse of the outlaw, which, it is needless to say, was beyond criticism ; Mr. Steele taking that of Eob Eoy. We have seldom seen Mr. Steele infuse so much fire and vigor into his personations as on Saturday night, and it causes one to regret that he does not more often make the effort, when success lies so easily within his grasp. We had heard that Mr. Keogh had made a name for himself as Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and consequently were prepared for something beyond the common ; but we must confess we were most agreeably surprised, his personation of the eccentric bailie exhibiting abilities far beyond, what we have hitherto given him credit for. Mr. Darrell appeared as Francis Osbaldistone, a character for' which he was admirably suited, both in appearance and otherwise. During the evening he sang' the music incidental to the piece, as also the introduced song of "Nil Desperandum." For" the latter he was vociferously and deservedly c icored. Dion Boucicault's emotional play of " Janet Pride " was produced on Monday evening, Mrs. Darrell appearing in the double characters of Jane and Janet Pride. In the pathetic scenes which occur in the prologue, the acting of Mrs. Darrell was distressingly real, the agony of the unhappy mother at being compelled to part with her dying infant in order to preserve its life, being portrayed with an earnest intensity which was perfectly thrilling in its effect. Mr Darrell appeared in the character of Bichard Pride, and afterwards in the assumed one of Captain Grey, and is to be congratulated upon having achieved another success. Mr. Darrell possesses a vast fund of light comedy humor, and if we are not mistaken that is the line in which he will yet make a name ; and although Triplet and Eichard Pride cannot bo fairly ranked in that class, yet they are fully entitled to take first place amongst his personations. Mr. Keogh created considerable amusement by the eccentricities of his Dickey Trotter, and while we admit he took sad liberties with the text of the author, we are sure tho audience readily pardoned the innovations in consideration of their laughter-provoking comicality. Although Mr. Darrell was a scoundrel and villain, his villainy was qualified, and of course the role of the orthodox ruffian of the piece was enacted "by Mr. Clinton. Viewed from an artistic stand-point, the representation was most creditable; morally it was the reverse, and very properly he met with his deserts early in the evening. Wo must not omit to mention the acting of Mr. Musgrave as the honest old watchmaker, the character being sustained with care and truthfulness. On Wednesday evening Shakespeare's sparkling comedy of "As You Like It " was re-produced, being the third time it has been presented during the engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell. We have noticed the piece at some length recently, but we cannot refrain from saying that each representation eclipsed its predecessor. Were there no other character of prominence in Jthe piece than Eosalind, the splendid elocution and finished acting of Mrs. Darrell would be calculated to furnish a treat j -but, in addition, there arc such excellent opportunities in the characters of Jacques and Orlando. Mrs. Darreil has appeared in so many ' different characters, so widely diverse in their nature, and yet so close in their order of merit, that it were a matter of difficulty as to which became entitled to take first rank, but we think the palm may safely bestowed upon her rendition of the volatile Eosalind. We have seen her years since as Beatrice, in "Much Ado About Nothing," and we are quite sure, were that piece produced, the management would be rewarded by full houses, and both Mr. and Mrs. Dan-ell be accorded equal applause. While on the subject we might mention a few plays which have not been played in Dunedin for yea,re, and which we are sure would draw crowded houses. We allude to " The Wife, a Tale of Mantua," " The Wonder of Woman Keeps a Secret/ and others of that class.