THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 126, 1 October 1875, Page 12

THE DRAMA.

The novelty of the week has been the long-t>romised play by Mr. JV J. Utting, of " Cheek and Counter Check, or The Fall of Richmond," which was produced at the Queen's Theatre on Monday evening last. "Wo understand that the drama was written expressly for Mr. and Mrs. Bates, and that — taking into consideration the fact that they . were : both Americans — tho piece was to be "written up for theirspecial advantage ; but after seeing " Check and Counter Check," we come to the conclusion that they Have not by any means two of the* best parts. The drama is in three acts, and treats of incidents which may be supposed to have taken place during the American war. Wfr say "supposed," because many of the incidents of "Chock and Counter Check " are highly improbable, and extremely inconsis tentNevertheless, its production may bo pronounced a success, if we may judge from the very liberal amount of "applause bestowed upon it by the audience. Taking it as a whole, we must confess to a feeling of disappointmet — not at its dramatic construction, but at its literary merit. The language is exceedingly common-place throughout ; the " funny business,'.' a considerable portion of it, is very "flat ; but the " situations " are undoubtedly good, particularly at the end.of every act, where we have effective grouping and tableaux, — " pictures," we think, they are professionally termed, — with virtue triumphant, and villainy outwitted. A few words as to the plot, which is had, in our opinion, to start with, because the subject is so thoroughly hackneyed. A certain Clara Courtney is living with her guardian in New York. She is beloved by a Captain Dauvers, in the North American army ; but her guardian, having himself resolved to wed her, causes the arrest of Danvers, who is forwarded to the front. In his absence, ' tormented by Manners, Clara and her ward proceed to the seat of Avar in seach of Dauvers, who ii among tho missing. Manners being foiled in his resolve to obtain possession of tho girl, plots the destruction of Frank, by himself communicating with the rebels in a mask so like Danvers, that when the accusation is made against him he is convicLed on what appears to be the clearest possible testimony, and ordered away for execution. Clara then resolves, at all hazards, to ; save her lover's life, and rides post haste to meet G-encral Grant, whois adancing with a general body of the troops on Eichmond. In the meantime, Mannsrs' plot is partly discovered, and a reprieve is granted by the General in command ; while Manners himself now goes over to the enemy. A sword is placed in Danver's hand, the drums are sounded, and an attack made upon the outward posts of tho famous South American capital. Mamiers, now in command o£ a i party of rebels, comes upon the scene, and plants a Southern flagiipon the fort ; but this Reuben Gherkins (the low comedy man) tears down, arid at the same time tears off the mask from the Colonel'sface. He is then confronted by Danvers, a conflict takes place, and [ the villain is killed. At the same time the heroine rushes on with the pardon,- the Southern soldiers arc "fixed" by the Northerners, the red fire blazes up, the company generally cho<>r, the band strikes up. " Hail Columbia," and the curtain falls. We dare say if the lasfc scene were well got up it would prove very effective on a large stage, but we must confess that this and one or two others in the play aretoo much on the ad captandmn prineiplo to please us. We want something more than the eye pleased ; — we wa.ut the mind satisfied. There is a considerable current of under-plob to which we have not alluded. Mrs. Bates, as Clara Courtney, acted as she always does — gracefully and well, and sang the song incidental to her part " Happy be thy Droams " very prettily. Mr. Bates, as Ruben G-herkins, the travelling photographer, came in for a good share of the applause. While Mr. Stoneham, as the young officer, Danvers, has seldom appeared to better advantage The other parts I call for no special comment, but "we might say that Mr Koogh made a_good deal out of the small part of General Ellis Ou the whole, while we may very well state that " Cheek and Counter Check" is not, as a work of real merit, to be compared with Mr. Darroll's "Trump Card," we think it is a capital acting drama, and congratulate the author upon its undoubted success. There were two or three calls after every act, and the calls for the author at the end of the second were loud and prolonged, but it was not until the conclusion of the play that Mr. Utting came forward and 'bowed his acknowledgments, and addressed a few words to the audience, thanking the management, Mr. Bates, tho company, and the band, for the way in "which they each and severally worked together to make the drama a success. The play was repeated on Tuesday, and on Wednesday was withdrawn to make room for the " Mail with the Iron Mask," but will bo played again for the last time on Saturday. We hear that Mr. Utting has I just concluded a new drama called "Redemption," of which he speaks j himself in glowing terms, while, we believe, wo are correct in stating that his own estimate of " Check and Counter Check" is by no means a high one. We hope therefore to have "Redemption" placed upon the boards, as we shall then, wo believe, see this young author at his best.

A Wondbkfttl Clock. — A marvellous piece of mechanism, in the way of clocks, is described in the French journals. It is an eight-day instrument, with dead-beat escapement maintainihgpoweri It chimes the quarters, plays sixteen tunes, plays 'three tunes every twelve hours, or will play at any time required. The hands go round as follows : — one, once a minute ; one, once an hour ; one, once a week j one, once a month ; one, once a year. It shows the moon's age, the rising and setting of the sun, the time of high and low water, half ebb, and half flood, and by a beautiful contrivance, there is a part which represents the water, which risesand falls, lifting some ships at high-water tide as if they were in motion, and, as it receeds, leaves these little automaton ships dry on the sands. The clock shows the hour of the day, day of theweek, day of the month, month of the year j and in the day of the month there' is provision made for the long and. short montha. It shows the signs of the zodiac ; it strikes or not, chimes or not, as may be desired ; and it has the equation table, showing 1 the difference of clock and sun every day of the year.