THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 136, 10 December 1875, Page 13

THE DRAMA.

If variety he proof of a desire on the part of the management of the Queen's Theatre to make their theatre attractive, playgoers must readily recognise their efforts, for during the past week fresh pieces have succeeded each other nightly. On Friday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Bates took their farewell benefit, when wore produced "EastLynno" and two acts of "Caste."' Both pieces have been several times lief ore a Dunedin audience, and received due notice in those columns, consequently, it is unnecessary to add more than a feu' words in reference to them. It is generally admitted that, as Isabel Vane and Madame Vine, Mr*. Bales appears at considerable advantage, but to see her at her best, one must witness her Queen Elizabeth, in the drama of that name. In East Lynne and the many other plays she has appeared in, she exhibits an amount of stinginess which detracts considerably from the merit of her acting j while her pronunciation, which is decidedly American, sounds strangely to those unaccustomed to it. Mr. Bates also shares in these peculiarities, and rolls his " r's " about in a most reckless manner. Notwithstanding these eccentricities, however, which belong rather to their country than themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Bates are artistes of no mean order, and will long- be remembered by Dunedin playgoers. As Archibald Carlyle on Friday night, Mr. Bates had not a part well suited to him, although he played it carefully and creditably. Corney Carlyle was taken by Miss Vivian, and brought out exceedingly well ; and Miss Willis made a pretty Barbara Hare, but lacked animation at times. Mr. Clinton, as Francis Levison., displays a good conception of the character, but cannot rid himself of a very objectionable habit he has contracted of swaying his body too and fro when walking across the stage — a habit which stamps his identity in every character he assumes. This one mannerism is sufficient to effectually retard his progress in the profession, and could, we think, be thrown off if a determined effort were ma-do. The other characters in the piece found suitable representatives. In " Caste," Mr. Bates revelled in the character of old Eccles, which he plays to the life. During the evening, he came f n'ward. and thanked the public for the patronage bestowed upon Mrs. Bates and himself, and expressed a hope that ere many years had passed, he would again be enabled to appear before Dunedin audiences. The attendance was not large, owing doubtloss to the bad weather that has prevailed of late. On Saturday night, " The Ticket-of -Leave Man" was produced, and on Monday, a very fair house welcomed the re-appearance of Miss Clara Stephenson, who appeared as Cynthia in the " Flowers of the Forest," with Mr. Steele as Ishmael, and Mr Mugrave in his inimitable character of " The Kinchin." Miss Stephenson appealed to be suffering from a cold, but was received very favorably by the audience. In. "Green Bushes," on Tuesday night, she played Miami effectively to a very fair house. Messrs Musgrave und Clinton succeeded in keeping the audience in the best of humours by their acting in their respective characters. "Aurora Floyd" and "Old Gooseberry" constituted the performances on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and to-night " Lady Audley's Secret" will occupy the boards.

Striped Stockings. — Speaking of the now striped stockings-, Jennie June says, with great good souse :—": — " A lady may ■wear, as many do, the finest of silk, tlio moat delicate of thread; she niav match the tints of her dress, and thus harmonize every portion of her toilet with perfect propriety; but -\vhon she wears hosiery only lit for a harlequin, and shortens her dress in front to a vulgar extreme, to show it, there i& very little modesty or womanhood left that would not bo sacrificed to vanity and love of display,"