| Text: Article | ||
| Title | Theatre | |
| Abstract/Description | Review of 'The Gambler's Fate' featuring Mr and Mrs Cameron | |
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| Publisher | Morning Star and Commercial Advertiser (Hobart Town, Tas. : | |
| Page | 2 | |
| Date Issued | 6 January 1835 | |
| Language | English | |
| Citation | Theatre, Morning Star and Commercial Advertiser (Hobart Town, Tas. :, 6 January 1835, 2 | |
| Data Set | AusStage | |
| Resource Identifier | 74753 | |
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We attended the Theatre on Saturday night last, and were highly gratified with the performance, for. notwithstanding, the house was so poorly attended, there was no want of exertion on the performers' parts, to please.
Greet praise is due to Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, who have been at a heavy expense, in affording the public a proper, selection and concentration of talent. We really wish our townsfolk would dispel the gloom and apathy that seem to pervade them ; and lessen that apparent distaste, by patronising, as far as their means will afford, this pleasing and instructive source of amusement. No fault what ever, can be found now. with the comfort and convenience intended for the audience, as the greatest decorum was observable in the upper seats, where we saw many old faces, who formerly visited the rooms, in their chaotic state, and who show their sense of Theatrical improvement, under its present directors, by the most orderly behaviour. We say, without fear of contradiction, that the most modest and affected may safely visit the Theatre, without fear of offence or insult. The Gambler's Fate, a new drama here, was performed in a very respectable and interesting manner. " Mr. Camerons "' performance of the deluded " Albert,'' was studious, chaste, and void of those exaggerations so prevalent in Melo Dramas. We should be deficient. Indeed, did we not praise Mrs. Cameron's finished and touching delineation of the distressed, broken hearted, and motherly " Julie.''
Mr. Grenville's declamation was far from pleasing ; but his manner and action were very expressive of the distressed feelings of an unhappy and disappointed parent. Mr. Fenton's " Malcour," was a masterly piece of finished villainy ; and however despicable the real character, the performer's delineation merited great praise. Mr. Mackay, as usual, was perfect and masterly, in " Dumont ;" if there is one declaimer superior to another in the company, it is he. Old Jacobs was at home, but certainty bore more than usual the appearance of " Major Sturgeon," and acted more like Bombastes Furioso, than a French officer. The trifling, yet interesting character, of "Henry," was attempted by a new candidate, who was smartly trimmed, as a young officer should be ; but his deficiency of physical powers and strength, united to his inexperience of the art, rendered him totally incompetent to represent those transient changes of nature, incidental to such characters. He must therefore have failed, had he not been so powerfully assisted by Mrs. Cameron as a mother, in the most exciting part of the piece. We do not wish to offend him, but must observe that his person appears too well fitted for the costume of a light company man ; and however his vanity may exceed his conception, we never expect to see him a tragic hero equal to " Alexander the Great." For reasons so powerful, we advise him to try to dispel his Theatrical mania, and renew his more profitable and stenographic avocation. The other characters were generally respectably supported ; and the whole company, throughout the performance, did great credit to the laborious instructions they must have received from the Managers.The evening's amusement closed with that very amusing and pleasing piece,
Inkle and Yarito. Mr. Spencer is generally much too volatile. We hope that frivolous, fripperish manner, in which he indulges too much, is occasioned by his anxious precipitance to please ; to effect that he must act less. Mr. Jacobs, if he will exercise his common sense and discrimination, will use less of that extravagant mimicking elasticity, as such outstrips nature, in such characters as Medium ; and which savors so much of buffoonery,—he should recollect he is not playing the mountebank, nor to a Bartholomew Fair audience. Mr. Fenton's " Sir Christopher Curry," was admirably seasoned, and wanted not for cayenne. The little remonstrative dialogue between him and Inkle, was very respectably maintained. Mrs. Cameron's Yarico, although considered a very trifling character, was a specimen of characteristic, wild elegance, rarely to be seen. The whole evening's performance, considering the disadvantages under which the Manager labors, was very respectable ; and not at all inferior to the productions of many of our provincial Theatres in England. In a general point of view, it could not fail to gratify the most fastidious observer.
We understand the Theatre will be opened three nights a week, and as The Gambler's Fate, which is an instructive lesson to youth, will be repeated, we hope its interest will increase, and draw good Houses.