| Abstract/Description |
THE THEATRE.
We understand that the pieces selected for representation on Thursday night, when the sons of St. Patrick patronise the theatre are THE MERCHANT of VENICE, and THE IRISH TUTOR. We confess we are somewhat surprised at the choice though we know not with whom it rested. The latter piece
may be appropriate enough for the occasion, but the first piece is so very hacknied, and withal so indifferently placed, that we cannot compliment the selector, whoever he may be, on his choice. If the liberty of selection rested with the Manager the choice is still more unpardonable, for it was as much his interest
as his duty to select such apiece as would show to most advantage the talent of elite company. THE MERCHANT of VENICE, or indeed any other of Shakespeare's plays, is not the piece calculated to do the Theatre credit. Lazar plays Shyloch,
the principal character in the piece, very respectably, but we cannot consider the performance a successful one. The late
Miss Douglass was unquestionably the best Portia we have ever seen on the Sydney boards ; Mrs. Cameron plays the
character well ; in some scenes, the trial scene for example, she far surpasses Miss Douglass, but as a whole the performance
is by no means equal. The rest of the characters, judging from the recent cast-, are very indifferent. If there be time to change the performance, yet, we would advise the gentlemen who have taken, an active share in the management to request
the substitution of some other piece. The drama of MARRIED LIFE, for example, although equally hacknied with the former, is much better sustained throughout, and much better calculated to show the powers of the company to advantage.
The only performers in the latter piece who do not get through successfully are Mrs. Cameron, who never could play the part to advantage, and Grove, who as yet scarcely knows a syllable of the character. MARRIED LIFE, with a couple of good farces, a dance by Miss Lazar, a song from Mrs. Clarke, and Paddy's
Wedding by Falchon, would be much more likely to give satisfaction, and at the same time be much more in keeping
with the avowed predilections of the laughter-loving sons of Erin. |
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