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THE THEATRES, ETC.
By Adagio,"
The performances at the Theatre Royal on
Saturday niht began with a new three -act
American comedy by Bronson Howard,
bearing the title of "Baby." The
principal characters were — Baby, Mr. Dam-
pier ; Oliver Magnus, Mr. Carey ; Madame
Aurelia, Miss Flora Anstead; Howard St.
Paul, Mr. Appleton; Diana Magnus, Miss
Jenny Bryoe ; Tracy Coach, Mr. Bland
Holt ; and Mrs. St. Paul, Mrs. Bryer.
After " Baby," Messrs. Hawley and
Buislay, the new seriallsts, made their first
appearance. A formidable array of trapeze
paraphernalia, ropes, nets, gays, platforms,
etc., arranged across the length of the honse,
having been got into order, the performers
commenced their exhibition. They are a
very athletic pair of gentlemen, and go
to work in a cool, methodical way that
canses the audience to regard their feats as
less difficult than they really are. Starting
from a moveable tower erected on the stage,
they relax their hold of one traptz/ catch
another which is swinging towards them, and
in the samd flight reach the dress- circle.
Again, starting simultaneously from either
nd, they meet in mid.air, and in the same
flash of time each catches the trap f za of the
ether, and lands at opposite ends. The
delicate nicety of this experiment can hardly
be over-estimated ; the slightest bodily con
tact would divert their course, and yet they
almost brush each other. The trapeze left
by each must swing with the greatest exac
titude, or one or the other wouid fail to
grasp it, and a fall inevitably ensue. They
swung in midair, and turned triple somer-
vaults Into the net spread below to receive
them, amidst shouts of enthusiastic applause.
The feats they perform are so very different
to ordinary acrobatic displays that no com
parisons can be made, but there is an ele
gance of movement ,and a neatness of
deeign that can only "be understood through
the medium of the eye. The enormously
d ffienlt feat of springing from a trapeze in
< uli flight, bounding thrcugh a balloon sus
pended from the roof, and Anally catching a
single upright cord requires to the fullest
degree indomitable courage, vast muscular
strength, and the utmos < accuracy of aim.
Mr. Hawley possesses all these qualities,
and accomplishes, this act with the utmost
certainty. Ths performance during the week
included " Baby," and a farce, " Love In
all Corners "
Messrs, Hawley and Buislay are. I am in
formed, engaged for the Christmas piece.
That section of theatre-goers who under
stand and appreciate the intellectuality and
judgment always exhibited in Mlso Dargon's
conceptions, mustered in strong force at the
' Academy of Mufie on Friday night, when
she took her farewell benefit. The crowded
appearance of stalls, dress circle, and upper
oarts of the house, was extremely grati
fying — a gratification tempered, however,
by the consciousness that it was the laBt
appearance of a lady whese histrionic
attainments and capacity for tho higher
drama has been universally conceded.
The chosen piece was Sheridan Knowles's
always great play, "The Hunchback,"
After " The Hunchback," Miss D&rgon re-
appeared, and, with that fiery energy and
imp essiveness which previously character
ised it, she recited " The Charge of the Irish
Brigade" at Foatenoy, the curtain falling
slmid hearty rounds of cheers.
On Saturday night, Mr. Wybert Reeve
made his re-appearance, after an absence of
some months, in a four-act drama entitled
"Great Temptation," adapted from Mr.
Wilkie Collina's widely-read novel of "No
Name." Mr. Reeve has achieved his
greatest success in the characters of
Mr. Wilkie Collins's creation, his as
sumption of Count Foe oo in particular
being such as has gained for him an excellent
reputation. Iu the piece under notice he
pi »ye a captain wragge, ana gave 10 ic a
most natural and lifelike colouring: "Great
Temptation" has already been produced iu
this city, and there is no necessity therefore
to give any ex pi an a lion of the piot.
Mr. Reeve, in personating the plausible
captain, gave evidence of a thorough
study of the character, and for the time was
the Wragge in appearance and manner that
we behold in the book. In the last act, where
he substitutes his title of captain for that of
Dr. Wragge, inventor of the great un
pronounceable pill, he was excessively
amusing, and fairly convulsed the house
with laughter. Following the drama
cams Mr. Arthur Sketchley, the author of
the well-known and highly amusing " Mrs.
Brown's" papers, Mr. Sketohley, who has
recently arrived from Eogland, is on a pro
fessional tour, and his entertainment con
sists of recitations from his books concerning
the doings of that amiable bat talkative
Udy. Oa Saturday night he gave a sketch
of Mrs. Brown at the play, and succeeded iu
keeping his audience in a state of high good
humour. Judging from the impression made
by Mr. SketchLey's recitals, it is even more
pleasurable to hear the papers read than to
read them. At all events Mr. Sketchiev,
without auy attempt to imitate the saves al
voices or to assist the subject with facial
expression, managed to secure the interest
of his hearers whilst he related to them, in a
clear and expressive tone, the many- and
varied misfortunes through which the poor
old lady passed on that memorable night,
when she went for the first time to the play.
At the conclusion oT his recital, Mr.
Sketchiey was loudly applauded. The
. entertainment concluded with a most amns-
. lug farce entitled, " Sarah's Young Man," in
which that clever comedian, Mr, Fred.
Thome, was irresistibly amusing.
The Victoria Loftus Troupe of Blondes
continue to do excellent business at the
Opera house.
On Monday night a ohange was effected by
the substitution of " The Naughty Duchess"
for "Atalanta," "The Nanghfcy Duchess"
is a burlesque on " The Grand Duchess."
Fancy a burlesque burlesqued, ana imagine
it done very crudely, and with little of
delicate appreciation, and you have tbe
result — which, undoubtedly, was disappoint
lug. The other parts of the company's busi
ness are, however, very clever and amusing.
At St. George's- hall the Froiiques con
tinue their tenancy, but there is a percep
tible diminution in the attendances. Mr.
Martin Simoosen will this evening attempt
to increase the business by re- appearing as a
violin soloist.
At the Peoples' Theatre the old drama,
" The Sea of Ice," was tbe attraction during
part of the week, " The Ticket -of Leave
Man" being revived on Thursday. Last
nigbt Mies Adelaide Bo wring took a fare
well benefit as Lsah the Forsaken.
The XT. S. Minstrels are still playing at tbe
Apoilo-bal),
The Metropolitan Liedet tafel had a field
night at the Town-hall on Monday, when it
held Ps twenty-eighth social evening and
fifty-fifth concert. The hall was magnifi
cently decorated, huge ferns, pot plants, and
statuary being artistically arranged iu the
utmost profusion. From the platf rm to the
south wall, the floor, balconies, and galleries
were thronged with visitors, all in full
dress, and it o»a therefore be imagined
that the covp d'ceil was magnificent. His
Eiceilenoy the Governor and a largo party
of gentlemen were present, and occupied a
reserved space i-2 front of the ola'.form.
It has been estimated that fully 3, COO
of the eZ:£e of Melbourne were visitors on
the occasion. The great attraction was
Madams Camilla U'so, but tbe other artists
assisting the society comprised Misa Jen uie
Sargent, Mdlle. Charbonnat, Herr Beuno
Siherek, Mr. S, Moyle. and Mr. T.
H. Guenett. Madams Urso created 3
furore, by her rendering of Mendelssohn'
concerto in E (op. 64), the double encore Bhe
received being met with "The Las': Rose
of Summer," and the valse caprice of
Wieniawski. Her magnificent interpreta
tion of each selection could not be surpassed,
and at tbe conclusion cf each the enthu
siasm was unbounded. A presentation of a
magnificent silver laurel wreath, made to
her by tbe society, resolved itself into a
most imposing ceremony. Tbe Hon. J J.
Casey, the president, made a glo fviog speech,
eulogistic of Madame Urso's vast talents,
and to this the great violiniBte replied In brief
but fitting terms. His Exoeiiency the
Governor expressed personally the great
delight her wonderful ploying had affirded
him, and altogether the concert was tbe
grandest of the grand series given by the
Bociaty. Mr. Julius Herz as usual, held the
baton of conductor.
To-night Madams Urso and her talented
company give their farewell concert at the
Twn-hall prior to their departure for Ade
laide. His Excellency the Matquls of
Nortasnby is the patron, and will bs present
on the occasion Henceforth these concerts
will be under tbe management of Mr. R
S Smythe, the Rev, Charles Clarke's most
fcrs veiled manager, Mr, Smythe having ar
ranged to take the Urso Company through
Australia and New Zealand. To none that
Have visited this country hare I more
h«»rtliy wished success than t-> Madame
Urso, Miss Sargent, Herr Soherek, and Mr
Sauret, the members of the como&ny.
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