The second performance for this year of the Ningpo A. D. ©. has met with unusual success and favour. Two farces were brought on the st "A Regular Fix"
"Little Toddlekins," and to give duo effect to them, the Bijou theatre presented several tasteful additions and decorations to the scenery, highly creditable to the managers.
"Both farces were acted with spirit and attention to the points to be brought. out by the diversity of character and situa tion. The grotesque full dress, infantile manners, and assumed desires of Amanthis (Miss Hardup) in " Little Toddlekins," exhibited broad contrast to the real ishes of her Papa, Mr. J. R. Brown-Smith (Mr. Phaeton), and were emphatic cally applauded.
The number of female characters, and the careful acting of their parts reflect rear credit on the performers, but amidst 30 much that was excellent, and where the efforts of all were crowned with the deserved reward in the complete gratification of those who were present, it ficult to make a selection. Mr. Phaeton deserved the commendation of all for the carefully studied liveliness, humour, and force with which he maintained the attention of the audience, and eliminated the moral (if there is one) inculcated by such plays. Both farces seemed to imply that some men, when they make blunders, will do anything short of involving themselves in the medies of the law, to get out of them, regardless of the consequences to others; and to do so, make sole use ut the Lennning qualities of the monkey, (sometimes culled shrewdness,) while a very little honesty and singleness of purpose would clear them of all their difficulties. But perhaps, to many, this moral is reversed in the farce.
The continuance of the performances, the further enlistment of recruits to the ranks, and pieces and castes full of such Taughing humour as 'A Regular Fix" and "Tittle Toddlekins," we do not hesitate to say will meet with the merited appreciation of the community.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.