The third performance of our Amateurs at the Lyceum, on Friday, was un question ably the success of the season. There had been some doubt as to the wisdi displayed by the Committee in selec is the "Heir at Law," but after the first ad, no hesitation could exist as to the propriety of the choice or the ability of the corps to carry out the parts assigned to them. We shall not attempt to follow the plots of the two dramas presented; as "T have written to Brown" is far too slight and absurd to bear a serious process of investigation, and the sturdy old comedy by Colman, is so well known, that the critic 1s absolved from the necessity of analysis. With regard to the first piece, we may give great praise to Messrs. 'Thomas Hawk and Barkius. 'The former actor is the best representative of Charles Matthews' parts, we have ever had on the Shanghai stage. He is full of life and animation—easy and natural in his by-play, and, besides, he has the ing always distinctly His entrance after the supposed robbery was capital, his prompt changes of policy to meet the varied requirements of constantly changing circumstances were assumed with great spirit and effect, and his mastery over the mind of the unhappy Dotts was as complete and farcical as one could desire. Miss Castor played well and looked well, and the new actress, 3 Mdmunds, promises to be a creat aequi tion to the corps. If Mr. Waffles exhibited a tendency to over-act, it really did not much matter, as the more absurdity that was crowded into the piece, the better. Those of the audience who came Into wanted time to get settled in their places and to look round the house, and those who came early were none the worse for a hearty laugh at whiansicalities which formed a good introduction to the old-fashioned humour and conventional construction of the comedy that was to form the piece de resistance of the evening's entertainment, The "Heir at Law" is a good specimen of the old comedy. [t ranks with " John Bull," "Speed the Plough" and The West Tudian," but though east in an antique mould it is still rich in knowledge of stage fect, and abounding in capital characte i considerable risk in putting on a piece which hinges on one actor, but here we have at Jeast four parts of stu prominence. 1f Pangloss fails, the success of the drama may be retrieved by Zekiel Homespun, and if Zekiel Homespun is not all one can wish, a Dick Dowlas who is in will do wonders to keep the audience in good humour. On Friday all the leading parts were admirably filled. Mr. Walbro' thoroughly appreciated the character of the Gosport chandler turned Lord. 'There was a completeness and a finish in his version of the pseudo Baron Duberley that we do not' often find. The voice, the gait, the uneasiness in his fine clothes, were all true and unexaggerated traits, and perhaps the best scene of the evening was that in which he comes out with homely proverbs suited to a retail tradesman, when Stedfast is expecting the sulted periods of a Parliamentary orator. ick Dowlas is not a gracious character to play, and yet it is second to none in difficulty. Mx, Mon-tresser has never acted so weil,.and indeed in the first act he could not have entered more thoroughly into the spirit of the scene than he did. His altered manner to the honest friend of his boyhood, when he hears he is a Peer's son, was very well rendered, and if his subsequent repentance was less favourably received by the house, he must console himself by the reflection that it was getting late, and the audience were tired of applauding.
Dr. Pangloss, the typical charlatan tutor of a past generation, is, we presume, the favourite character in the play, and the remarkable success which has recently attended the revival of the "Heir at Law" in England, is to be attributed to the excellence of Mr, Clarke's impersonation of the classical quack. Mr, Carpenter gave us a careful and level rendering of the Doctor. He attempted no varieties of facial expression; he did not make all the usual points, nor give the accustomed grotesque emphasis to the classical quotations, but he had evidently studied the part with the greatest care, and his exit at the end of Act 2 excited hearty Janghter. But the event of the evening was the debut of Mr. Kidnapper aa Zckiol—Homespun, "This willie remembered by Shanghai Playgoers for many years, The new actor has the one quality which insures success, Ho hias earnestness. Directly he spoke, ho carried the house with him. Sympathy was at once established between the audience and the actor, and whenever he was on the stage' his presence was felt, The part of the honest countryman, with his friendship for Dick, his loyal love for his sister, and his grateful tenders of aid to her patroness, Miss Dormer, when he finds himself suddenly affluent, is a part calculated to enlist the interest of the spectators, and the generous sentiments, in spite of cynic criticism, are always favourably received. 'Br. Kidnapper wil we hope appear often again. Heis.a valuable access sion to the company, and will strengthen any cast to which' ho contributes his aid, We must not forget, however, in our eulogy of the brother, to accord a large measure of praise to the fair Cicely, who found a charming representative in Miss Castor, She looked exceedingly pretty, was most becomingly and appropriately' dressed, and presented a picture of a Somer shire country lass that Gainsborough might have painted.
We are compelled to dismiss the other characters with a shorter notice, but we may say generally that all were well filled. the Stedfast of Mr. St. Aubyn was sententious and emphatic, Deborah Dowlas, alias Lady Duberly, and Curoline Dormer were not easy parts and require practised performers, but considering the difficulties that they had to encounter both Miss Jenny Rickshaw and Miss Robin deserve to be commended, The Henry Morland of Mr. Doolittle was perhaps a trifle too ponderous, but a man who had undergone the ' various misfortunes that Morland is supposed to have suffered, may be pardoned somewhat sombre in demeanor.
the ce ie Irishman, given to Mr. n @Acuwha, and was played con spirit.
In a word, we must congratulate the A, D. C, on' the general effect of their third performance. twas a marvel of good management. The actors were well up in their parts, the scenery was charming, and everything worked without single hitch. The feeling that all is not right behind the curtain very soon communicates itself to those in front, and when all is going well on the stage, the audience are ensy and in good humour. Last night Actors and Audience were thoroughly at one with each other, and though the entertainment did not end until after 12 o'clock, the interest never flagged.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.