_. The Amateurs hind a difficult task last Wednesday evening, as form under their old condi wont, with a ver and ard of exeolletice fresh in their minds, and the wore predisposed to be unusually and critical, Wo are not paying our old friends any fulsome compliment, when we ay that they acquitted themselves creditably, and that the two piece "The Post-Boy" and Cox ai wore both succor Before the curtain rose, Mr. Smallweea came forward, and spoke the following prologue:
Friend:
Too Spurrit's tr 008, Til claim your kind indulgence for a space, (And say short preliminary grac For what we have received,—in cash or credit, Accoptour gratitude—twassorely needed:—Your help has raised the actor's drooping spirits, a And lightened both his debts and his For what we may receive, your praise or blame, Thanks, gentle Critics, thank you all the same!
Thoone will cheer, the other make usbetter—Th ither case the A.D.C.'s your debtor, Bat of your kindly presence don't denude ne, Wo want the dollars, though denied the kudos!
Above all, Ladies, above all to you, The homage of our grateful heatts is duo Ju the Club's darkest Lous, when hope had And trouble bowed the managerial head (His is no bed of roses, I assure ye, "Trials" we've had, domestic, and "by The season's programme only half completed, Each nascent plan but formed to be defeated Oar ranks fast thinning,—worst of all mis~
Weinenright in quarantine, the tuneful rands, Will Honeycomb and Giovannelli leaving, On all sides Fate her gloomy meshes weaving: Then you, fair ministranta of light and gladness, Dispersed the clouds, and changed to joy our adi From out the depths of black despondency Evoked our most triumphant Jubilee Henceforth Lycoum's annals are renowned, Henceforth this stage is consecrated ground, While life remains, and memory is green, Fancy shall love to dwell upon that scene, Where Virtue, Youth, and Beauty went to Under the graceful Suteliffe's gentle rule, Here the chaste matron chid ler Theodore There the coy Bella told her fairy lore "Dwas here for Bells lovesick Beaufoy And in the fitful moos Here, too, bewitching Naomi! even yet Tce thee!—arch enchantress and coquette, Apple in haud, and mischief in thine eyes, Transporting Jack, and us, to Paradise, Fond Retrospect! My thoughts are anchored fast In this fair haven of the blissful past But stay—a Q.C. whispers, No avail you're anchored, you are under ud rebuked, and haste to fly the glamour Of goddesses ere I provoke the clamour tient gods! The prompter Ring up the Post-boy," and then "Cox and Box." above, had subsided, the boll rang for When the apy
"Post-Boy," which'is a drama belonging to the rather numerous class which includes "The Porter's Knot," the "Chimney Corner," "Old Phil's Birthday,"
The hero is what is technically called a Robson part, and on this character the success or failure of the piece depends, We must. congratulate or having made Joe Spuryit a living, breathing figure, fresh from the stable... Oatade's bors were not truer to Dutch life, Faed's peasants are not truer to the High-muds, than Joe Spurrit was to the old coaching days of England. He was a real Post-Boy, for a theatrical Post-Bo; The odd disjointed chat, the peculiar of gesture and speech, the exhibition of simple and genuine feeling, and the queer fragments of humour, were copied with an exactness and finish that left to intrude his unwell in the houses of his aristocrat Put from first to last, the part was a study, and must rank amotigst the most triumphant bits of character-acting ever seen in China. The an (Shanghai audiences always do appreciate realism) gave the actor the hear ion we have ever known to owed on an amateur. He received the honour of call in the middle of a scene, a tribute of approbation never (if we recollect rightly) bestowed on Spurgeon, Griffin, Crowquill, Elephant, or the heroes of the boasted golden days of the drama.
The debutante, Miss Cauliflower, who, interpreted ' Maria's woes," looked ex: ceedingly pretty, specially in the second act, where she was becomingly dressed, and gave very high promise of excellence. She will soon gain confidence, and. xe prophecy, when this needful gift is acquired, that she will be an ornament to the stage, Miss Brisaf who doubled the part of Lucet and Miss Wharton, was more successful in the first part than in the second, Her Miss Wharton was fat too pronounced and boisterous. Sir John Bingley was entrusted to Mr. Doolittle, who lacked the requisite sternness; and the unattractive, ungrateful part of the son was taken by Mr. Montrestor, This actor has too great fondness for stiff attitudes, and is apt to be wooden and monotonous, but nothing could have interested the audience in the character, and it is perhaps rather more creditable to fail in auch " part then to succeed. The Irish servant, Charley Bubbs, who rom' Fact, in "ime tries all, captured Frenchman, expected, as Mr. Haw! low comedy, and we distrusted his powers in that lin The second piece was the charming operetta "Cox and Box," with the original Shanghai cast. It was played throughout with abounding spirit and energy, and was as heartily enjoyed by the audience as on its first production, 'The three po formers, Messrs, Francis, Giovannelli Will Honeycomb—all of whom, al are going to leave us ina few wok acted as well as over. The " Rataplan, Rataplan," of Bouncer, was warmly ap: plauded,' the " Hush a-bye Bacon" was capitally ung, and the tragic-comical scena by Box, beginning "Listen: T solemnly walked to th aig, And singing a sort of a dulcet dinge," seemed to usa finished and telling exhibition of dramatic and vocal power. Wo thank Mr. Bentum for his steady and tentious services in accompanying the operetta, and the amateur orchestra for their well-selected music between the acts. Altogether, the A.D.C. have to score another successful sox son, and the com:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.