mots tear Coe It must have been very dispiriting to all engaged in the Lady of Lyons on Thursday evening last to find so small an audience present to witness their representation of Bulwer Lytton's well known drama, and it is highly creditable to Mr. Mun and his col-Jeagues that the play was acted throughout with spirit and artistic care. Mr, Mun nade avery god Claude Melnotte, playingthepart with much earnestness and ability, though severely handicapped by the stilted phrases which the author has put into the mouth of the hero of the piece. Diss Jordan as Pauline Deschappelles was very successful in the lighter scenes, and, together with Mr. Mun, wis called before the curtain for hor rendering of the scene Widow i Melnotte's cottage after the wedding. The part of Madame Deschappolles was capitally dono by Miss Ruby Bowman, who made the most of the few opportunities that offered; and Miss Kate Douylas played the Widow Melnotte with her usual thoroughness and artistic merit, The character of the Landlord's daughter Janet, though not la the bill, scowed to have been created to allow the audi i i (ed considerably to the ssu cess of the drama, though we have seen him to greater advantage than in the part of Beauseant 5 and'Mr. Atholwood did not altogether, as Colonel Damas, sustain the reputation he had won on previous occasions. The parts of M. Deschappelles, Glavis, Gaspard and the Landlord were well filled by Messrs, Joe Stark, H. Hill, A. Mon and J..H. Nunn, The piece was well dressed, and the various scenes carried through with the commendable promptitude which distinguishes the stage manager, Me. J. H. Nunn.
Jultis Cesar is beyond question one of Shakedpeare's moat, magnificent plays, but it is not one very often seen on the stage, as.it offers few attraction to the "Star" actor, and. is-therefore unsuited to companies composed, as s0 many are, of one star and a Jot of sticks. The real hero of the play is Brutus, while to Marc Antony is given the finest speech in the English Jangusge, and Julius Cesar, the titular hero, makes his greatest impression after he is dead, But, as we-have pointed out often already, Mfr,"Miln has so capable a time in Shanghai. So bad was the house duce "play with three or four leading parts, and it shows a most becoming modesty that fied in not raising the curtain, soit isdoubly he is: willing t0take.the part.of Marc creditable to all engaged inthe piece that 'Antony who is. only- prominent in~two. it was carried through with undogging zeal scenes. It was certainly the-best perfurmfrom first to last, play' was weitven in ance that the company has given, and i the first quarter of this century, when class most regrettable that the house was not sical pieces had a charm for audiences, but better filled, for those who were there it is mot a drama that lends itself to.the taste enjoyed themselves thorvug! ly, as the of: the modern theatre-goer.. The language absolute silence while the lines were de-used is often beautiful and striking, but the livered, and the enthusiastic applause, and piece depends too much on such language recalls at the end of every act, unquestionto the exclusion of incident, and there is ably proved. It is most unexpected and not a scintillation of comic business about most laudable to find in a large travelling company so many actors who can deliver "Mr. Mun played Damon' with great Shakespeare's blank verse so clearly. and dignity and., effect, and was most ably correctly, with so much appreciation of supported by Mr. 'Atholwood as Pythias, ita import, and so impressively. A more and Mr, Montgomery as Dionysius. Miss level performance could not be giv Louise Jordan as Calauthe was' excellent, elocution was at its best both in the pathetic and lighter scenes, and address to the dead body of Ceesar—Miss Douglas gave a very careful rendering pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth" of Hermion, though she was.perhaps tov—and the oration to the crowd, who had loud and declamatory at times, The other been admirably drilled and showed moat parts were well filled, and all the characters naturally the gradual effect of the orator's played well together, even the supers, of subtle playing with their feelings, were whom there were a large number represent magnificent episodes. It has been said ing senators and soldiers, showing how that to read Shakespeare is on: much care had-been taken to instruct them, hear his lines delivered is two-thirds, patronage of the Masonic fraternity, and Last night Rob Roy was given under the to hear them delivered on the stage with the accessories of costume and scenery is we ate happy to say that the theatre was the whole; and those most familiar with well filled.
Julius Ceesir must have realised the truth of this on Saturday, and must have been grateful to Mr. Mun for showing them much
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.