The New York herald., 1851-10-02

The first of these delightful reunions took place
on Wednesday night last, under the presidency Of
| Mrs. Parkly, the accomplished lady Of His Excel
ency the Governor, when their pretty little thea
tire was thrown open at halfpast seven O'Clock, to a
lerge and fashionable circle who had been hospi-
| tably invited by that amable lady to witness the
| entertainment.
The following is a copy of tho " bill of fare {"
provided for their amusement =
PRIVATE rHEATRICALS.
GOVERNMENT House., bEMEsAaA, JuLY 16, 1851.
LOVES METAMoRPHosEs.
MAJ aus D'Estesu: 1t Col Cobbr I'd W. l. Regt
| Count De La Praliere -. Mr. Lucie Smith.
| Nicholas. Farm Servant to
the Marquis. s.............Mr Wise, Cd W. l. Regt
Martha Maid 70 the
baroness...... olrs beison.
THE RIVALS.
Sir Anthony Absolute. ... .Mr.w. II Holmes.
Sir Lucius O'frigger ...... Mr. MNuity
Falkland. Belson Royal Engineers
Captain Absolute Mr.. U. WiidAy
Acres ................M Mr J Lucie smith
fag.. DR. Reid 34th Regt.
David id...................Mr Mr.. Morgan, Both Regt.
Thomas: Capt Johnson Royal Artn.
MIS- maisprop;. ...........M MRS Barkly.
Lydia Langulsn.. Mrs Manifold.
Juha ..................M Mrs ) Lucis smith.
Lucy. 80" "............ Mrs H. y. Bsscom.
The first piece is a translation by Mrs Barkly
herself Of French vaudeville, aud rendered
with as close fidelity to the text tue idiom Of the
English language would permit, and was entirely
and deseiv ivedly successful The time is laid in the
reign Of LOUIS the Fifteenth-the age of hoops,
patches, and powder among the ladies, and Of bag
wigs, broad skirted velvet coats, ruifles, aud n
broidered vests among the coarser The plot
itself is meagre, and, consequently, almost every
thing depends upon the actors and, in this respect
it was very Fortunate for they sustained their parts
in most creditable manner. The costume of Mrs
Barky was perfect-it was rich aud elegant, and
reminded us of the pictures We have seen of the
court beauties OF those days. The powdered Golf
the patches which were Used to draw attention to
the dimple on the cheek-and the gorgeously.
hooped petticoat formed perfect ensemble Of those
olden times And in this she was admirably fol-
lowed by Mrs Belson who was the very belle meaLe
of the femme de chanlbre Of that day The role Of
the Marquis does not require much eXertion and it
was rendered by Colonel Cobbe in an easy and gen.
temanly style, while Lieutenant Wise kept the
audience in roars OF laughter by his quaint imper-
sonation of the comical and drunken servant in
which he was ably supported by Mrs Belson who
performed the "Lady's Maid" with great deal Of
aairde and quiet humor.
his usual good taste and just conception Of charac
ter, and vas well sustained both manner and
costume. The varied talent which this gentleman
possesses in the histrionic art requires no further
proof than his admirable personation of character
SO opposite rs that Of the doughty champion of
"Clod Hall, and which, if only divested of little
that exIberance OF fancy, at poor Bobs expense,
in the duel scene "a mistake frequently made by
young actors) would have left nothing to be wished
for
The vaudeville was succeed by Sherdan's come
~ ofthe "kiyals, one of the best and most diff
cult plays in the English language 1t is, as most
OF our readers are aware five act piece, and con-
sequently, not very we'll adapted Tor an amateur
performance We; tssorefsre, thought the selection
inludiciou::, snu anticipated great tagging in in
ersst on the part of the audience partic as it
was last on the list Of entertainments Never were
We more agreeably surprised, for we have seldom
witnessed performance, even on the Irregular stage,
where the attention of the spectators was so COM
petcly kept alive and fxedto the very fall of the
| curtain.
Previous to the comedy, Colonel Cobbe (who, by
| the way, made most efficient mauager) appeared
e.. h. Fl.
Of the audience for two three of the eurs who
had, ON unavoidable causes, only undertaken their
parts two days previously. We understand this
was caused By the illness Of the person who was to
by the necessity OF the Solicitor General resg ning
the character Of Acres, he had to attend to tho
prosecution In the Supreme Criminal Court. There
Was ne necessity, however, for any apology; for
| nothing could have been better than the mode In
which these two parts were sustained by Mrs.
| Bsrkly and Mr.. J. l.. Smith, Notwithstanding the
very brief period allowed for working up the cha
racters, and procuring the costume. 10 fact, the
lady was inimitable in both, for every one Of the
strangely misappiied phrases. put into the mouth
Of Mrs. MslapTop, produced from the audience Q
roar of laughter, while her getting up" was DO
Short We think this is the very best part we have
| ever seen her perform. Mrs Manifold made q
good Lydia Languish, although evidently laboring
at rst under the nervousness and timidity natural
| to . lady In such trying crcumsan while Mrs.
j. l.. Smith was an interesting Jula-her French
accent strongly reminding US Of Madame Celeste
and Mrs. ii: ) Bascom az pert and piquant as Lucy
| requires to be.
And now for the gentlemen, whom We must dis.
| miss with brief notes. The character of Captain
Absolute was played by Mr.. q. Widay in q man.
ner which evidently displayed thorough know.
his appearance was in perfect keeping VITA that o
| the gay captain. His scenes with Mrs. Mslsprop
and Lydis (the latter with the former, and the
quarrel with the latter.) were particularly good
1 yo hovo 1r
The part of Sir Lucius O'Trisger is one Of extre
difficulty for although tho pusoacious Baronet IL
made to indulge in the national brogue and blunder
yet his representative must not forget that he is nj
the same timc, perfect specimen Of the Irish gen
! tlcmsn of the old school This was evidently not
overlooked by Mr. M'Nulty, who, being nstiv,
OF tho Emerald Isle himself, was enabled to favo
us with rich broguc, while. nc tue same time, hs
delivered the sentimental portions of the chsIscte
in n very telling and dramatic manner. Sir An
thony Alb bolute was very wei gono through by Mr.
W. H. Holmes, who gave a capital picture Of tn,
testy but warm he earted old Baroaet-a peculiarly
difficult task in young mao. elderly persons bel
generally selected for such parts Nor must WI
omit the David, of Lieutenant Morgan, who was NJ
excellent representative OF the rustic servant Of tn
cold English gentleman"
Dr Reid assumed bis part at very short motto
(NIr. smith, who had studied 1t, having been sud
denly called on to take that Of Acres), and Lieut.
Belson vas a quiet Falkland.
Altt gether, no amateur performance could hav
been better, aud II was With the greatest possibl
good humor, that the audience and perfsrmers pre-
eeeded. after the play 20 the refreshment room
~here splendid supper was laid out, AID sbur
dance of good cheer awaited them. After which
they adjourned to the drawing roo n, and cor
cludtd the nights fcst rites with polka, wishin
health pdeyery happiness to the distinguished hos
and bossess. who bad furnished them with 90 inte
lcctual and elegant nights amuse nent
IL may not also be inopposite 20 M snticn herr
thst 10 is rumored that bol costuse. on a gran
scale. will be given at Government house in N,
vcmber next, so that our friends had better loo
cut for fancy dlesses.
| Up,s~sl Stasrs Cs...stt Ccurt