, 1872-12-10


A large audience was in attendance, though no
30 large as will doubtless be the rule. when th
new machine begins to work smoothly, or, a
least, when people think the thing runs nicely
The popular distrust Of new play in ney
theatre and by q new company, based upon 8,
many imperfect first nights" will require
day or two to wear of, and then We may e1pec
to see this, one Of the latest and most deserving
theatrical enterprises among us, prosper accord
ing to its deserts, which promise to b
by no means small. Although worked
up under innumerable difficulties, las
evenings performance was decidedly
pleasant and acceptable, the more so that il
botokens other pleasant and acceptable evenings
-revivals Of the good old time when, without
the temporary blaze Of some passing 1t STAR" .
good stock company, a cosy theatre, and an en-.
joyable play; finely put upon the stage, and well
enacted, formed combination Of attractions
sufficient to insure that most mutually agreeable
state of things theatrical: good entertain
ment and q good patronage. There are many
people &c; among us who remember this sort OF
thing with pleasure, and will be glad to enjoy it
once mon. ALI in all, the new company at
Hooley's nay be set down as al excellent organ
ization, though the opening play, "Partners for
Life, is [carce1y calculated to bring it's strength
and capeity to fair test. It is a modern
society comedy 49, which means come
thing ralu1 dant Of elegant costumes and
econery, attenuated in plot, lively and rapid in
movement, and altogether not al unpalatable
melange. Mr- Byron's " Partners for Life" is
no exception to the rule in these respects. It
embodies 10 story worth mentioning, and, it
must be confessed, furnishes no considerable
scope for inc acting. The main characters Of
interest ar those assumed by 11r. Blaisdeu, who
is neat, q,iet, and natural; Mr. Padget, who
needs mon of dignity and less of senility in Or
der to reaize the evident intention Of the au-
thor; Mr. Dillon, who has 81 extremely funny
part to BEGIN with, and enriches it with humor
as only ullon can; Mr. soggs, always an eff
cient, capible actor; Mr. Wilson, who has but
little 70 d, but makes up and does that little
well; Mr.Hyndman Barney. portion OF whose
anxiety Bgarding his personal appearance
might oroftably be applied toward
Remembering his lines and studying up his stage
business Miss Kate Neck, the new s'leading
lady," out If the somewhat mild requirements
OF whose ,,le could be detected an appearance
hardly youthful enough, and q tendency to
smile overnuch Mrs. Howard Rogers, who is
as usual excellent and Miss Marie Louise, 4
graceful, omely young lady, Of whom much that
is satisfactory may be expected. Such are the
hastily 1y-fo1nd judgments Of the various MEM
bers OF ths company who appeared last evening.
With claer knowledge of each other, and that
clearer understanding Of dramatic unity which
can only come Of long association together,
their shortcomings will doubtless be toned down
and their excellences enhanced, and We firmly
expect to see them become, what the manage
ment ha, striven so hard to secure, the
city. Che part of their promise,
Messrs. R5oley, Padget, and Blaisdel
have certdnly fulfilled, as WAS evinced last even-
ing. The have reached the extreme height Of
perfection in elegance Of stage mountings. The
scene, with its genuine marble
mantels, zeal oil paintings, and rich furniture'
WAS q gen Of scenic taste and effect. This q
IN which Hooley's is sure to become
famous. In the new soubrette and singer, Miss
Emma Cine, We have an admirable sat-of for
Dillon, and it is safe to surmise that there shall
be some glorious farces between the two. The
ady labored under severe hoarseness last
evening it waB euident, but enough WAS notice.
u
and vocalist of much talent and
cultivation. The list Of pleasant features would
lot be complete without including the orchestra,
which is one Of the best in the city.
A1KEN's THEATRE.
" Hamlet" was played last evening at Aiken's
;heatre to an audience more select than numer-
ous. Lawrence Barrett WAS in the title-role.
sIr. Barrett comes to the West with less reputa-
lion and with fewer trumpets blowing his praises
han even whose names are almost the syn
onyms for Hamlet, which is IN advantage in one
respect, as not very much is expected of him,
deserves commendation. Mr. Barrett presents
IN even and generally fair portrait. His con-
ception Of the character is pleasing in the ex-
treme, his reading is singular correct, and his
action adequate. There are no flashes
If genius or what are taken or mistaken
Tor such, but occasionally there is some very
ine, not to eay powerful, acting. In the inter
REV with Ophelid, when he advises her to retire
% nunnery, he rises above himself; and again
With his mother, when he exhibits his powers
o tho best advantage, and is worthy Of no small
ho character Of Hamlet, conception some
What original and new, Mr. Barrett is well worth
'eeing. He has good stuff in him. He never
lescends below the plane Of good acting, and
frequently rises far higher. II he is not
,enius, and he may prove himself one yet,
ng good deal. He should have tie
Inspiration Of large audience. He is 8
7oung man, growing, as he deserves to grow,
n popular estimation, with 8 future before him.
I1r. Aiken took the part of Ldertes. There are
better Laertes in existence, and Mr. Aiken shows
o much better advantage in his favorite part of
Bob Bs'ierty. A1r. Lawlor was the ghost,-great,
leayy, healthy ghost, clad in coats and pants Of
what looked like mail-with piece Of
'lue gauze, intended to create an Illusion to the
fleet that he was an invisible, airy nothing, but
0 use an undramatic expression, it was !" too
him. The ghost spoke his lines in tones sufi-
iently aepulchral to suit everybody. The King
D5iscolp vas not unhappy wearing the CROWN
nd went through his part in style that proved
lin an actor of some experience, although the
haracter WIS evidently not suited to his cast of
mind or tone of voice, especially he was slight
yhoarse last evening. Polonius Pierce) WAS one
II the best, il not the best, of the minor char
.cters- Horatio CWoodhulD WAS fair, aud 10
Rodman), and G,ttldenstern (Howland
'arried their eabres with ability and grace That
Fas about all was required Of them. The Player
King (Grayes) waa very funny. He thought he
Eas onacting comic part, which, while it made
he unskilful laugh, could not but "make the
udiciyus grieve." He threw out his arms at 81
imaginary foe and uttered his lines in lugubriouB
'oice. The Queen (hIrs. Maeder) WAS not born
0 bear regal honors They do not sit we'll upon
Ter, yet she evidently did the best she knew
low, and what mora could DO ex,