The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1883-09-29 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

TILE LEAMINGTON THEATRE  ROYAL.  This week the Royal hae been closed, It will re-open on Monday with the successful comic opera, so much i the "rage" of present day theatrical*, entitled, "Olivette," and which his now proved itself to be genuinely, what it is termed—a comic opera. "Olivette"will be followed on Tuesday arid Wednesday nights by " Les Cloches de Corneville," an opera abounding with beautiful airs and having a ringing chorus, which the public, notwithstanding it has been constantly ringing in their ears for some 6 or 7 years past,eeem , more than reluctant to forget. The company is a good one and we hope it will meet with the warm reception it so honestly deserves. Following the , gay and flimsy, but withal thoroughly amusing. if rat elevating music of these operas, is promiseil a run for sonic, nights of the legitimate drama, The remaining three nights of the week Miss Bate, man, so well-known to real lovers of the drama, • will give 801110 of her renowned impersonatiene,rted the following week, October 8, Mr. F. R. Benson, of New College, Oxford, and late of the Lyceum Theatre, London, will appear. Mr. Benson is a , very scholarly actor, and is supported by an efficient company. Speaking of his performances during this week, the Caviar!, ;Hees says :—A new tragedian was, introduced to Coventry audiences on Monday night at the Theatre Royal in the person of Mr. F. R. Benson. Additional interest was added to the first appearanco from the fact that Mr. Benson was formerly a member of Mr. Irving's company at the Lyceum Theatre, and a crowded house accorded to him a hearty I welcome. The piece chosen was Shakespeare's charming love tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet"— a play which, in its more tragic passages, tests the powers of the most finished actor. .Mr. Benson's "Romeo" is that of a man who 'while he looks the character also acts it. His youthful presence lends an air of truth and naturalness to the love scenes in the earlier parts of the play, while he possesses the physical powers capable of emphasis. in the tragic scenes of the concluding acts. The balcony scene was marked by passionate rapture on the part of Romeo, and by Juliet with sweet girlish chain. A naturalliese and earnestness pervaded the scene that almost seemed to lift it out of the region of acting into that of life. From the third act when Mercutio is .slain by the hand of Tybalt, Mr. Benson's acting is changed from that of an eager lover to a fate-haunted man. The passage following the death of Mercutio is played with passionate intensity, while in the scene succeeding the death of Tybalt, in which Romeo receives the news of hie banishment, the actor abandons himself to despair. The rf.ene with the Apothecary, the murder of Paris, and the descent into the tomb, in which the fatal drug is taken, were excellent, and were distinct evidence of the actor's success in a difficult and hazardous re;le. That much of the success of the performance was due to the efficient support of the company will be readily admitted. Miss Evelyn Lewis was a most successful Juliet. Her acting was marked by grace and naturalness, and the scene with the Nurse, after her visit to Romeo, was charming in its variety of expression. Mr. J. Glendinning as "Mercutio" was frank and manly, and he spoke the Queen Mab lines with expressive impetuosity. Mr. H. Jalland as "Benvolio" was fairly good, though his enunciation was hardly sufficiently clear and distinct. The "Friar Lawrence" of Mr. E. H. Vanderfelt, the "Apothecary" of Mr. S. A. Miller, and the "Capulet' of Mr. T. J. Merridew, were all alike good. The "Nurse" of Miss Belle Cecil was fairly successful ; the " Peter" of Mr. George Weir was a reminder of some of the old comedians, and the other characters were creditably fitted. In the mounting of the piece, there were some incongruities, but on the whole the scenery was good, and reflected credit on Mr. Farrell, the stage manager. We are informed from reliable data, and what my interest some of our readers, that Mr. F. It. Reneon is tin atltleP of considerable distinction, who among other exploiis won the Oxford and Cambridge three mile race in 1881, at Lil e Bridge, London, and in 1882 carried off the 4th prize at Wimbledon, all England's Championship Lawn Tennis meeting.