Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1869-09-10 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ROYAL ALBERT THEATRE, MIDDLES BRO GH.  This Theatre was opened for the season on Thursday last, under auspices encouraging to the spirited and enterprising proprietor, Mr Councillor Inteson, and gratifying to the talented and energetic 'managers, Messrs F. Bedford and Geo. Vinning. At the risk of repeating ourselves we remark that the appearance of the building indicates great enterprise and ability ; and the ovation accorded to the abovenamed gentlemen on Thursday last, was a fitting tribute of popular appreciation. Among the decorations effected, some of the most striking to the eye of taste comprise a number of vases facing the i balconies, producing an effect quite unusual n a provincial theatre. Somewhat similar is the effect of the golden pillars which grace the sides of the proscenium, which in its turn overlooks two highlyfinished paint in,rs—one being a scene front " Othello," and the other an incident front " Romeo and Juliet"—in which truthfulness in colour and  form are admirably blended. The act drop exhibits a view of Namur, on the river Meuse, while the curtain represents in four sections, views of "Durham," " Newcastle - high - level - bridge," "Sunderland," and " Tynemouth Priory," each of which in its selection and execution shows artistic skill of no ordinary degree. As showing the estimation in which those embellishments and other  improvements are held by the habitues of this theatre, Mr Geo. Vinnine•i'—under whose superintendence the whole has been carried ont, much being done with his own hand—was called on to the stage for three successive evenings after the opening to receive the plaudits of the audience. The play chosen for representation on the occasion was " Time and. Tide," from the in of H. Leslie, Esq., which recently commanded a long run in the Metropolis. The plot is simple, and may be indicated tints :—The opening scene represantm a barge on the Thames, occupied by John Barjohli (MrNicholson) bargeman. Joe Caisson (Mr Bolton), the barge-owner's son, and Mildred Barjoka (Miss Jenny Grainger the (supposed) daughter of the bargeman. Joe Cannon has a liking for Mildred and Barjohn wishes her to marry loin. This she firmly refuses to do—at which refusal Barjohn is incensed and attempts to cast her out of the barge into the Thames. At this point Clement Morris, a medical student (Mr Fred. Cooke), appears and prevents the catastrophe. The boat then moves off, and in a few minutes a scream is heard, Mildred having been thrown into the Thames •on a second attempt. Clement Morris being within call, runs to the rescue and saves her. During an interval of four years Clement's father (Mr Fraser), has risen from being a working carpenter to a position of opulence by betting on races. Fortune, after a while, turns against him, and he is in the grip of an attorney (Mr J. Bedfor) as a debtor. These two are in Mr Morris's shrubbery discussing business—John Barjohu being secreted within hearing. The attorney is counting aloud his money when Barjohn everhears him and makes an exclamation of joy at which the attorney turns round to enquire who speaks. On a point at this juncture the interest of the plot turns ; for Mr Morris, seeing the attorney's , back turned, manages to appropriate front his ' pocket-book a bill Morris hail previously forged. Mildred (having been taken into the Morris family as a lady's companion), is a witness of the deed, and on Tieing afterwards asked by Clement as to the perpetrator of the robbery, she has no reply, havile, seized and torn the document in her anxiety to screen Clement's father. A court trial ensues, and though John Barjohn testifies against Mildred, the jury find a verdict in her favour. Notwithstanding this, Clements imagines her to be guilty—particularly from the fact of Barjohn having disclosed Mildred's gift of sonic jewels to him ; and (though it is needless to say lie is in love with her) resolves to send her to Australia, and the second act ends with an affecting scene in which Clement's judgment gives way to his passionate love. The third act shows the altered circumstances of the Morris family ; Clement is a poor surgeon and his father a working carpenter. It is three months since Mildred went, when news arrives of the foundering of the " Apollo," in which she sailed. The event is cried in the streets, a paper is procured, a list of the saved is eagerly read, but 110 Mildred appears. Compunction seizes the distracted carpenter at the news of her death—he seizes a phial of poison and is only just prevented committing suicide by his son Clement. Then follows a confession of the crime for which Mildred was punished. No sooner is the confession made than Clement, hearing a noise outside, rushes out and enters again bearing a fainting body, resulting ftom the wreck of the "Apollo." It is barely necessary to add that it turns out to be Mildrea, who has been washed ashore, and who is thus restored to the affections of her lover.  Such are the main features of the play. The acting of Mr Fred. Cook as " Clement" is a wellwrought conception and carried out in a vigorous, and at the same time graceful manner. Mr F. Bedford and Miss Jenny Grainger maintain their parts in an effective style. Mr Fraser, as Job Morris, is very telling, and Nfr Nicholson makes a good ruffian. On the whole the company—with some inevitable-. short-comings—maintained their respective parts admirably ; and the best proof that they meet the 'requirements of a Middlesbrough audience is the enthusiastic reception they have had on successive nights. The decorations of the theatre—which are worthy of the metropolis—have elicited universal admiration, and there is every indication that the season will be a very successful one—adequately rewarding for the first time since its opening the enterprising proprietor and the new lessees, who have entered on their work with a thorough determination that nothing shall be wanting on their parts to secure the continued support of Middlesbrough and the district. Every one will admit that it is important to have one respectably conducted place of amusement established and maintained in this mixed and growing community. With a good theatre and an enormous reduction of beerhouses, something has certainly been done towards removing temptation and providing wholesome amusement for the people. We were glad to observe that Friday—first fashionable night—was an unequivocal success, the house having been well filled—boxes, pit, and gallery—and there is every reason to expect a similar audience this (Friday) evening, being a second fashionable night for the season ; as there is something agreeable (even homely) looking in the sight of a " full house." In this short notice we have thought it unnecessary to speak of the scenery in the play ; but it is an important element in the success of the management hitherto. The representations of the Houses of Parliament lit up, London Docks, and Waterloo Bridge may be recognised IV the products of real artistic workmanship, to say nothing of the various scenes of a domestic nature.