Otago Witness, Issue 851, 21 March 1868, Page 14
THE THEATRE
(From the Daily Times, March 13 1868 )
The attendance at the Princess Theatre last evening was proof of the propriety and the generosity of the offer made by the members of the company, when they tendered their services for a complimentary benefit to Mrs Robert Heir. The spirit which prompted that offer, and the offer by the proprietor of the use of the ‘house’ on the occasion, could scarcely fail to excite among the people of Dunedin an appreciative sympathy, and of this sympathy there was, last evening, abundant indication in the crowded state of the house, and in the demeanour of all present. Had the capacity of the Princess Theatre been double what it is, the space would, no doubt, have been fully occupied. As it was, the house has not for a length of time presented such an appearance as it did last night, and it was not alone in that circumstance that proof was given of the public sympathy with Mrs Heir in her domestic bereavement, and of admiration of those abilities which she has for a number of years exhibited as a leading actress on the Colonial stage. In the respectful and tender reception given to Mrs Heir, in the profusion of bouquets with which she was presented, and in the warm applause of her acting, there were additional expressions of the feelings which prompted the attendance, and of the feelings which were inevitably induced, before the conclusion of the performance, among those to whom except by reputation, her powers as an actress were unknown.
With a somewhat suggestive appropriateness, the play selected for the occasion was that of “Leah, the Forsaken.” The play is one in which the best actresses who have visited Dunedin have appeared, and have intensely impressed their audiences; but there are characteristics about the acting of Mrs Heir, in the part of Leah, which justify the assertion that by none of her predecessors has she been excelled. Her performance of that character last evening was unquestionably, of itself, the best dramatic representation witnessed in Dunedin for many days, and it could not but excite the hope that circumstances may arise to induce the return of Mrs Heir to this colony at another and a more auspicious time. The success of the play as a whole, was promoted by the presence of Mr and Mrs Hall among the company, and by the fact of all the members of the company not merely tendering their services, but rendering these services most effectively. Mr Roberts played the part of Rudolph carefully, and with taste, and Mrs J. L. Hall, as Anna, sustained her part pleasingly. Mr Sefton was Nathan, and he certainly did not convey other than the common impression that Nathan is an ill-favored character. In the representation of the play there were evidences of due attention having been given to rehearsal by all, perhaps, but the practitioner with the lime light at the wings. If such an accessory to the effectiveness of the scenes is to be employed, steadiness of hand on the part of the operator is at least worthy of cultivation. After the conclusion of the play, Miss Harriett Gordon contributed her share of the entertainment, by singing very exquisitely, the songs “Lo, hear the Gentle Lark,” and “Auld Robin Gray.” The performances were concluded at a rather advanced hour, with the farce “H. M.S Spitfire.” In the interval, after Miss Gordon had sung, Mrs Heir came upon the stage, and spoke the following address, which had been written for the occasion by Mr B. L. Farjeon, of Dunedin: —
When first I saw Dunedin’s lovely bay,
The clouds for me were dark. Though bright the day,
Scarce could I look upon the verdant isles.
Whose moss crowned tops received fair Nature’s smiles.
And there imprisoned them. My heart was filled
With grief — with grief by that High Power willed,
Who wills our fates, and in whose hands we are
Less than the glimmer of a lonely star.
But when I set my foot upon the land,
And felt the pressure of each friendly hand
Held out to me in sympathy, I knew
That friends surrounded me — and then there grew
A wish to see and thank them for the love
Which brought indeed — as the Heaven-sent dove
Brought peace and gladness to the storm-tossed ark —
Some gleams of sunshine to my troubled bark.
Dear friends, I thank you — thank you from my heart.
And those kind comrades who have taken part
In this night’s task. Unselfishly they came,
Showing good-will in something more than name.
To-night contains for me remembrance sweet —
May time fly swiftly till again we meet!