"DAVID GARRICK." AND "CRAMOND

BRIG."

Widely divergent in character were the two plays staged by the Walter Bentley Company ab the Opera House last nighb. Id is in some degree sad to confess that of the twain the audience mauifesbly pre ferred the farce to the standard comedy. In justification of the public taste, it must be confessed, however, that whilo " David Garrick " ie a most excellent comedy, the "Crcmond Brig" i 3a, farce of very exceptional merit, and giving a good actor almosb unlimited scope for the exercise of such gifts and powers as ho may be possessed of. Ib must likewise be admibted that), excepting Mr Bentley and Mr Lachlan Mctlowan, the Company are disappointing in " David Garrick/' In the Scotch farce, on the other hand, overy member seems most happily euitod, and tho littlo play goea with irresistible vervo and epirib from start to finish. To particularise, however. Most people know the pretty story of David Garrick. The play has bsen acted in Auckland be foro. In the hands of tho Bontley Com pany it is still amusing, and distinctly well worth seeing, but much Miab was comedy has been made farce, and though the latter never degenerates to vulgarity, yeb much of tho exquisite delicacy of the comedy ia lost in the transition. Tho line where light comedy ends and furce begins is not oasy to draw, but there was no mistaking the transgression in last evening's performance. Tho before-dinner sceno was regrettably overdone, what should have been modern comedy reduced to tho level of screaming farce. Of course tho mumming was laughable, but it was somewhat inartis tic, and destroyed tho intention of tho play if one may use tho torm. Firstly, then, of the Ada of Miss Hansen what can be said ? It was not that she did things she ought not to have done, as that she Tefb undone things she ought to have done. It must be granted that the part is one of exceptional perilousness, being all, or nearly all, by-play, facial expression, and eilenb acting ; the expression of changing and most subtile and thrilling emotions by silence, sign, poeo, and gesture; a part of great difficulty, but unbounded possibilities. Ada is surely not a merely sentimental school girl, gushing and inclin ing to hysterics, yet such is tbe irapreseion left by Miss Hanson's rendering. 