The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Avenue . —Consequent on the success of Mr . II . B . Fnrnic and M . Andran ' s productions at this theatre , their latest work 1 ms been looked forwurd to with considerable interest . This was fully manifesfced on Monday hist when "Indiana , " written by II . B . Farnie and composed bv M . Andran . was produced . This cannot bo considered

the "first night" of "Indiana , " it having been previously produced in the provinces , now almost tho universal custom . This is done in the hope thafc it will bo in better working order for the approval of a London audience . However , " Indiana" turns out to bo all our provincial contemporaries have pronounced it to be , as was

evidenced by tho favourable and enthusiastic reception accorded ifc on Monday . Tho ability of M . Andran to write music for such material as " Indiana" is composed of , is well known , and his latest work will add considerably to his reputation . Nnmber after nutnhoc is developed in a catchy and brilliant style , and we may predict that

"Indiana" will become immensely popular . Tho book is in Mr , Farnie ' s best stylo , and concoiv > d from an old French vaudeville When the curtain rises we are introduced fco tho mill afc the ford , where Matt o' the Mill has just married Nan , ancl is desirous of enter . fcaining the wedding guests . Matt h'is been poaching over his land .

lords coverts . He is recognised by the keepers , and fche lease of his mill boing oufc , Lord Aubrey Dayroll—knowing Matt ' s jealous disposition—orders him to take his wife to Dayrell Place , in order that she may get tho lease renewed and suo for Mafct ' s pardon . This Matt decline to permit , bufc during tho day two supposed cavaliers

—Indiana ancl her maid Annefcta—call afc tho mill . Hearing of Matt ' s difficulties Indiana proposes to dress as tho bride and go with him , more in the hope of seeing Jervaulx—who has unintentionall y become connected with fche Jacobite plots—her affianced husband , than to oblige Matt . This suggestion thoroughly pleases the miller ,

who , with his pretended bride , setoff on their errand . Indiana not being recognised on her arrival creates a great impression , more especially on Dayrell and Jervaulx . ' Matt is very uncomfortable afc tbe thought of his real wife being left afc tho mill wifch the other cavalier , aud tries all he knows to get home , bufc is prevented from

doing so . Meanwhile a Sir Mulberry Mnllitt is busy with the Jacobite plots , and hearing of the arrival afc the mill of tho two strangers , supposes them to be Jervaulx and one of his companions ; he also thinks Matt is an accomplice . Sir Mulberry at once questions Matt , and to help him with his despatches , requisitions the services

of Dayrell ' fc steward—Jervaulx himself . Indiana looks in vain for her lover , and not being successful , her interest in him diminishes , while the supposed steward takes his place in her heart . In an interview with tho steward Indiana incautiously confesses that she is not Matt ' s wife ; they therefore plight their troth , tho steward in

turn having become infatuated with Indiana . Matt in the meanwhile has escaped to tho mill , which Sir Mulberry has arranged to surround to capture tbe supposed Jacobites ; meanwhile Indiana is escorted home by her maid , dressed as one of the lads of the mill . In the end Indiana and . Towards — who has received a

pardon from the King—meet in their proper characters , and both being in the same frame of mind a happy termination is brought abonfc , notwithstanding the mystifications of the miller . In some parts tho dialogue might be cut with advantage ; while if the last act were strengthened , a vory good book would be

the result . Mr . Arthur Eoberts sustained tho part of Matt , lie was very funny , engaging in a considerable amount of gag and by-play . His rendering of tho song " The Plain Potatoe , " was very successful . Miss Wadham was cast for Indiana , ancl in this role tho talented lady had considerable scope for tho display of her voice : this she

availed herself of with a will , more especially in "Love will guide , " " Jasper ' s Jacket , " and "Oh , Sunny South . " Thoso songs were given with thi lady ' s well-known ability , and scored a success . Miss Phyllis Bronghton , as Lady Prue , given to match-making , was good , and gained a well-deserved encore in tho second act for her Graceful

dancing . These artistes were well backed b y a splendid all-round company , including Mr . Charles Ityley ( Lord Aubrey Dayrell ) , Mr . W . T . Hemsly ( Philip Jervaulx ) , Mr . Henry Ashley ' ( Sir Mulberry Mullitt ) , Miss Mary Duggan ( Nan ) , aud Miss Clara Graham

( Annette ) . All worked with a will , ancl helped materially to the success of fche evening . The opera is splendidly mounted ; the dresses are both pretty and appropriate ; while Mr . John Crook ably conducted an efficient band . The conclusion was the signal fer considerable enthusiasm .

Grand . —This cozy and popular North London theatre was on Monday the scene of a now production . Tins was a comic opera I written by Oswald Brand , and composed by Imrnaniiol Liebich . Ofj Mr . Brand ' s portion of the work we can say thafc ho has written an ¦ interesting and pleasing book , but Mr . Liobich ' s music is von- !

poor . The composer has imitated considerabl y , and wo caught glimpses of many familiar airs in his music , but even theso were badly handled . When not imitative , the composer was feeble , and but few of the numbers obtained a hold on the audience . Aa wo have already said , Mr . Brand lias been more successful : his part of

the work contains an amount of dramatic arrangement that shows a knowledge of . stagecraft . Mr . Brand lias chosen the Norwegian coast ; for his scene of action , and hero we are told the legend of [ noring . A water nymph , Hyacinthin , onco east at n . young Norwegian a fairy ring ; this , when worn by iho latter , r ! ro-. \ him to her submarine

home . The Norwegian , however , lost tho riir . - . and [ ritual if . v . iv ffv the love of the fairy . Eventually the ring was found bv a v / iuli , who proves to Le the centre fignre of the story . Wo find also two

young Norwegian fishermen , who are in love with an innkeeper ' s daughter named Nora . Eric is the favoured swain , but Sweu purchases the ring already referred to from the witch , and presents it to Eric on the day of his betrothal . The charm works , and Eric is

The Theatres, &C.

drawn to Hyacmfchta , leaving Nora to mourn over hia absence . Swen having thus rid himself of his rival , incites the villagers to kill the witch Christine , and this causes tho latter to repent of the part sho has played in the stratagem . Sho accordingly beseeches fche water nvmphs to let Eric return ; this they will do if Eric sends

some one as hostage until Erio rejoins them . A hostage is speedil y forthcoming in an English tourist , named Lord Jones . Eric is thus enabled to como back to this mortal world . It now transpires that if any one can steal fche ring the charm will be dispelled . Accordingl y Christine , who seeks revenge on Swen , steals the ring and fche charm

loses its power ; this brings Nora and Eric once more together . Hvacinfchm now appears , and takes away fche power which fche witch holds through her fco work charms , but permits Christine to realise any special wish she may desire . To punish Swen , Christine decides that he shall marry her . This request is granted by fche

fairy . If the ladies and gentlemen engaged for tho several parts had taken the opora in faster timo a more favourable result would have been achieved ; as ifc was , the time throughout was very slow . Misa Edith Vane is bright , and pleasing as Nora ; her singing charming , especially in "I wait , " for which an encore was deservedly

demanded . Mr . Julian Cross , as tho English tourist , was very amusing 5 but he wonfc in for wholesale " gagging . " In the songs set apart for him this gentleman was highl y successful , the Tourist 3 Chorus , led by him , was much relished , as was also a topical song , " Up there , " and " The British Tourist ; " each of theso was re-demanded . Miss

Stirling Forde , though scarcel y realising fche ideal of a witch , sang with considerable power . Mr . William Hillier , in the tenor r 61 e , shows promise of ability ; but the best male voice heard during the evening was undoubtedly thafc of Mr . F . Reid-Buohanan ; his render . ing of " Tho Legend of the Ring" being especially worthy of

mention . Tho part of Swen was undertaken by Mr . Oswald Brand . This gentleman , without pretensions to vocal ability , undertook the part in the absence of fche artist who was originally cast for it . Bliss Berfca Foresta sang most agreeably as Hyaeinthia . The smaller parts were filled by Mr . Hal Forde , Mr . F . Fnrfcado , Mr . Alfred

Balfour , ancl Miss Ehoda Browning . The opera was well staged , and the orchestra , under the guidance of Mr . W . H . Brinkworth , acquitted itself creditably . At the conclusion a call for fche

composer and author was answered by those gentlemen appearing before the curtain . The opera was preceded by a farce , by Mr . Oswald Brand , entitled , "A Modern Hercules ; " it was received wifch cordial signs of approval .

Vaudeville . —After a most successful run dnring the summer months , "The Road to Ruin" has had to be withdrawn , to make room for " Sophia , " which was withdrawn in the height of its snecess . Mr . Buchanan ' s attem . pt to present to the public some of the leading features of Fielding ' s book has been most successful , and coupled

with the really finished acting of Mr . T . Thome ' s company , " Sophia " richly deserves to havo a long and pi-osperous career . We havo to chronicle two changes in the caste , foremost of which is thafc of Mr . Charles Warner in the part of Tom Jones . This popular actor ' s frank and open manner , together with tho pathos that he

shows on occasions when required , goes straight to tho heart , and th < -roughly gains tho approval of tho audience . Perhaps Mr . Warner ' s melo-di-aim'tic stylo is rather too plainly shown , but this wo must ; overlook , for in other respects ho gives us a capital rendering of the part . Mr . T . Thorne again created roars of laughter by

tho excellent manner in which ho takes up the part of Partridge ; while of Miss Kato Rorke , as Sophia , we can hardly speak too highly . UPV winning and graceful way is always agreeable , and a better Sophia could not have been wished for , oven by the author himself . Mr . Rnyce Gnvhtnn ' s rendering of Blifil ia another fine study . Also

good is the Mr . Allworthy of Mr . Gilbert Farquhar , the Squire Western of Mr . Fred Thorne , tho Square of Mr . Groves , fche Seagrim of Mr . Fuller Mellish , the Lady Bollaston of Miss Rose Leclercq , fche Honour of Miss Lottie Venue , fche Miss Western of Miss Sophie

Larkin , aud the Molly Seagtim of Miss Helen Forsyth . All theso artistes give a true and correct rendering of their parts , and thoroughly deserve the plaudits bestowed on them by a crowded honse .

! Olympic . —Thursday evening next will once more seo this theatre open its doors . Trie new lessee is Miss Grace Hawthorne , who has secured an adupta'ion from the French , by Adolph Belofc , entitled , " The Governess , " aa her opening piece . This domestic drama will he precede , ! by tho t-noact comedietta "The Little Rebel . " Tho

following is a list of the ladies aud gentlemen engaged for "The Governe-s : "—Miss Crico Hawthorne , Miss Olga Brandon , Miss Lydia Cnwoll , Miss Alico Chundo ; , Miss Fanny Heath , Miss Gladys Ft ' ol'iei ;' - . Miss , " . '< eebe Curio , Miss Qiao-mo Norman . Mr . Georgo Temp ]" , Mr . Frank Wood , Mr . Stanislaus Calhnem , Mr . Alfred Davis , Mr . Hubert Byron . Wo may also mention that Miss Hawthorne has secured the services of Mr . W . W . Kullv as manger .

Flu- nntinal mooting- of fche Provincial Grand Lodge of iNOiibik vyiil hi : i ; c- ! i'J nt . fhr > rooms of tlie Norwich Masonic A . oooeoiJi ' ou ( 17 St . ( riles Strait . Norwich ) , on Friday next ,

the 2 : 1 ml inst ., ai ; 12 S 0 p . m . The usual business has to he ii'fui . s- .-icled , and nt o'SO fche brethren will proceed in proco ' -ron to ( lit ; Cutlietlr . nl , where divine service will bs celebrafced nt 4 oVlock . Banquet afc the Association rooms , at 5 ' 80 =