The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

" Man wants but little here below nor wants lhat little long" may be applied to Bro . Augustus Harris and Mr . Henry Hamilton ' s new romantic drama . " The Royal Oak , " on Monday ni ght was certainly far too long- On the continent , we believe , there are theatres where a play takes a week to act , so that the

audiences go night after night until they have seen it all . We were reminded of this in sitting through the ne \ v Drury Lane play . A large portion of the audience had left before the last act began , for the curtain did not finally fall until close upon midnight , and yet it went up at half-past seven . When " The Royal Oak "

has been severely cut down we believe it will go well . With all its inordinate length , at the close there were no dissentients , and after the actors had been called before the curtain and bowed their acknowledgments , the authors came forward for their meed of praise , and Bro . Harris set an example which it would be

well if managers generally would follow , and declined to make a speech for which there were calls . Bro . Harris merely said '' Ladies and gentlemen , may we say you are satisfied ? " One and all shouted "Yes . " And so every one ought to be , for Bro . Harris has again put before his clients a most beautiful play , which

is sure to fill the National Theatre until his next magnificent production in the shape of the annual pantomime . Drury Lane is too vast a house for much dialogue . Scenic effects become it best , and no one understands the art of stage-mounting better than the popular lessee , though we can well understand his

ambition to have a drama with an interesting story and much literary merit . To give any detail of the story is unnecessary , for is it not written in the book of the chronicles of the Kings of England . To dramatic writers this period of English history has ever been a favourite topic . The merry monarch has been depicted

on many stages before this . Bro . Harris and his colleague , Mr . Hamilton , have dished this up in a new and romantic form , but the result is no quite so favourable as when this time last year they gave us such a wonderful account of the Spanish Armada . We have always admired Mr .

Hamilton ' s works , and with pleasure remember his "Moths , " "Harvest , " and sundry other pieces . In '' The Royal Oak" we detect his free hand ; but Bro . Harris must use his , and excise a quantity of the dialogue . When we speak of the scenery and " tout ensemble , " we have nothing but the highest praise for

all that Bro . Harris and his able staff set before us . The pretty rustic dance on which the curtain rises in the Park of Monk ' s Barton , Boscabel Wood , the Beach of Shoreham , and the realistic scaffold on Tower Hill ; ill are on an equality with Bro . Harris ' s previous producti ons ; but'The Royal Oak" takes the palm for beauty .

It is indeed a lovely picture . Miss Winifred Emery , who is the Royalist young lady pursued by the Roundhead colonel , while she loves a gallant Cavalier , bears the burden of the play , and acts with her wonted refinement and tenderness . Miss Fanny Brough , as her maid , together with Bro . Harry Nicholls . Vho loves

things carnal , though outwardly a Puritan , have full opportunities for their humour , and when any laughing is to be done they cause it . Bro . Nicholls is an old favourite at Drury Lane , and Miss Fanny Brough is a welcome addition . Bro . Arthur Dacre does well as the Cavalier , and Mr . Lablache , as the

Cromwelhan officer , is not a whit behind him . Bro H-enry Neville makes Charles II . quite a bearable thoug h weak monarch . Good old Drury has been re-decorated and re-furnished , and looks like a "TJ 'heatre - We beIieve it is 25 years since it was gilded ; now it is a blaze of gold and colour . Red plush curtains and balcony cushions make the house look

> arm . The stalls are covered with tapestry t l ° , ' ? the staircases with velvet pile half-an-inch nick the roof is exquisitely painted , and in a short 'me the electric light will be turned on . With the " -newa of the lease Bro . Harris has , we hope , given a mT 7 A Hfe t 0 the National theatre . The refreshes department is now under the direct control the management , and when WP «__ v iV ,-., t R ™

to u " i blanchard ' s ) is responsible , it is needless Bro ' R- u ever >' thin Sf will be of the best quality , when R u haS f ° r SOme yearS done a 11 the catering who h u Harris has given entertainments , and those bctte n " gUeStS knOW wel 1 that lt could not be H-iiJ" Saturday last Bro . and Mrs . Augustus l \ ., ¦ . -. cn . u _ . uci y icwL DID . anu mrs . Augustus

over 7 gaVe a rece P tion t 0 their friends , numbering fritPr - f ' See the new decorations . The Masonic liter-i n i ustered in ful 1 foree , as did the theatrical , ? iiest < f lu J egal foIk - We recognised amongst the MP s / nd Secretar y , Mr . Henniker Heaton , of ' n , ™ lral Sir Edward Inglefield , K . C . B ., W . M . uiury Lanp T nrlrro v . ; , , f .. ~ \\ r 1 AU < : _ ruuerinaii oir

, "enrv 1 ° ' vva _ . ucn .- _ , . und r . , j ( vvho wil 1 to-day be elected Lord Mayor ) M p ff lsaacs , and James Fernandez ; Mr . Woodall Bros ' w H " C - Richards , Miss Winifred Emery , son p , Neville , Harry Nicholls , Frank Richard-Org ' V chworth , F . Binckes , Dr . E . M . Lott , P . G . Arth u ' n T- Charley , Miss Amy Roselle , Mr . Norrev , . M ' Bros ' Captain Henry Wright , Miss Grey V lr ' and Mrs - Charles Terry , Miss ' Marie de P . G T " Captain Bashford , D'Albertson , R . Eve Mrs ' I T' U C F H ° gard , P . G . Std . Br . ; Bro . and Matier T' F - Matier . G . Sec . ( Mark ) and Mrs . ' J- Brett , Vice-President of the Board of

The Theatres.

Benevolence ; Arthur Yates , A . M . Broadley , Sec . 2127 ; C . R . Bri g hten , Phipps , Mrs . Maclean , Mrs . Brighten ( sisters of Mrs . Harris ) , Mr . Arthur Chudleigh , Mr . Paul Merritt , Bros . Henry Pettitt , Sir George Harris , Barrow Emanuel , M . A ., Colonel Harding , Lennox Browne and Mrs . Browne , Miss Grace

Hawthorne , Miss Marie Illington , Miss Sylvia Grey , Bro . and Mrs . Macklin , Mr . and Miss Jecks , Miss Mary Rorke , Mr . St . Aubyn , Mr . St . John Brenon , Miss Helen Forsyth , Mr . Augustus Moore , Bros . Beerbohm Tree , W . Barrett , Mus . Bac , and Mrs . Barrett , Mr . j . L . Shine , Mr . George Alexander , Mr .

Kemble , Mr . Gilbert Farquhar , Miss Phyllis Broughton , Mr . W . Archer , Mr . Charles Collette , Miss Cicely Richards , Bro . J . D . Beveridge , Mr . F . Meavin , Mr . and Mrs . E . Ledger , Mr . J . P . Hurst , Mr . Hayden Coffin , Mr . and Mrs . Howard Paul , Mr . A . H . Watkin , Bros . Victor Stevens , H . Ashley , W . E . Chapman , A . Collins , Miss Alma Stanley , Mr . Forwood , and Miss Alma

Murray . We understand that the title of Bro . Harris ' s Christmas pantomime will be " Jack and the Bean Stalk , " and when we say that Bros . Harry Nicholls and Herbert Campbell will be the chiefs , we have said enough to make young and old long for the festive season . Bro . Nicholls will collaborate with Bro . Harris in the authorship . #

* * The classical concert given on Wednesday night at Covent Garden was highly meritorious , the programme comprising the following works : " War March of the Priests , " from Mendelssohn ' s "Athalie ; " overture to "Oberon" ( Weber ); minuet from "Berenice "

( Handel ); pianoforte concerto in G minor ( Mendelssohn ) ; and Mendelssohn ' s " Italian" Symphony . These eminently classic works were splendidly played , under the skilful and sympathetic direction of Signor Arditti , and were enthusiasticall y applauded by the large audience . ' * * *

Mr . Duck will , next Saturday , the 5 th prox ., bring out " Caste" at the Criterion . This famous play of the late J . Robertson may well be revived now , and at this pretty little theatre ought to draw , as it did in former years elsewhere . Mr . Duck has engaged for the cast Messrs . David James , Leonard Boyne , Elwood , and S .

Austin , Miss Lottie Venne , Miss Olga Brandon , and Mrs . Charles Poole . Miss Lottie Venne will play Eccles , Mrs . Bancroft ' s part . ' The " Area Belle , " musically arranged , is to be played with " . flisop ' s Fables" at the Comedy , following it at 10 . 30 . Since

its removal tothe Comedy the booking for "_< Esop ' s Fables" has steadily improved , and is still drawing good houses to see Bro . Penley in his comic acting . Mr . Duck ' s hands must be pretty full , running these two theatres at the same time .

* * * That good old farce , " Betsy Baker , " is now being played in front of " In Danger" at the Vaudeville , for which Miss Cicely Richards has been specially retained . Old playgoers remember it well , but it must be new to

the younger generation . Bro . Lestocq ' s " In Danger " is doing such good business that there will be no need for a change just yet . As we said before , it is well worth seeing . Mr . Fred Terry now plays Mr . Lewis Waller ' s part , and does so with the greatest satisfaction to all concerned . * * * Great preparations are now being made for the production at the Opera Comique , to-morrow ( Saturday ) , of Bro . Major Cockle ' s opera , entitled " The Castle of Como . " The libretto is based upon "The Lady of Lyons , " and is from the pen of the late Mr . Searle .

The music , which is its composer ' s first stage work , is said to be of a high class , and to have nothing in common with so-called common opera . No expense is being spared as to the details of its production . The theatre has been secured till April next , special scenery is being painted by Mr . Banks , and there will be a

ballet , under the direction of Mr . Valentine , a chorus of 40 picked singers , and an orchestra of 40 players . The company engaged to represent the opera include Mr . Robert Clarke , a Welsh tenor , Mr . Cadwaladr , Mdlle . de Vernet , Miss Amy Martin , Mr . McCarthy , Mr . Leo Stormont , Mr . H . Pope , Mr . Donnell Balfe ,

and Miss Rosina Isidor . The opera is being rehearsed and produced under the personal direction of Signor Coronaro , who is associated with Signor Faccio , at La Scala , Milan . The Major , it is of interest to know , is Master of the Homers' Company . He is also on the Court of the Musicians' Company .

The gunners at Shoeburyness and the residents of Southend had last week a rare treat in the visit of Mr . Warwick Gray ' s Juvenile Opera Company to the Southend Theatre . " Les Cloches de Corneville " and " La Fille de Madame Angot" were admirably performed , all the leading parts being very satisfactory filled . One

of the principals—indeed , we may say the prima donna of the company—Miss Minnie Leverentz , will assuredly take a high position on the lyric stage ; possessing a contralto voice of great purity and already of remarkable depth , she has the additional attractions of personal beauty and considerable evidence of dramatic power . It is no slight addition to her good stage qualities that

she is not spoiled by what is two often the ruin of very young artistes—over-confidence . Nervousness ( not want of courage ) is always associated with a true artistic rendering of a prominent part . To mention all who deserved favourable notice in such a well-drilled company would be to give the bill of the play in full . Mrs . Warwick Gray ' s coaching of her young elevees is worthy of all praise .

East Lancashire Charity Committee.

EAST LANCASHIRE CHARITY COMMITTEE .

A meeting of the Charity Committee ot the Province of East Lancashire and the General Committee of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution was held at the Freemasons ' Hall , Cooper-street , on Friday , the 20 th inst . For the former Institution two children were adopted for

election on the Metropolitan Institution for Boys and Girls . For the latter five were adopted on the local Institution . The meeting was largely attended , the following representatives being present : Bros . Alderman E . G . Harwood , Chairman ; John Chadwick , Sec . ; John

Barker , 1134 ; Edward Halliwell , 345 ; W . R . Sowter , 815 ; George Townsend , 116 ; James Hopwood , 126 ; James Walker , 221 ; John Kenyon , 348 ; G . H . Openshaw , 26 9 ; W . Forrest , 37 ; W . Brierley , 344 ; Wm . Lamb , 346 ; Ben Taylor , 935 ; A . W . Giddall , 268 ; W . H . Holt , 1144 ; J . W . Abbott , 1458 ; Fred Hilton ,

1458 ; W . Wood , 128 ; Joseph Harhng , 1948 ; H . H . Warburton , 163 ; Hy . Taylor , 286 ; Geo . Hunt , 1009 ; James Newton , 37 ; Walter Newton ,. 1322 ; Peter Ratcliffe , 219 ; T . J . Hooper , 1723 ; R . L . McMillan , 678 ; Wm . Cartwright , 633 ; Peter Lawton , 78 ; A . Pemberton , 1030 ; J . WalKer , 37 ; John Chtfe , 204 ;

E . Farrar , 350 ; A . B . Whittaker , 1633 ; G . S . Smith , 1134 ; T . G . Hothersall , 1534 ; Chas . Turner , ion ; J . Aspland , 1170 ; John Lees , 645 ; Alfred Salts , 226 ; J . Deardew , 54 ; Thos . Jackson , 274 ; J oseph Bridgford , 1077 ; Jos . Sutcliffe , 28 3 ; Rowland Rawlinson , 16 97 ; N . Nicholson , 1723 ; E . N . Irving , 2156 ; Henry L . Rocca , 815 ; James Kershaw , 300 ; Thos .

L . Buckley , 1218 ; Walter Alcock , 191 ; James Potter , 1868 ; John Waigley , 210 ; Joseph Brown , 3 6 9 ; C . D . Cheetham , 993 ; Robt . Williamson , 1055 ; J . Barker , 1134 ; Thos . Schofield , 288 ; John Morris , 146 ; John Holt , 215 ; F . W . Lean , 935 ; H . E . Hollingwood , 277 ; J . W . Kenyon , 42 ; E . M . Williams , 325 ; J . Hadfield , 1129 ; J . E . Harrison , 2279 ; W . Nicholl , 317 ; and A . H . Williams , 2156 .

Masonic Presentation To Bro. The Rev. R. B. F. Elrington, At Brixham.

MASONIC PRESENTATION TO BRO . THE REV . R . B . F . ELRINGTON , AT BRIXHAM .

The members of Lodge True Love and Unity , No . 24 S , met at the Masonic Hall , Brixham , on Monday , the 16 th inst ., on a very interesting occasion . Bro . J WHEATON , the W . M ., in the course of a few appropriate remarks , alluded to the departure of Bro . tne Rev . Elrington , whose acceptance he asked ,

on behalf of the members of the lodge , of a P . M . ' s jewel and address . The latter , which was illuminated , read as follows : " Presented to W . Bro . the Rev . R . B . F . Elrington , P . M ., P . P . G . Chaplain of Devon , by the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren of the True Love and Unity Lodge of

rreemasons , No . 248 , Brixham , on the occasion ot his leaving the town , as a mark of esteem and fraternal regard for his valuable services to the lodge and to Freemasonry generally , heartily wishing him health , long life , continued prosperity , and happiness . —Signed on behalf of the lodge by VV . Bro . John Wheaton ,

W . M ., Bros . John T . James , S . W ., James Spark , J . W ., and the oliicers and brethren . " The jewel ( manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , London ) was a very pretty design , and bore an appropriate inscription , besides the crest of the recipient , a stork , in gold , on the ribbon .

Bro . ELRINGTON cordially thanked the brethren for ' their expression of good feeling and interest in his wellare , and spoke ot the sincere regret with which he left Brixham after residing in it for so many years . Bro . Rev . Elrington left Lower Brixham , of which he had been vicar for 35 years , last week for

Leamington , on his retirement trom active service . He was W . M . of True Love and Unity Lodge for two years , in 1886-7 , when the new hall was consecrated , and was initiated into Masonry 42 years ago at the Shakespeare Lodge , No . 143 , Dublin , the Chaplain of which at that time was Bro . L ) r . Magee now the Bishop of

Peterborough . Bro . Elrington is also M . M . M . and third Principal of Torbay Chapter , No . 1358 , Paignton . During the evening Bro . J . W . Matthews was raised to the Degree of M . M ., the ceremony being most efficiently performed by Bro . N . Hobson , P . J . G . W . of

the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales , who was afterwards accorded a vote of thanks . Amongst the visiting brethren were Bros . T . J . Grossman , S . D . ; George West , Stwd . ; and E . J . Pratt , all of 1402 .

COMING PRESENTATION TO THE LORD MAYOR . —Mr . Onslow Ford is now showing at his studios—G 2 , Acaciaroad , St . John ' s Wood—the marble bust of the Lord Mayor that he has executed on behalf of the Commercial Travellers , who purpose presenting it to his lordship on Saturday , October 5 th . As we have already stated , upwards of 2000 ambassadors of commerce have sent in their " mites" to the fund . Mr . Onslow Ford was also

commissioned to "cut" the Lady Mayoress ' s bust that the inhabitants of Cheap are about to present to his lordship in recognition of his year of office . 1 his latter will be on view to-morrow ( Saturday ) between thehours of two and six p . m . It is ertain that many subscribers who were unable to see the plaster cast exhibited at the Academy will journey to St . John's VVood with the object of admiring one of the most artistic and lifelike works this celebrated sculptor has ever executed .