The Era (London, England), Saturday, April 19, 1884; Issue 2378.

PROVINCIAL THEATRICALS

MANCHESTER

PRINCE'S THEATRE. — Once more Patience is being represented here, but although the attendance on Bank Holiday was remarkably good, it has since declined considerably.

Mr. Wilfred E. Shine is now the Bunthorne of the company, but his rendering of the part can scarcely be described as very successful, owing to a tendency to impart a farcical element to the character. Mr. Walter Greyling resumes his old part of Archibald Grosvenor, which he renders to great advantage; and Messrs, Byron Browne and H. Halley retain their parts of the Colonel and Major respectively, which they also render very satisfactorily. Mr. R. Christian, the new Lieutenant is scarcely so successful, his voice being of decidedly weak quality.

Miss Josephine Findlay's Patience is a fairly good performance, but if she could contrive to look a little more arch and somewhat to economise the limited resources of her voice she would be more successful. Miss Elsie Cameron is an excellent Lady Jane, and it would be impossible to find any fault with her performance, unless, indeed, it was suggested that she might appear more completely obtuse to the humour of the allusions made in her lines with regard to her own obesity.

Manchester Times (Manchester, England), Saturday, April 19, 1884; Issue 1371.

PRINCE'S THEATRE

That the popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience" is not yet on the wane, in spite of the great number of times this amusing work has been played, was abundantly shown on Monday night, when it was performed at the Prince's Theatre by Mr. D'Oyly Carte's company. The house was well filled from pit to gallery, and the applause and laughter were loud and frequent. The various parts were, on the whole, well represented, the principal characters being in the hands of artistes with whom the Manchester public are pretty familiar. Mr. W.E. Shine was excellent as Bunthorne, both his singing and acting being worthy of praise. Mr. Byron Browne as the Colonel and Mr. Walter Greyling as Grosvenor, too, played well, but their vocal efforts were somewhat marred by colds from which they were evidently suffering. Miss Josephine Findlay made a charming Patience, and sang the music allotted to her with good effect, and Miss Elsie Cameron, as Lady Jane, was all that could be desired.

"Patience" was followed by a comedietta by Arnold Felix and Frank Desprez entitled "A Private Wire."

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