58 THE THEATRE. 



which would be broiiglit together by such a 

 novel place of amusement. On the night men- 

 tioned, I visited it with a party of friends ; 

 the evening's entertainment was the " Heir 

 at Law," and " Bombastes Furioso," The in- 

 terior of the theatre (which was fitted up as a 

 temporary measure, in a large room of the 

 Royal Hotel*) is small, and is used only until 

 one more complete can be erected : considering 

 the disadvantages under which theatrical ex- 

 hibitions must labour in so young a colony, the 

 " tout ensemble' far exceeded what I had ex- 

 pected. The pit and boxes (for there was no 

 gallery) might probably contain one hundred 

 and fifty persons. To speak of the performance 

 of Colman's celebrated comedy, would be to say 

 it was beneath criticism ; and the actors seemed 

 determined to " play the comedy" after a 

 manner of their own, substituting passages of 

 their own for those of the author, in defiance 

 of all dramatic rules. 



* The building was originally erected as a theatre, at a 

 very great expense, and after its completion the governor, 

 at that time General Darling, refused to grant a licence for 

 dramatic performances, in consequence of which it was fitted 

 up as a spacious hotel. On the present Governor, General 

 Burke, granting permission for theatrical entertainments, a 

 portion of the building has reverted to the original purpose 

 for which the whole had been erected. 



