THEATRICALS.

THE customary well-dressed and eminently respectable audience which usually attends any performance of the Harvard student assembled last Saturday evening in Beethoven Hall, Boston, to witness some theatricals given in part by graduate members of the Hasty Pudding Club for the benefit of the New England Hospital.

The programme for the evening, as according to announcement, consisted of the monologue entitled "The Elixir of Youth," by Miss Susan Hale, and the musical triumviretta "Cox and Box;

or, The Long-Lost Brothers." The performance was announced to begin at eight o'clock, and at a quarter past the pianist, with commendable promptness, favored the audience with the overture, which was shortly followed by the "Elixir of Youth." This piece represents the wonderful effect which a bottle of patent-medicine has upon an old lady of seventy-five years, by renewing her youth through successive steps until she reaches the state of infancy.

It may show a depraved taste to evince other than sentiments of pleasure at its performance, inasmuch as Boston audiences have, during the past few weeks, repeatedly signified their approbation of it by much laughter and applause, - and Boston audiences are supposed to be au fait in such matters; but it seems as though it would have been a cause of much delight to the undergraduate mind had the young woman who sustained the part lumped the whole thing, so to speak, and by taking the entire bottle at one draught, converted herself into an infant in a much shorter space of time, and not prolonged the agony by dragging it through five scenes. The scene where she appeared as a romping school-girl of fifteen was by all odds the best, and was acted in a very vivacious and withal natural manner; but the closing scene, in which she attempted to initiate an impromptu baby-show, was simply ridiculous. However, a pleasant relief was afforded those persons who failed to greet the performance with that enthusiasm which was undoubtedly the correct thing to feel, by the introduction of music between every scene. This was gratefully received, and served to keep up the drooping spirits of the hearers until the close of the piece.

Shortly before half past nine Mr. A. W. Foote, '74, took his place at the piano as accompanist, and soon the curtain arose on "the event of the evening." The operetta of "Cox and Box" was played in one act and ten tableaux, and the dramatis personae were Mr. Reginald Gray, '75, as Cox, Mr. V. Y. Bowditch, '75, as Box, and Mr. S. H. Hooper, '75, as Sergeant Bouncer. These gentlemen sustained their parts very acceptably, and both their singing and acting were well received. The Lullaby Song was rendered by Mr. Bowditch in a particularly happy manner, and was one of the best pieces of the evening. The scene of the meeting between Box and Cox was acted with much spirit, and the burning desire to do one another bodily injury was vigorously portrayed in the duet which followed. The Serenade between the two was a decided hit, and the audience and the audience was completely overpowered by the fascinating manner in which Mr. Bowditch manipulated his opera(hat)ic accordion, and by the proficiency, together with the wonderful delicacy of touch, which Mr. Gray exhibited in playing on his novel guitar. The singing of Mr. Hooper throughout the evening was very creditable, and the gentlemen may well congratulate themselves on their success in bringing out such an agreeable entertainment.