The Rev. NUTCOMBE GOULD, as _Friar Laurence_, gives quite a new reading of the part. His _Friar_ has ever a merry little twinkle in his eye, as if quietly enjoying some intensely humourous idea. From this point of view, Mr. NUTCOMBE GOULD'S _Friar_, being a sort of Rev. THEODORE HOOK, ever ready with a practical joke and an impromptu, is admirable and--inimitable. _Mercutio's_ part is "full of plums"; but these, in Mr. COGHLAN'S mouth, seemed rather to mar the distinctness of his utterance, as plums in a mouth have a way of doing. The _Apothecary_, by Brother ROBERTSON, was not so poor as he looked: but in spite of tradition as to the wondrous excellence of this "bit of character," what is there to be done with it except in a three minutes acting illustration of an artistic "make up"? Were I offered the part I should bargain (after settling of course to receive a thousand a week) for a scene so arranged as to show the exterior and the interior of the shop. I would be "on" from the first, visibly sleeping under the counter. The interior should be fitted up with shelves just as _Romeo_ describes it. Then while _Romeo_ is talking, my _Apothecary_ would be examining his "till"; he would turn it upside down to show there was no cash; he would then in pantomime explain how famished he feels, and would search, even in an old mouse-trap, for a bit of cheese. At last, there being no dinner and no hope of food, he, after a pantomimic exhibition of frenzied despair, would be in the act of drinking from a large bottle, labelled "_Poison,--for external application only_," when he hears _Romeo_ calling him. Then he starts: while there is life there is hope! he answers the summons! And so forth. Then imagine the _Apothecary with the money_ after _Romeo's_ departure!! As the scene is closing the _Apothecary_ should be seen bucking himself up, and preparing to go out to make a night of it at the nearest restaurant. Should Mr. FORBES-ROBERTSON be making any alterations he is welcome to these suggestions. [Illustration: Mrs. Pat Juliet Campbell making herself into a Japanese Puzzle as she takes a Father's Curse.] * * * * * "THE CRAWL TO THE SOUTH."