“JEANIE DEANS."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1340, 1 December 1885, Page 2

“JEANIE DEANS."

We know of no country nnder the ann whose people have such a fixed and bora- . iog love for the institutions of their country as the Scotch have. To a Scotchman no poet ever sang as Boras did, no noveiiat ever wrote as did Sir Walter ■ ' Scott, no musician ever charmed aa did Sell Qow. It is therefore only to be expected that when an actress hailing-aa Mias Jnno does from the “ Modern Athena,” aa Scotchmen delight to oil the capital of their country, and bearing ou her totague the accent o' Auld Reekie, every north countryman in this district - should hasten to see and hear her in the character of Jennie Deans.” As every one knows, ‘‘Jessie Desna” is the chosen by the dramatist for the version of Hr Walter Scott’s immortal - “ U-art of Midlothian,” than which tale there is not one in the whole of the celebrated novelist's list more . powerfully told, more replete with thrilling aud heart stirring incident.—The dramatic version of the “ Heart of Midlothian,” play ed last night, is from the pen of Dion Bouciosult, vno, in admiration of Bfiaa Juno’s talent, felt himself constrained to pay her a compliment, and that c ocplitneht took the form of tbepi« c-« we aaw performed last night • He offered) at - the shrine of her talent, the incense of his pen, and nobly does the sifted lady utilise the work of the equally gifted playwright. Of course the chief character was played by the chief of the Company Miss Juuo—and it is impossible for na to realise in our minds any better figure of Jennie Deans than that lady Into the part of the noble, generous, - large-hearted, big scaled, loving sisterebe • throne her whole being, and thongfa wo have seen some of the greatest names on - the Scotch stage written against this cnaracter, we have never yet met a lady so thoroughly equal *to thetask of personating the martyr to sisterly affection aa ie Mies Juno. : The excellent “ Jeania Deans " is remarkably well supported. Mr O. H. Taylor, for -n Englishman, plays a wonderfully good “ Dnmbiedykes,” and appeared ta ; have a fall conception of that “ auld • fule’s ” drollery, without at the eam&tiaM v forgetting that the “laird” had a big warm heart of his own. Ur Taylor played the Duke, aod gave foil effect the greatness of the Maoealtum Mohr. Madge Wildfire was taken by Mba-SUs ■ Carrington, and this young lady, though hero and there her wrestling with the Scotch “twang” was marked, gave a highly successful rendering of the pub “ Dtavlc Deans” was played by Mr . Wilson Forbes, and the atom but just and holy old Christian father was well ponrtrayed at Ur Forbes' hands- “ Effia ” found an exponent of a difficult character <n Miss Nellie Edwards, aod “ Margery MorJochson,” never a popular part, was fairly treated by Mias Lilly Bi?L M- J. J Kennedy, a comsdian of known talent, was pressed into service aa■ “ Ef- ' tie's ” counsel, and his delivery of the defence speech w»a,a splendid elocutionary effort. Applause waa of DOQna the order of the evening end recall* frequent. Tonight “ Arrah-na-Pogoe,” aod “Tie Bonnie Fish Wife ” will be produced.