THE VIVIANS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2208, 24 August 1889, Page 2

THE VIVIANS

Last night the Vivian season was brought to a suooessful oonolusion with a representation of the sonsational drama " Queen's Evidenoa," before a fair house. The drama opens with the aoousation against Gilbert Medland (Mr H. Jordan) of ooining, by Matthew Thornton (Mr Beresford) and Jonas Isaacs (Mr Vivian) who are the real culprits. Kate Medland, Gilbert's wife, is being perseouted by Thornton who has previously clandestinely married Ada, Sir Frederick Sydney's nieoe (Miss Tennyson) and the Medland's child being at the same time abducted, Gilbert quarrels with his wife, and discharging a gun at Thornton, who just then Qomos upon the Boene, misses him but Mrs Medland is blinded by the flash of the powder -the gun being, we must suppose one of the flintlook age. Medland escapes. Five years afterwards Medland returns and is reoognised by the ooiners who are visiting Sir Frederick Sydney, whoße daughter Laura (MiS3 Durand) is soon afterwards affianced to Thornton. Thornton finds that Mr Medland, still blind, is m possession of a letter incriminating him m the ooining, and exoulpating her husband, and Thornton removes the foot-bridge of the look on the river so that she falls but is resoued by her husband with the assistance of Isaacs, who now calls himself Levant. Thornton then murders Sir Frederick Sydney, who he thinks has the incriminating letter, and Eate Medland is charged with the murder, but Isaacs witnessed the deed, and he is taken into I custody on a charge of ooining. Thornton aonspirea to obtaio the murder of his old aooomplioe, but accumulated proof of bis many orimes envelopes him, and Isaaos announcement that he has turned "Queen's Evidenoe" causes the two to suddenly ohange positions, with the result that Thornton receives the ballet intended for Isaaos. The scene ends with eight, her husband and her child being restored to Eate Medland. Isaaos lis the central figure m the drama, and as a oomio stage Jew Mr Vivian appeared at his bast. Mr Beresford played the villain Thornton vary well ; and Mr Jerdan gained the sympathy of the audience by his impersonation of the wrongly suspeoted husband. Miss Vivian played the part of Eate Medland very naturally after the first aot, and Miss Tennyson and Miss Durand filled their parts satisfactorily. Mention must not be omitted of Little Ro?e Andrews who represented Arthur, the Medlands' abduoted child, very oleverly, yet without undue pzecooity. The entr'aotes and incidental musio have been very acceptably played throughout the season by a lady pianisie of considerable talent. The oompany prooeeds to the North to-day.