PRINCESS THEATRE.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2345, 7 October 1870, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE.

It wag naturally to bo expected that as the now company got more thoroughly acquainted with the capabilities of the theatre, they would play more at their ease. Last night’s performances fully show this. “ blow for Blow” now runs as smoothly as it pos ibly can. Perhaps of a’l Byron’s plays it has the mo-t meagre of plots, but abounds with situations alike natural and effective. There is one Josiah Craddock, a lawyer, of whose twin daughters one (Alice) is turned from her father's house and presence on account of an indiscreet marriage; and the other (Mildred) is wooed and won by Captain, but afterwards Sir, Henry Linden. Of course lawyers must have clerks, and Mr Craddock possesses two —men of most opposite cl aractors. His confi lential clerk is one John Drummond, who loves Mildred, but whose rejection of him fills him with that degirc for revenge on her and hor’s which forms the groundwork of the piece. For making light use of his name, Captain Linden horsewhips him, and forthwith the Captain is included in his scheme of revenge. The opportunity for the partial carrying out of his purpose is afforded by Craddock, who appears to have recklessly speculated _ with a client’s money, and in order to save himself from disgrace, forges a cheque for a large amount, which is cashed by Ins other clerk, Charles .Sprang, who has a soul above business, and delimits in the blandishments of the turf and the P.B. By means always convenient to playwrights, detection at once follows, and Craddock is arrested. This blight on the family docs not, however, prevent Captain Linden from marrying Mildred, and with the realisation of that fact the first act concludes. In the second we a-c introduced to Alice Pcthcrick, Mildred’s twin sister, now a widow, and with means scarcely able to eke out a bare subsistence. 'J here is a mnid-of-all-work, Kitty Wobbler, an old servant of her father’s, who sticks by her and assists her ; and a kindly old physician, Dr Grace, who attcnls her in ]ier iljneps. Capt. Linden has succeeded (o a baronetcy in the mean time, and forsaken his wife, whose sufferings are eventually terminated by death. " Drummond encounters Alice, pours into her cars a dreadful tale of her sister’s sufferings, and ultimately prevails upon her to aid him in his revenge upon Sir Harry Linden. The third act discloses the manner in which he carries out his scheme. He get Alice to personate her sister, the likeness between them being very great. He succeeds so far that Sir Harry and his wife (for ho has married a second time) separate, and the former to avoid absolute disgrace is about to barter wjth him for the removal of his supposed first wife. Dr Grace, however, has suspicions of foul play, but before lie can bring them to a head the is brought ab mtjby Alice, who being convinced by Lady Linden that she has b on made a tool of by him for bis own selfish purposes, exposes Drummond. Wi hj Craddock's aid, who, in the most mysterious manner, appears on the scene, after paying the penalty of bis crime, the play terminates in the mutual happiness of tlie principal parties and the discomfiture of Drummond. And as to the acting— P/are au-r dmnr*. The dual part of the sisters is sustained by Miss Carry George, an 1, small as it D, she was able to give ns a sufficient quality of her powers as to warrant the belief that her histrionic abilities are of no mean order. Her acting is characterised by a total freedom from staginess—a quality not al -‘ ays to bo found in young actresses. Miss George seem? already to have established herself as a favorite. On the opening night she was twice calhd before the curtain, and last evening a similar compliment was paid her "With the exception of Kitty Wobbles which by the way was admirably played by Mrs Edouin Bryer, none of the other female characters give much scope for in iividual acting; mo that it would hardly bo fair to judge the other ladies of the company by what we have as yet seen of them. 'Suffice it, they appeared to have carefully studied their parts, ■which is something. There can ho little doubt that a genuine success was achieved by Mr Lawrence, as Ghaifey Spraggs. The part appears as if it bad been created for him ; good humor seems to he a part of Jiis very existence, and that fact is not once Iqst sight of by Mj> Lqwmipc. Of Mr Musgruvo's assumption of Dr Grace, wo cannot say too much in its praise. Throughout have wo presented to the life

the hale and hearty old practitioner, eve ready to do a kindness to a friend, and enjoying a piece of fun in its proper place as well as anybo ly. In the scene with Spiaggs, where he howls cut the latter, who has assumed to he an authority on horsy matters, his hy-play was excellent. Mr Masgrave enjoys a reputation for bis “old men characters, which is only strengthened by his representation of the character in question. The “heavy villain” class of character is at all times an unthankful one to assume, for its repulsive side is always brought before the mind of the audience, and it requires a great effort on the part of the actor to establish himself in their good graces. When we say that Mr Collier succeeded in doing so, we say nearly all that can be said. The parts of Sir Harry Lincoln and Mr Craddock are very unimportant, but both wore carefully played by Mr Metcalfe and Mr Wilds respectively. The afterpiece on both evenings has been “My Wife’s Second Floor,” in which Mr Musgravc appears to considerable advantage as a comedian. We are glad to notice M. Floury at his old post iu the orchestra, which has been considerably strengthened.