PRINCESS THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 2912, 19 June 1872, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE.

“ Coils of Fire,” which has been played at the Theatre for the past two evenings, is by the author of “ Meg’s Diversion,” but does not equal that or the earlier of Mr Craven’s productions in dramatic interest. The title is a strange misnomer; for the only reference to it is a passing one which is placed on the mouth of one of the characters towards the end of the piece. The plot may be told in a few words. Job Rickets (Mr Musgrave), a reduced market gardener, has a daughter, Edith by name (Miss Anstead), who unknown to either of them, is heiress presumptive, to a large property. But this fact is known to Mr Jnrm 1 (Mr O’Brien), a dabbler in stock, and one of the Major Jormn class, and his sou (Mr Thorpe.) Mis? Rickefct’s wealth would enable Jormel pere to tide over his financial difficulties ; so the father pressing, and the son being willing, the latter proposes for old Rickett’s daughter, and is accepted, it appearing to be a true love match, when wealth condescends to link itself with poverty. A condition to the marriage is that the illiterate market gardener should leave the country, and he, consenting, is supposed to have taken passage by the ship Dunbar for Sydney; but, through th; agency of of Festril (Mr Hydes), a cracksman who has turned honest, he gets drunk enough to lose his passage, and remains in hiding until his re-appearance on the scene is absolutely required. Meanwhile the individual from whom Edith would have derived her fortune takes a great dislike to her future husband, and makes a will leaving his property t) squire Parmesan (Mr Booth), a Dundreary swell with a penc'ant for doing good in a way only known to authors. Jormel Jils made acquainted with Edith’s true position, breaks off his engagement with her; and lays seige to the heart of Ella Roland (Miss Willis), Edith’s friend, and the possessor of a little money, but is ultimately rejected by the latter. Then i-ld Jomel gets into trouble for misappropriating shares, and through Parmesan’s liberality Job Ricketts comes in for a good thing, while his daughter considers she is bound to give her hand to the man who stood so well by her father. But as the played proceeds the relations of the parties alter. Through Festril’s mania for making discoveries, Parmesan tumbles into other large properties, and being greatly troubled with the weight of his accumulating wealth, makes a free gift of a part of it to Edith. In the end, Edith marries the man of her choice, who is not Parmesan, the latter secures Miss Roland ; and the younger Jormel retires from the scene utterly discomfited. The piece is well put en the stage, the set scene in the third act being particularly good, and on the whole is well played. Miss Anstead plays with her accustomed care; while Messrs Hydes and Musgrave, in their respective characters, are excellent. Of the other characters, we would merely remark that Miss Willis might have had a better acquaintance with her part; while Mr Thorpe delighted in making a laughingstock of the part he was called upon to assume. The comedy will be repeated tonight.