QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3315, 4 October 1873, Page 2

QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Miss Anstead took her farewell benefit at this theatre last evening. There was a very large attendance in all parts of the house, the • pit and stalls being crowded to excess. The performance commenced with a, new piece, bearing the title of “ Sarah, the Creole ; or a Snake in the Grass.” The incidents of the play are of a most improbable-nature, still it is bare justice to saytnat all the performers acquitted themselves veiy well. The drama has evidently been written with the intention of showing the extent to which a person who is imbued with a morbid desire for revenge is prepared to go, in order to obtain satisfaction for supposed injuries. Sarah, the principal character, is brought up by Colonel Dumont on terms of equality with his own daughter, but all the kindness and consideration shown to her do not have the slightest effect in inducing her to forego the great object of her life—namely, revenge upon the Colonel for having, in the course of his duty, caused her father, Captain Blangi, to be tried by court-martial and shot for insubordination. Knowing the Colonel’s affection for his daughter Alice, Sarah resolves to work out her revenge through her, and partly succeeds in several plots against her happiness, but owing to the intervention of one Henri Vaudrais, she is foiled in her attempt, till at last, driven to desperation, she resolves, in conjunction with an accomplice, Dr Robert, to poison Alice. It must he remembered that all this time the Creole is treated with the utmost confidence by her unsuspecting victim, and is thus afforded a better opportunity of carrying out her murderous design. While consulting with Dr Robert on the meditated crime, Vaudrais accidentally overhears the conversation, and upon Sarah retiring, the worthy doctor is confronted by Vaudrais, who threatens to shoot him if he dofes not band over the management of the affair to him, and Vaudrais is accordingly introduced to Sarah by Robert, as a .former partner and accomplice in villainy. Sarah is completely hoodwinked, and entrusts the poisoning of Alice to Robert’s substitute,' and he undertakes the part simply for the purpose of frustrating her deep-laid plans. Had we space at our disposal we could dilate at much greater length on various other incidents in connection ivith this somewhat sensational drama ; but we will content ourselves by saying that justice is meted out to the would-be murderess, all her schemes are", exposed, she is estranged [from her friends, and compelled* to leave France. Miss Colville, as Sarah Blangi, never played better; we have heard the part aptly described as that of a “female lago,” and this lady.certainly achieved a great triumph last evening, considering that the character she depicted was not calculated to evoke sympathy with the audience, Miss Anstead sustained the part of Alice, and her natural acting and unaffected demeanor procured for her frequent plaudits. Miss Willis; as Marie, looked, as she always does—charming, and her dress and actions were, appropriate. Henri Vaudrais, in the hands of Mr Hoskins, was efficiently represented ; while MessrsdVlusgrave, Douglas, and .Booth were good in their respective parts. The Misses Colville and Anstead were called before the curtain at the termination of almost every act. The performance concluded with the farce of “ The Dunedin Railroad Station,” in which Mr Hydes, by his local allusions, created the utmost merriment. The same programme will be repeated to-night.