MRS WALTER HILL’S BENEFIT.

Evening Star, Issue 3681, 9 December 1874, Page 2

MRS WALTER HILL’S BENEFIT.

As wo anticipated, Mrs Walter Hid’s appeal to the public tor support on the oocsiou of her benefit met with a liberal response, every part of the Princess Theatre being crowded last evening. 'the performance commenced with “The Conjugal Lesson ” in wlrch Mr and Mrs Bates played wth great vivacity. “The New Magdelen” -a drama founded upon Wilkie rollings tale, bearing the came title followed. Though doubtless the majority of our readers have perused the novel, yet we may he pardoned for giving for the ben fit of Hio-e who have not done so a brief outline of the plot of the piece. The p ologue erves to introduce the two principal chirac :ers—Mercy Meredith and Grace Roseberry—the former of whom is acting in the capacity of nurse to the sick and wounded of the French, then at war with Germany ; and the latter is on her way to England to place herself under the protection of Lady Janet Koy, in com pliance with the wishes of her father, Colonel Roseberry, who had lately died in Canada. Grace Roseberry relates her simple history to Mercy Merrick, and upon Grace’s asking for an interchange of confidence, Mercy withgreatreluctance confesses to having been the inmate of a refuge for abandoned women, and narrates in feeling terms the difficulties Miat beset her path in endeavoring to wipe out the blot of her past life While conversing, the village is a'tacked by the German troops, and the trench are obliged to abandon their position. In the course of the light Grace is struck by a splinter from a shell, and pronounced dead. The bold thought suggests itself to Mercy that by changing clothes with the deceased girl, and possessing herself of the credentials, she might at once attain a position of respectability. and lead an entirely new life. Tims ends the prologue. The drama opens with Grace duly installed in Lady Janet boy’s house, endeared to all whokuowher, and passionately loved by Horace Holincroft. Lady Janet’s nephew. All goes on smoothly until the real Grace Rogeberry appears on the scene. It transpires that the wound she re ceived, although severe, was not fatal, and tout owing to the skilful t-eatumnt s ie obtained from a French surgeon was restored to life. She proceeded to England, and waited upon Lady Janet; but upon stating that she was the real Grace Hoseborry, her pretensions were ridiculed, and she was regarded sis a maniac and an impostor by everyone with the exception of Julian Gray, a Church of Buglaud clergyman and a friend of the family, who had forme-ly acted as minister of the Refuge of which Mercy Merrick had been as inmate. It is ultimately proved that Mercy is the impostor, whereupon Horace severs all connection with her ; . .but Lady Janet has become so attsebed to M,yrcy that she cannot part with her, and adopts 4ger. There are several capital situations in the .piece. hut we think if he dram Riser had adhered strictly to the novel, the general effect ay 'uhi jf&vo been more satis actory. So far as the aetjpg j.s concerned, the greatest credit is dug to all wfto take part in the performance. Mrs Hill, as Mercy Merrick, played w.th deep feeling aud pathos, and threw herself entirely into the character she represented. She met ; with an enthusiastic reception, aud was several times called before the curtain. Miss showed what she is capable of when cimoses to exert h< rself. The manner in which she sustained the part of Grace Roseberry completely carried the house with her, and in conjunction with Mm Hill she received an unanimous call. Miss! Vivian was tole ably good, as Lady Janet. Mr Keogh’s Julian Gray we must confess ■ surprised us by its excellence, as we have been so much in the habit of seeing him in characters of the opposite type, that we did no: expect so much from him. MrHoo. er, as up oal, aepuitted himself creditably ; and Mr Lawrence censed immense amusement by his extravagant pepres-utatiou of an bp per servant, who evinces a total disregard of the use of the le ter “h.’j