THE QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3929, 28 September 1875, Page 2

THE QUEEN’S THEATRE.

Mr Utting’s long-promised drama “ Check and Counter-Check” was produced at the Queen’s Theatre last evening before a large and what proved to be a most enthusiastic audience. Great things were expected of the play—the second by this author that has been placed on Dunedin boards -for it was pretty generally known that it was written with the idea of Mr and Mrs Bates taking prominent parts in it, and that the particular bent of their talents would be kept in view. The action of the drama takes place at the time when the civil war in America is about drawing to a close, and the_ opening scene presents the interior of adiouso in New York, where resides Clara Courtney, an orphan left under the guardianship of Colonel Manners, of the Federal army. The Colonel is an ardent lover of Clara —in fact, as he says, [he would wade through blood to get her ; but she is betrothed to Frank Danvers, an officer in the same regiment as Manners. On hearing this and being told by Clara that she never can be his, the Colonel holds over the heads of the lovers a threat that he will publish a dreadful secret connected with the honor and good name of each, but they are undaunted and defy him. Hot words ensue, the two rivals draw their swords, Frank is speedily disarmed and at the mercy of the Colonel—but is saved from death by the timely intervention of an itinerant photographer, who receives the blow of the descending sword upon the legs of his camera oscura. This artist is Reuben Gherkins, a soldier discharged from service on account of a wound received at the battle of Bull Run, and now of great service to the successful issue of the drama as a defender of virtue in distress. Frank is arrested for drawing on his superior officer, but escapes and hides in a disused powder magazine in the neighborhood of Gettysburg. A good deal of amusement is caused by the courtship of Clara’s maid, Emma, by Tobias Squails, a man of peace addicted to prayer-meetings; and the fun is increased by Reuben quickly cutting out the pious man and supplanting him in Emma’s affections. Next we have a pretty view .of Brooklyn by moonlight and Clara is introduced into the scene to meet a feigned friend who has written to her requesting a private meeting there. The author of this note is, however, none but the Colonel, who endeavors to carry off his ward to his yacht, but is frustrated by Reuben and Tobias. In the second act these two ara found in the Federal lines, in search of Frank Danvers, and Clara Courtney and Emma follow on the same errand; nut the latter are discovered by Colonel Manners and this time carried off and lodged for security in a cottage. Now all seems lost, but the übiquitous photographer and his ally Tobias scent them out, free them from the den, and having found Frank’s hiding-place hasten there, Clara makes known her proximity by singing outside “ Happy be thy Dreams,” he opens the door to his friends, and all goes merrily; but in the midst of their happiness the Colonel and a file of soldiers force an entrance and endeavor to re-arrest Frank. He again escapes, this time through a window, Reuben preventing his being followed by presenting a revolver in the face of the again discomfited villain of the piece. Colonel Manners then spreads reports that Frank is in reality a spy and in league with the Confederates, and gives color to his assertions by disguising himself with a mask in the likeness of his rival and visiting the enemy’s encampment. The hero is then arrested, and after a court-martial sentenced to be shot, and this fate is about to be dealt out to him when Clara—who has appealed to General Grant—forwards a pardon by the trusty hands of Reuben, and Frank is reinstated in his former position in the army. Colonel Manners, who has all along been a Southerner at heart, then goes over to their forces, and in the last act we have a vivid picture of the fall of Richmond—the capital of the Confederacy— and with it the death of the traitor. The play is a capital production, full of life and startling incident, although there is nothing excessively brilliant or original in the dialogue. The more prominent situations are well managed, and in each act call forth rounds of applause; the scenery was also good and appropriate in most instances; and the last act, if a little less hurriedly rushed through, will prove a very effective finale. The chief interest centres of course in the heroine and hero, who were well personified by Mrs Bates and Mr Stoneham; but Mr Bates is well suited in the part of Reuben —the cool, determined Yankee travelling artist, with bis ready wit and equally ready revolver. Tobias Squails acts as a good foil to him, and the fighting quaker is well played by Mr Saville, but bis ejaculations remind us too much of a character in “ The Wandering Heir,” played during Miss May Howard’s visit. A similar fault may be found with the part of Mrs Squaretoes, Clara Courtney’s housekeeper, who has a strong “ suspicion ” of a well-known character in “ The Serious Family.” Miss Bessy Vivian filled this part fairly, but not evenly; she should have played it throughout with the nasal twang, or else done without it altogether. Miss Polly Leake made a capital lady’s maid, and Mr Clinton as Colonel Manners was very effective without being melodramatic. “ Check and Counter-Check” may be pronounced an undoubted success, for the audience were wonderfully liberal with their applause—in fact, at the end of the second act, where Frank Danvers got through the window of the powder magazine, this was carried to an absurd extent. At the conclusion of the whole piece there were uproarious cries for the author, and Mr Utting came forward and thanked the audience for their cordial reception of his production, the theatrical company for the manner in which they had played it, and the orchestra for the effective rendering of the incidental music. The farce of “The Swiss Cottage” concluded the performance. To-night the same programme will be repeated.