AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4251, 11 October 1876, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

MR DAMPIER AT THE PRINCESS'S. The Princess’s Theatre was crowded in the lower parts last evening, when Mr Dumpier dropped Shakespeare for the nonce and appeared in melodrama, tho piece selected being an original adaptation ot Victor Hugo's thrilling work “ Lea Miserablee,” and called “Valjean, Saint or Sinner.” The drama is a strange compound of startling situations and powerful language with what may almost be termed childish trash. Whole scones that hare not the slightest relevancy to the plot, and in which there is not a single point to attract the attention of an audience, prolong the representation most unnecessarily, nnd we hope this evening to ace that a good deal of judicious pruning has heeu effected. When this is done, a very telling and doubtless popu'ar drama would be presented, md ouo that with Mr Dampier in the principal character would have a lengthened run. Although the piece is so long the plot is simple. Jean Vnljoan, a convict unjustly committed to the galleys for nineteen years,has become sohardenedby prison life that on being released his hand is turned against everybody. On applying at the house of the Bishop of D j >n for food and shelter he is supplied with both, but in return makes off wrh a quantity of silver plate. He is arrested, but the Bishop saves him by asaer iug that he himself gave Valjean the articles. This is the turning point in the convict’s career; bo becomes a respectable member oi society, aqd under the uupb of tf^cU

kino is elected Mayor of Montauhan. Still he lives in constant dread of discovery, and at las his identity is lound out by Javert, an inspector of police, and denounced, the result being a recomtuiutnl to the galle.vf. Thence he escapes and assumes the role of M. Le Blanc, a well-to-do citizen, but is again revealed in his true light. The various characters sustained by Mr Dam pier are exceedinly well pourtrayed, and it is hard to say whether he appeared to most advantage as the vi.lainouslookingjreleasedconvict or the repentant, benevolent citizen. As the former he played with great fire and vigor; in the latter with much refinement and pathos. Perhaps Mr D.unpier’s greatest point was made at the moment when he has a chance of escaping the return to prison by sacrificing an innocent man, but the memory of hifl original benefactor a goodness eaves him from committing hj i great a crime, aud he avows himself to be Jean Valjean, the convict. Mr Steele has a veiy good part *n that of the uncompromising detective Javert, aud ho plays it admirably—in fact, this favorite actor has not been Seen to So much advantage for a lofig penqd. Famine and her daughter Cosette (the heroine) ftre both represented by Mrs Waller Hill the latter Very p’ea ingh-. Miss Lilly May makes a capital gamm, as Gavroche; and a very cleVt* little lady made a groat ImpvesSioh Os OoSette in the early part of the piny. Mr Keogh rather burlesques his prominent part of Thenordier, an innKeeper, but he at all events makes his audietico roar with laughter. MrHooperplayed evenly as v l . m Us ' ?, r Ho * e deserves a word of praise for ms creditable rendering of old Mr Gille"°,ri?ond- Thevirago, Mdme. Thenardier, is in good hands with Miss Bessie Vivian as her exponent, and Mr Ward is sufficiently ruffianly n8 jjontimrnaero. -Valjean" will be repeat-d this THE MIRROR OF THE WORLD. Mr Clifford’s entertainment still draws go id houses, and the vi ws and statuary are much appredated. This evening the first part of “ Rambles Round London will be produced. M. CARME’S BILLIARD EXaiBITIONS. The first exhibition match given by M. Come, the wonderful French billiard player, will take , ev , eiJl T?l a , fc the flne roora *tthe Princess's Theatie, facing High street. Mr A, Cameron will be H. Came s first opponent, and will receive 400 points out of 600, Some pretty play may be anticipated, far more interesting than even Mr Roberts’s matches*