AMUSEMENTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1684, 14 July 1879, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. WSBBET EeKYB. The new dramatic season at the Theatre Royal was inaugurated by the appearance on Saturday night of the celebrated English actor Wybert Reeve. Considerable expectation was aroused by the criticisms of the sister colonies on Mr Reeves’ performances, bat his success on Saturday night was a complete endorsement of the eulogistic notices he has received at the hands of the Press wherever he has appeared. His selection as an opening piece of Simpson and Merivale’s drama, “ All for Her,” was a judicious one, and served to place Mr Reeves’ varied excellencies before the public in the most favorable light. In person he is tall and commanding, in action dignified, picturesque and graceful, with a mellow musical voice, capable of great expression. These are his personal advantages. Added to these, his elocution is admirable, his passion and repose equally excellent, and while giving duo force and -emphasis to declamatory passages, ho never descends to rant. The plot of the play is laid during the height -of the Jacobite intrigues against the house of Hanover in 1746, and may be briefly described es the history of two brothers ; one, Hugh Trevor (Mr Reeves), supposed to be ■illegitimate, and the other Lord Edendale (Mr E. B. Russell), the head of his house, though in the end turning out to be the wrongful possessor of his title and estate. Old Lord Edendale had been twice wedded, but had concealed the fact of his first marriage which had cast the stigma of bastardy on its offspring, Hugh Trevor, He, smarting under the sense of his own disgrace and his beloved mother’s infamy, has sunt into the lowest depth of degradation through dissipation when the story opens. His brother, who is a secret adherent of the house of Stuart, has been discarded through the agency of a government ,spy, Dick Radford (Mr J. O. Joyce), and at ithe solicitation of Lady Marsden (Miss Beatrice), by whom he is beloved, Hugh .stifles his hatred for his brother, and at the .risk of his own life and liberty, saves him (from the clutches of Colonel Darner, a govern--mentofiicer (MriD'Orsay Ogden). Hugh Trevor makes this sacrifice out of love for Lady Marsden, whom he has met before, and whom he secretly but hopelessly worships. At the same time, Hugh is beloved by Mary Rivers, an orphan girl, whose father he has .saved from ruin some years previously. Independent of his duty as a spy ard informer, IDick Radford has another motive for wishing (to capture Lord Edendale, as from certain ■circumstances in the life of the old lord, in the evsnt of Edendale’s destruction, believes himself to be the next heir to the title,. Ho make* use of Hugh to discover the necessary documents to prove this, and when through bis instrumentality they are found in a secret chamber called the “Priest’s Hole,” in Edendale Abbey, ho finds to his rage and dismay that he has only been a dupe to restore Hugh to his rights, and clear his mother’s fame, for amongst otlLer papers that come to light is the certificate of the old lord’s first marriage to Jane Trevor. Matters again come to a crisis. Through an unlucky blunder, Lord Edendale, who is concealed in the Abbey at the time the papers are found is discovered by the military, and

through the machinations and lies of Dick Radford, Lady Mareden and Lord Edendale are led to believe that Hugh has been acting the part of Judas, and has been doubly treacherous in deceiving them both to gain his own ends. Edendale is taken off by Colonel Darner, and the act ends with Hugh asserting his innocence, and in spirit of self abnegation, burning the certificate, the only proof of his legitimacy. The last act finds Edendnle an inmate of Carlisle Castle Gaol, under sentence of death, and the end fast approaches. Radford, was has managed to get himself appointed Lord Edendale s gaoler, is frustrated bv Hugh, who holds his life ia his hand by the possession of certain papers which prove Radford not only to be a spy, but a common felon, and the murderer of the father of Mary Rivers. Hugh turns Radford out of the gaol, and then releasing his brother, and first convincing him that he is innocent of his betrayal, declares that he will again save him “ all for her !” Hugh has ia the meantime made his peace with Lady Marsden, and by the exhibition of a ring she has given him, convinces his brother that ho is working as her agent. Hugh effects the escape of his brother in the same manner that Sidney Carton saves the life of Charles D arnay, in “ The Tale of Two Cities.” He renders him insensible and then changing clothes with him hss him conveyed out of the castle to Lady Marsden, the strong resemblance of the brothers to each other lulling suspicion. Colonel Darner comes in only to find that he has been again duped, and Mary Rivers, who under the disguise of the Colonel’s page has watched over Hugh, reveals herself, and ia rewarded at last for her fidelity by securing the affection of her lover. As Hugh Trevor Mr Wybert Reeve acted in a masterly manner. His recklessness and bravado, the offspring of a sense of degradation and despair, were finely pourtrayed. His subsequent devotion to the woman he loves, with his chivalrio self-sacrifice to save the brother he has hated, were equally fine and were thoroughly appreciated. One of the best delivered speeches in the part was one quoted from the novel of Charles Dickens—“l go to do a better thing than I have ever done. Igoto a bettor rest than I have ever known.” To sum up, Mr Reeves’ performance was pathetic, picturesque, manly, and forcible, and justly entitles him to take high rank as an artist. Mr J. G. Joyce gave a most sterling rendering of the character of Dick Radford. Grovelling and insolent; fawning and bullying by turns; with the malignity of a wolf and the cunning of the fox, every repulsive feature of the part was delineated with the fidelity of a genuine actor, and entitle Mr Joyce to high praise. Miss Beatrice played the part of Lady Marsden with considerable force and ability, her comedy scenes with Colonel Darner being distinguished by sprightliness and vivacity, while the softer emotions found adequate expression. Miss Nelly Greenlees played the role of Mary Rivers with a natural artlessnees and gentle grace that was very captivating and made her at once a favorite with the audience. Mr D’Oreay Ogden had not a great deal to do as Colonel Darner, but he looked a manly soldier, and played the part in his own characteristic style. Mr E. B. Russell played Lord Edendale carefully and effectively, and the same may be said of Mr Daniels in the part of Greystone, an old retainer of the Edendales. “ All For Her ” will bo repeated this evening, to be followed on Thursday evening by “Engaged,” by the author of “Pygmalion and Galatea.” GAIETY THEATRE. The Daeeell Season. Mr and Mrs Darrell and company opened a short season on Saturday evening at the Gaiety Theatre. The programme included Mr Darrell’s drama of “ Tho Trump Card,” which had not previously been performed here, a musical {interlude, in which Miss Navaro appeared, and the farce of “ Did you ever send your wife to Camberwell.” The part of the heroine of the drama was sustained by Mrs Darrell with much dramatic power, though the character has not been worked out with the same elaboration which characterises similar ones in other pieces by Mr Darrell. Mrs Darrell gave a very forcible and natural rendering of tho girl who through good and evil report is still true to her lover. Her! defence of him when unjustly accused, which closes the first act, was spoken with great power and effect. Miss Vernon was scarcely at home in the part of Eliza Heathcote, which is somewhat beyond her powers. As the hero, Mr Vincent played with that care and finish which characterises all his impersonations. He managed to pourcray intense passion without rant, which is one of the rarest tests of artistic acting, and generally though the part, like all in the drama, is very sketchily drawn, he succeeded in making it a success. Mr Darrell, both in make-up and acting, was exceedingly good as the Professor, and Mr Stirling Whyte, though having but little to do, did that excellently. Mr Elliot was the villain of the piece, and though playing with care, was scarcely successful in pourtraying the crafty, scheming character of John Burgess. Mr Clinton made a good deal of his part, and Mr Harry Power as a member of the Convivial Club was very funny. At the close of the piece Miss Navaro sang “ Nevermore ” excellently, and being encored, responded with a charming ballad, “ Blooming Roses,” which is new hero. The farce of “ Did You Ever Send Your Wife to Camberwell, ”in which Miss Mayor, Messrs Power, Whyte, &c., were exceedingly good, concluded the performance.