THEATRE ROYAL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1699, 31 July 1879, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

Mrs J. H. Riddell'a admirable novel, " George Geith," furnishes the materia for one of the best dramas that has for a long time been placed on the boards of the Theatre Royal. The plot is skilfully constructed, the language elegant and pointed, and tho situations are skilfully contrived to work up gradually to a culminating point of intense interest. The character of George Geith was admirably depicted by Mr Wyberfc Reeve. In the earlier stages of the piece, as the newly married J. husband seeking, in the fulness of his joy, to bury the shadow of his past misery, his acting was replete with tenderness and pathos. Later on he depicted with passionate force tbo rage and despair of the man who discovers that he is the dupe and victim of a worthless woman, who has ruined him in the past and made his future desolate. His last act was equally fine, and worthily crowned or.e of the most forcible and artistic representations that has been witnessed in Chritlcliurch for years. Miss Ada Lester played the character of Beryl, George Geith's sccjnd wife, with a great deal of tenderness and sweetness. Her happy girlish ljve, when newly wedded, was charmingly pourtrayed, and her subsequent despair when she learns that she is not really wedded, but must part from the man she loves, was equally trus to nature. Miss Beatrice gave a most forciblo rendering of a vindictive, remorseless woman, who stopß at nothing to carry out her ruthlt-es plot. The repulsiveneas of the character was to a certain extent rodcemed by the ability of the actress, who developed latent forces she has scarcely received credit for. Mr J. Or. Joyce was admirable as a good heartod old lawyer, theoretically a woman hater, but in reality a devoted admirer of the sex. The comedy characters, Dick Elsenhani and Mr and Mrs Bemmidge, were entrusted to Mr D'Orsay Ogden, Mr H. Daniel*, and Mrs Fitzwiiliam, and they couU net have been in better hards, their mirth provoking efforts contributing largely to the success of the piece. Little Beryl was nicely played by little Bella Rusbsll, and Miss Lizzie Lawrence rendered good service as Matilda Maloione. Mr R. W. Redo played carefully and well as Mr Malozone, and the same can bo said of Mr Lanco Lenton in the small part of Mr Foss. The piece was well put on the stage, and received a liberal amount of applause. It will be repeated this evening.