THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5324, 20 April 1878, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

“FORSAKEN.” This evening the Theatre Eoyal will be reopened, and a new drama entitled “Forsaken,” which is highly spoken of, will be produced. The following sketch of the piece will prove interesting to the theatre-going portion of the community“ ‘Forsaken’ is the name of a new drama. It belongs to that class of play which has lately taken a great hold upon the theatregoing public. It is of the modern sensation school, and was produced originally at the Adelphi Theatre, London, where it held the boards for 300 nights, and was then transferred to the Surrey and Standard theatres ; thence to the provinces. The plot is of a most simple and interesting nature. Thefirstsceneislaidina banking house in London, where the rich banker’s daughter prefers marrying for love instead of money. Her father hearing her confession of marriage, and of her child, turns her from home to die in the streets. She is next seen in front of the Royal Exchange, London, on a snowy night, making her way totheFouudlingHospital to place her child in safety, which she does by the aid of a half-witted fellow (‘The Waif’), and dies upon reaching its gates. A lapse of i years takes place, and the orphan boy being apprenticed to a Mr. Wedgewood of the steam sawmills, leaves the Foundling, and it is then the plot begins. The banker’s nephew, knowing of the existence of the boy, and fearing lest the grandfather should relent and make his will in favor of his daughter’s son, bribes the engineer to kill the boy, which he attempts to do by setting the machinery in motion during the dinner hour and placing the lad in such a position that nothing short of a miracle can save him. We next see him in company with his preserver in the old churchyard of Willesden, where the denouement takes place.” It will be seen from the above outline that a play of more ; than ordinary interest is to be presented. The theatre has been closed for the last few nights in order to perfect the production as much as possible. The scenic artists and mechanists have been employed day and night. Among the princple effects may be mentioned the Royal Exchange, London, the Foundling Hospital, the Steam Sawmills, and Willesden Church by Night. The entire company will be included in the oast. The little foundlings will be represented by juvenile Wellingtonians. We would advise our readers to visit the theatre and judge for themselves the merits of “ Forsaken.”