THEATRE ROYAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5737, 19 August 1879, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

As might have been expected from the wretched state of the weather last evening, there was not a very large attendance at the theatre ; indeed it is difficult to understand how those who were present cared to brave the elements of rain and wind rather than to stay by their own fire sides. Those, however, who had tho temerity to do this were thoroughly rewarded for their courage, for the performance was in every respect the most successful yet given by the Chapliu-Osborne company, inasmuch as they produced a drama entirely new to Wellington, and one of a highly superior character in every respect. And not only was the piece good and new to this place, but it was performed in a manner that left little to be desired. “A Celebrated Case” is the title of the story, and a better told story, in a more connected and dramatic form, it would be impossible to conceive ; and more than this, the piece is one which thoroughly meets the capability of the company. Combining these tilings, as might be expected, the performance should have been a success. It was more than thC—it was undoubtedly the greatest success achieved by the company, as was fully proved by the hearty and unanimous calls at the end of every act : a compliment that was thoroughly well deserved. The piece is evidently an adaptation from a French novel; and, without knowing the plot, we have no doubt the novel has been very closely followed, and all the main points brought out in the strongest possible relief, while tho light and shade have been most skilfully handled by the adapter. As placed upon the boards last night, the story may be briefly told as follows :—ln the time of the French wars with the English, about the time of the battle of Fontenoy, a couple are happily living in the province of Alengon named Jean and Madeline Kenaud. Jean, as a soldier in the French army, has won golden opinions from all. After the battle of Fontenoy, the Count de Moray, then lying dying, entrusts him with certain deeds connected with his estate, which Jean afterwards places in the custody of his wife, returning immediately afterwards to the camp. An adventurer in the same army, who had witnessed the entire transaction, conceived the idea of personating the dead count, who was the last of his race ; and entering the cottage shortly after the departure of Jean murders Madeline for the sake of obtaining possession of the papers ; but not before he has compelled the woman to inform her daughter who is knocking at the outside of the door, that she is with her father, who is the cause of the disturbance. The murderer then flees, and Madeline dead, the child (Adrienne) when questioned, states that the last person with her mother; is her own father Jean Kenaud, who is thereupon arrested and sentenced to death. In consequence, however, of his bravery on the battle-field, his sentence is commuted, and he is consigned to the galleys for life. This ends the prologue, and in the first act proper, we find that his daughter has been adopted by Count Aubeterre, General commanding the King's forces. With him and her adopted mother (the wife of the Count), she lives most happily, in company with Valentine de Moray, the daughter of the count killed at Fontenoy, as before stated. Through the shock produced upon her system by the conviction of her father, mainly in consequence of her evidence, she is stricken by au illness, which blots out from her memory everything that has gone before ; but her dreams at night are troubled by visions of her father, and the terrible circumstances under which he was convicted. Suddenly a party of convicts are brought to the chateau on their way to the coast, and she then recognises her parent. A faithful friend, who has been with her all along, and who knows the whole story, informs him that she is the daughter upon whose evidence twelve years before he was sentenced to death. In the meantime the false Count de Moray comes upon the scene and lays claim to Valentine, the real Count de Moray’s daughter, and removes her as his own, and interdicts her from further communication with Adrienne. But the women are deeply attached to each other, and from a number of circumstances which come to the knowledge of Valentine, and particularly from a proof-positive which falls into her possession in the shape of a necklace of jewels, she entertains suspicions of the falsa Count, her supposed father, and is ultimately enabled to denounce him as au impostor—a fact which is borne out by the convict himself and others who knew the Count during his lifetime. Thus, after twelve years of suffering, Kenaud is restored to his freedom and to his daughter ; and the false count is convicted and receives his deserts ; all ending happily, and the curtain falling upon a denouement that is in every way satisfactory and dramatic. As may be imagined from the above brief outline of the plot, the piece is one of a highly interesting character, and as performed last evening it was in every respect a success. Mr. George Chaplin, as Jean, played throughout with great force, and succeeded throughout in eliciting and carrying away the sympathies of the audience. One of the great charms of the actor is that no matter in what part he may appear, he thoroughly sinks his own individuality, and appears to the audience only as the character whom for the time he may be impersonating, Miss Kose Osborne as the wife Madeline in the prologue, and tho daughter Adrienne, appeared to even greater advantage than she had done hitherto, and brought out the various phases of a most difficult part with life-like fidelity. It might also be stated that her dresses were thoroughly in keeping, and rich in the extreme. Next in order of merit should be mentioned Miss Lilly Marsh, who sustained the character of Valentine in a manner that fairly astonished the audience. The part is undoubtedly a very important one, being in our opinion equal to that of Adrienne itself; and we are not for a moment going to say that it could not have been played with more force and intensity, but considering the youth of Miss Marsh, and the short time she has been upon the stage, she did wonders with it. She gave the reading of the text throughout with great expression and good emphasis ; and in some of the scenes with a most touching pathos. But she failed in some portions of the play to invest the character with the dignity and the force that it might have been made to assume in the hands of a more experienced actress. Nevertheless she did wonders with it, and her efforts frequently received the most marked commendations of the audience—indeed, at the end of the third act the applause was so enthusiastic that many au actress of far greater pretensions than this little lady would have come to the front and bowed her acknowledgments. As it. was the curtain had to be raised before the audience would be satisfied. We have no space to speak in detail of the other parts in the piece, but may briefly say they were well sustained. Messrs. Burford and Holt were excellent representatives of their respective parts, and the same may be said of Mrs. McGowan and Miss J. Marsh. The piece was splendidly dressed throughout, and the miseenecene was everything that could be deserved. The same programme will he repeated this evening, when playgoers who really appreciate drama of the legitimate—although not Shaksperian—character, should not miss the opportunity of being present, as after to-night “ A Celebrated Case ” is to be taken off for “Pygmalion and Galatea,” which will be placed on the boards to ; morrow.