THEATRE ROYAL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2118, 18 October 1875, Page 3

THEATRE ROYAL.

We were fairly astonished and delighted with the performance of " Leah " at this theatre on. Saturday night. Though yre have heard much of it, yet the representation exceeded our most sanguine expectations, and we do not hesitate to accord it our most unqualified praise. " Leah," as much as any play with the single exception of "Hamlet," depends on the one character after whom it is named, and by the success or non-success of the one who fills that character the whole piece must stand or fall. There can be no two opinions of the way in which Miss George acquitted herself; her love passages were good, but the way in which she delivered the famous curse in the last act but one, was to our mind not surpassed by any who have preceded her in this role, nny^^f course is saying much, but we ~3a^S*st~ think more than is warrantee! by the facts. From first to last Miss Carry George's conception of the part was complete, and her acting fully bore out her conception of it. Those who saw her had au opportunity of seeing acting such as we have not had at the Thames for some time, and which it may be very long ere we see again, for actresses of Miss George's ability (judgiag by her first appearance) are by no means plentiful. Twice was she called before the curtain during the progress of the piece itself, and the calls and applause were given with no uncertain sound^, We wish for the sake of lovers of good acting that the front seats had been better filled. Those who were not there certainly missed a tr. at. Mr Lawrence played up to Leah in the part of Eudolph, and we have never fancied Mr Collier as much as we did on Saturday in the parti of Nathan the renegade. His eye play and facial expression were perfect. Mr Poole played the part of the doctor well and quaintly, neither over or underacting it, which we were glad to see, and the other characters were sufficiently well represented to make the piece go off without a single hitch. We can only say in conclusion that we hope that this attempt of Mr De Lias to afford the Thames public an opportunity of seeing really good pieces will be met with success. It is not every day that ■uch plays as he intends now performing are witnessed, or such a real actress as Miss Carry George can be seen. We can honestly say that her acting is really good- 10-nighl "School" is to be performed. It is the fourth of those pieces Mr Bobertson wrote for the Prince of Wales's Theatre in London, and which were so completely successful there. The piece is excellent, and will, we have no doubt, be well played. We anxiously hope to see a good house, as Mr De Lias cannot be expected to boar the heavy ex-. penses incidental on the bringing together of a company such as the present unless he be worthily supported. He is now producing plays of a high order, and ho has every right to expect a large amount of support. •