Theatre Royal.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2918, 22 June 1878, Page 3

Theatre Royal.

" East Lynno " was played at the Theatre Royal last night to tho best house of the season. Whether the latter fact may be taken as an indication of the popular taste, or whether it arose from any other cause, we cannot say, but the fact remains that last night " East Lynne " was witnessed by the most numerous audience of the week. From a managerial point, therefore, the production of "East Lynne" was a success; it waa also a success in another direction : it was affecting to many of the audience, some of whom, perhaps, would have gone home dissatisfied if they had sat out the five acts without having " a good cry." Some perhaps would prefer to cry at home over the book, to exhibiting such a weakness in presence of a crowd. Many did the latter, and it must be conceded that this speaks well for the impersonation of the principal and dual part, Lady Isabel and Madame Vine. In these two characters Miss Annie Firmin was raest effective, and her interpretation of the characters would favorably compare with others we have seen. Mr John Jack played Archibald Carlyle carefully. He represented Archibald Carlyle as a man of strong attachments qualified by reason and sound common sense; and this conception was evenly' worked out. Mrs Walter Hill was happy in her rendition of the part of Barbara Harp. Miss Cornelia, as played by Miss Jessie Raymond, made the audience laugh, but that seems to be the aim of the dramatiser. Cornelia Carlyle is the low comedy element in the'piece. Some of the characters were not made as much of as we have seen them, especially that of Joyce, but then it could- scarcely be expected of the young lady who enacted the part. Richard Hare, again, is a most unthankful role, and no one could make very much of it. The pathetic scenes were powerfully sustained, and the denouement especially showed that Miss Firmim is capable. of displaying strong emotions. As a book we have not a high opinion of " East Lynne 5" it appeals too much to a morbid taste; and the drama only serves to give a more realistic picture of the painful scenes depicted. It is not very natural. Few women would desert husband and children on such small grounds for suspicion as those which induced Lady Isabelto doubt her husband, and fewer still would listen to an avb'wal of love from a man like Francis Lovison at such an early stage of married life asdoes/Lady Isabel. We can only account for the success of" East Lynne " on the ground that it appeals strongly to the feelings, and that some people prefer to be made to cry than to laugh. To-night "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Will be played, and, as it will be the last appearance of the best company we have had here for a long time, we expect there will be another good house, which the management and the company deserve.