Academy of Music.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4905, 29 September 1884, Page 2

Academy of Music.

"THE WOMAN of the PEOPLE." The Willmqtt Dramatic and Comedy Company made a decided "hit" on Saturday evening, when they produced, for the first time on the Thames, B. Webster's great moral and temperance drama, in four acts, entitled " The Woman of the People," or " The Horrors of Drink." There was a capital house, the pit being crammed, the gallery well filled, and the front seats fairly patronised, while to say that the performance gate uuiversal satisfaction but inadequately expresses the enthusiasm again and again manifested by the audience during its presentation. Mr Willmott had announced that" he had spared neither pains nor expense to place the drama before the public in its most complete and effective form," and the manner in which it was staged fully bore out the assertion. The scene opens with a double wedding—that of Mdlle Sophie D'Anglement and Counte de Bussieres, and Marie (the woman of the people) and Bertrand (a carpenter). In the former case the lady had married against her inclinations, during the absence of her poorer lover cousin, who returns with a competency just in time to see the bridal party move off; Marie marries the man oi her choice, but against the wishes of her friends, for Bertrand (with Bemy, a boon companion) bad been of a rather convival turn of mind. These bad habits, however, ho promises his wife to give up, but the temptation proves too strong, and during the marriage festivities he and Eetuy take more than they can carry steadily. - The scene changes, and a year after reveals Marie in po?erty, with a child dying for want of nourishment, and a drunken and unkind husband. Bertrand, touched by his wife's pleadings, promises to amend his ways, but in Marie's absence he is persuaded by ltemy to have another carouse, and finding a small sum of money, which his wife had saved by hard work and almost starving herself (so as to get a nurse for her child), takes and squanders it. Marie discovers the theft, and almost distracted at her loss, places her babe in the foundling hospital. Here she meets Bertrand, who is overwhelmed with grief on learning the consequences of bis debauohery, and earnestly implores forgiveness, which Marie says can only be won by the restoration of her child. An underplot is hero introduced. The Comte de Bussieres has died, and his widow has promised her hand to one Appiane (an adventurer, posing as a physician) on condition that he saves the life of her child, whom she has never seen. The child dies, bat Appi-negets Marie's infant from the Foundling, and j passes it off as the Countess. Marie is engaged by Sophie, recognises her child, and claims it, but is declared to be mad by xAppiane, and is committed to an asylum. Her release is afterwards obtained by her husband, who is now sober pnd industrious, and she follows Appiane and the Countess, and regains her child, though nearly murdered by Appiane, whose villany is exposed just in time by Theobald, who hands him over to justice. The concluding scene reveals Sophie and Theobald renewing tbeir vows of love, and joy once more supreme in the home of " The woman of the people." Some of the scenes were very striking* especially that of the exterior of the Foundling, at night and during a snowstorm, but the house was fairly brought down when the scene was lifted and the interior of the hospital (with the children kneeling in the firelight and chanting the grand and beautiful " Adeste Fideles") was shown, and a repetition of the scene was enthusiastically demanded. Miss Lawrence appeared in the difficult title role of Marie, and displayed throughout a splendid conception

of her part. It was her first appearance in this character, but her thoroughly successful impersonation secured a bnrst of applause whenever she appeared on the stage. Mr Herman's appearance-as Bar* trand was also a first attempt, and on the whole he was fairly successful, though much more feeling could have been thrown into some of the parts. As the loafer Eemy, Mr Keg. Bede well deserved the i applause he received. Miss Duke acted the part of Sophie, Countess de Bussieres, very carefully, and Mr Balfe's conception of the villainous Appiane more than once roused the ire of the audience, who hooted him heartily. Mr Willmott took the part of Doctor le Blanc, of the Asylum, and received a round of applause, and Mr Simmonds that of Theobald ; the.other members of the company (with the ex* ception of Mr Marter and Miss Wyatt) only appeared during the pologue. Mr Willmott has decided to reproduce the drama this evening, and those who wish to see a moral temperance lesson well played should not miss this opportunity of seeing " The Woman of tbe People."