THE DRAMA OF THE "BELLS."

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1154, 4 October 1873, Page 2

THE DRAMA OF THE "BELLS."

A most interesting drama, founded on TCrchmann Chatrian s story of "Le Quif Polonais," entitled " The Bella," and which during the late London season had a lengthened run at the Lyceum Theatre, will be presented for the first time to an Auckland audience on Monday evening. The managers of the company who have recently introduced some of the finest dramas of Shakespeare and Lytton, also adaptations from admired works of fiction by Boucicault, with so much success at the Prince of Wales Theatre, have been at considerable expense in order that this popular play shall be placed upon the stage with due scenic and histronic effect. We believe from a knowledge of this drama that it will, win a large amount of public favour. The play is somewhat of a sensational nature, and contains subtle delineations and skilfully woven scenes, and may be termed with much propriety, in the words of Pope—

A mighty maze, but not without a plan.

The "Bella" is not a story of ordinary occurrence in daily life, nor does it rely upon external aspects alone for its success. It is invested with deeper interest than that which appears at first sight, and the moral is left chiefly to the mind of the spectator fnlly to discovor. The principal character has a melancholy secrot wlrch wears out his life, and shuts out the sunshine of genuine peace. Wherever he goes, whether in society or solitude, he hears the tinkling of the sledge bells, which awaken memories not of the most pleasant nature, as they are associated with crime. We know what an effect the sounds of bells had upon the boy Whittington, aud how he waa recalled by them from the path of despair to the seat of civic supremacy in the days of Henry 11. We also know how their sounds influenced the heart of the first "Napoleon, and stirred thoughts of childhood's hours; and we know further how much bells consoled America's most ei'ratic poet, Edgar Allan Poe, and caused him to remember the silver • bells, in rirnie rhymes, with their tinkle, tinkle, tinkle. The chief actor in the drama of the "Bells" committed a crime fifteen years before the opening scene. He waylaid and murdered a Polish Jew for the purpose of robbing him of the coveted gold. The Jew had been lodging at a wayside inn, and the man who subsequently takes his life—is made aware of the Jew's possessions—knocks him down—kills him— and appropriates the unhallowed money. With this he speculates and becomes prosperous, but over his prosperity hangs the dark cloud of remorse through which the light of heaven refuses to penetrate. Consequently the manslayar ia unhappy; remorse seises him and continually haunts him with the thought of the terrible deed. Every leaf that whispers, and every breeze amid the pine forest become threatening voices to his conscience-stricken soul. At length he dreams that he is led, like Eugene Aram, into the Court of Justice with " gyves upon his wrists," but failing to procure evidence of his guilt he passes into a mesmeric trance, and while in that state he confesses the crime which ia eating out his life. This part of the "Bells" is fraught with fearful interest, and constitutes its moat thrilling scene. There are, moreover, in the dialogues striking passages of much poetic power— the Court scene is especially interesting. As in the majority of dramatic productions love finds a place and affords some relief. Matthias has a daughter, pretty and graceful, who ultimately marries the village quarter-master. A group of villagers is prettily depicted going to mass past the window of the old burgo master, which has a, rustic and not unpleasant effect, but which becomes intensified by the solemn tolling of the Cathedral bell. The really sensational part of the drama, however, ia that which portrays the Spectral scene of the murder, and the motives which prompted ita

execution. .We have not space to particularise every incident and describe every character which figure in the play. The scenes are laid among the forest surroundings of the pleasant town of Lauterb3.cn, m the arand duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt, where pines flourish in unmolested beauty, and where old castles are associated with poetry and romance, in that part of the legendary land of the ever-flowing Rhine.