THEATRE ROYAL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9282, 6 December 1895, Page 5

THEATRE ROYAL.

"THE CASE OF REBELLIOUS SUSAN."

The piece which formed last night; the second bill of the Brough and Boucicault Company ig one which, aa a stinging aatire on the " new woman" craze jb smartly written. It is true that the plot has not the sustained interest nor the piece itself the dramatic power evinced in "Aα Ideal Husband," buc still there is not only much originality in the conception and treatment by tbe author of the subject he has chosen to illustrate, but the piece is full of fun. The situations are excellently worked out without straining after effect, and the principal characters are boldly and effectively sketched. Mrs Brough as Lady Susan the rebellions waa excellent. She gave us a very artistic illustration of the eftectiveuess of reposeful actiug—acting that is that simulates ho closely what one would do in real life under the same circumstances as to approach very nearly to the real article. Take, for instance, that scene in which she learns that the " romance which she has endeavoured to introduce into her domestic lifehae lasted so loDg as three weeks before succumbing to the charms of another woman. Mrs Brough by the play of her mobile features and oy gestures only indicated the conflict whica was goiog on in her mind between a desire to couceai her little romance from the sharp eyes of her uucle and genuine regret at the ephemeral character of man's love. So also iv the scenes with her husband the hardness and almost recklessness with which she determines to leave his house was indicated rather than spoken, yet it was made plain to the audience. Throughout the part Mrs Brough gave us a very excellent exposition of the art—alas too rare iv these days—ot natural acting on the stage, which is a tine reflex of what happens daily in our drawing rooms. Miss Faber, by her charming impersonation of that very lovable character Mrs Quesnel, deepened the favourable impression created by her on her first appearance. One cannot wonder at even so hardened a bachelor as Sir Richard, even with his experience of the Divorce (Jouit, falling a victim to her. The scene with Sir Richard where they mutually agree to cell each other their little love affairs was very artistically played by Miss Faber. It was so natural and so free from conventionality that one felt a deep and personal interest in the outcome of the mutual revelations, and felt glad when the usual result came about naturally. Miss Temple as the champion of women's rights was appropriately eloquent on the subject, and the evident desire to nuke a martyi- of herself for the cause, which Iβ the feature ot the character, was well brought out. Miss Watt Tanner made a very -excellent Lady Darby. Mr Tithoradge as Sir Richard played the character with that push and completeness which marks the experienced actor. Not a point was lost, and in the ecenee with Lady Susan and with Lucien Mr Titherad#e showed great dramatic power. The foroible lines in which he advises Elaine, and through her all women to remember that their true sphere is their home, and that unless they unsex them* selves it ia folly to attempt to imitate * men, were given with much. elocutionary power. In that charming little scene with Mrs Quesnel, and that too in whioh he watches the effect on Lady Susan of the intelligence of the marriage of her " romance," Mr Titheradge was excellent. Mr Boucicaulc showed in the part of Fergusion Pybus not only his versatility but also his power as a character actor. He manages in hie parts to entirely sink hie identity, so that in no two of the characters he assumes is he alike. The points in the part of Fergusson, whose ambition is to a tamp himself on the age, were all admirably brought) out, and the scene where Elaine and himself lay their grievances before Sir Richard as the arbitrator of their differences was wonderfully well played by Mr Boucicault. AsJames Harrabin Mr Dorrington waa considerably overweighted, and one could not help feeling that Lady Susan had considerable cause of complaint as to the monotony of life of which she speaks. Aβ played by Mr Dorrington the part lacked life and energy, such as one might have expected from a man who had got into a scrape such as that depicted by the author. Mr Bindloss, too, was far too quiet and undemonstrative a lover for a woman like Lady Susan to have taken the least notice of, and here, as in the case of Mr Dorrington, the impersonation lacked life and go. Mr Carey as the bluff Admiral who is always extolling his wife— to her face—was excellent. The piece waa charmingly mounted, and as it will be played again to-night those who have not seen it should take the opportunity of doing so.