AMUSEMENTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4153, 5 December 1870, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

Prince of Wales Theatre.— ln ipito of the rather threatening weather here was a capi al attendance at this place of amusement on Saturday night, to witness a new drama entitled "Lost in the Pacific." We were most agreeably surprised (for by the name we expected a mere nautical drama of anordinary kind) to find a superior sensational play, a well-laid plot, beautifully marked out, and greatly applauded as it progressed. Mr. Howe, of course, took the leading part, that; of Hero, a savage of the desert island, in which he has splendid opportunities of displaying the sensational- acting in his rOl« to perfection. The play opens with Genevieve D'Astarre (Mrs. Walter Hill),a French wealthy heiress, being wrecked on the desert island— her life in danger from lack of water and the passions of the wrecked crew— but saved and protected by Hero although a savage. Gratitude on the part ot Genevieve invites Hero to leave the desert, come with her to Franco, and learn the advantages of civilisation. She teachei him to speak, teaches him his manners, and, in doing so, he also learned to love her. Suffice to say that, on both, sides, a faithful, attachment sprang up, which for a time had to suffer outward coldness, on account of Geneveive's station and rank in society, aud partly on account of an oath given to her father, on his dying-bed, never to marry anyone but Rodolphe, the pretended nephew of the designing and unscrupulous Baron Cardotuc (Mr. Joyce), a friend of the heiress's father, but a murderer in fact, who tries to force her, for the sake of her fortune only, into an alliance with Rodolphe (Mr. Booth), his supposed nephew, but, in « ealifc /-, his son. This in. famous scheme is frustrated by Zillo (Mr. Herberte), the friend of Hero, and the faithful friend and follower of Genevieve, who, knowing the mysteiy and euilty plots of Adrien de Merrique, or Baron Cardoux, by whom lm life was threatened, and who supposed him to be "lost; m the Pacific," acquaints Hero and Genevieve of his secrets. In the meantime, Hero, aspired by a growing attachment and strong love for Gene-, veive, works his cards most wonderfully, raises himself by his own acquired talent, and, to the astonishment of all, after an absence of only two years, comes on the seen© as General de la Croix. As such, he relates the frightful events of his career, aud the discovery, during that period, of the deep designs of Adrien de Merrique's infamy. His denunciation of falsehood and treachery, and his public, open ieclaration of love for Genevieve, was a splendid piece of elocu ion in itself on Mr. Howes part ; and no leas to were the speech and the acting altogether with which the French heiress ultimately confessed her love for Hero, the savage General de k Croix— standing before her. The third act then close* with the recognition of the General. Bat Geneviev is still made to feel the reproaches, by Hero for the past insults and sarcasm with which he was treated on his first arrival in France as a mere savage. The fourth acfc completes the happy alliance of Hero and Geneveive, or the General and the French heiress, aud the downfall of Adrien de Merrique and his designing son. The story, a beautiful romance, is full of real life ; and with that real life, activity, and well-studied perseverance Mr. Howe went through his pa-ts ; his splendid acting, combined with hia beautiful dress, did not fail to secure him calls before the curtain at the close of each act. Mrs Walter Hill's acting throughout was remarkably pleasing, and she proved herself a valuable helpmate and acquisiti >n to Hero; whose calls before the ourtain she rightly shared, besides the well-merited applause frem all parts of the house during the progress of the performance. We hardly need mention that out old favourite (Mr. Herberte) made a capital Zilllo; and that Mr. Sam Howard as Tito Fron, and Mrs. Sam Howard as Mrs. Frou, added considerably by the well-acted by-play. The second »nd third acts of "Rip Van Wilkle" concluded the evening's programme, in whioh Mr. Howe fully maintained his reputation as > ip, and which we noticed at greater length in a previous issue. — To-night Shakespeare* tragedy of " .Richard III." is announced.