PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 6760, 27 November 1884, Page 2

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

" Mammon " wag produced by tho WardVernon Company at the Princess's last evening. It is from the pen of Mr S. Grundy, and iii said to have been written especially for Mr Vernon. This is niost credible, for the personage who is continually before the audience, and who, in fact, monopolises their attention fits Mr Vernon like a glove Sir Geoffrey Herriott is discovered at the rising of the curtain to be a successful speculator, who has ammassed a fortune by unscrupulous mcanß, and who is ready to sacrifice everything before the shrine of Mammon. The remo'rtstranaea of a loving wife fail to detor him from er.tfiiicg upon a discreditable scheme, and when she conceives it to be her duty to leave hia house he bids her go and to allow their daughter to choose between them. But misfortune overtakes the avaricious worldling, and when in the midst of his ruin his wife returns to him, ho resolves to pursue a new life on different lines. The construction of the piece is rather odd, and like every one-character play, it has its weak points, but more defects than there are would be looked over on account of the admirable scope there is afforded for the representation of a character, which probably has not its counterpart on the Btage for minute delineation and detail. Mr Vernon's conception ia complete and exhaustive, without qualification of any kind, and he ia deserving of the highest tributes in praise of a piece of acting which is simply masterly. The only thing to be regretted in connection with the play is that no opportunity is given to Miss Ward for acting which is worthy ,of her powers. She appears in the part of Sir Geoffrey's wife, of which nothing muoh can be made, but oertainly the cast received strength from her presence. Miss Phillips appeared as the daughter, and did all that was required of her—principally to look well—and Miss Anßtead was a good exponent of Mrs Chinney. Mr Chinney is a character who causes some amusement, and none was lost by the impersonation of Mr Fenton, while the part of Sir Geoffrey's secretary was capitably represented by Mr Lawrence. Mr Darvill was a journalist, and Mr Montgomery a solicitor.

At the conclusion of the piece Miss Ward treated those present to a reoitation of "The widow of Glenooe," which waß received with the warmest demonstrations of approval. "Mammon" will be repeated to-night, and "Foiiget-Me-Not" will be reproduced on Friday night.