MISS GENEVIEVE WARD AT THE OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7260, 24 February 1885, Page 5

MISS GENEVIEVE WARD AT THE OPERA HOUSE.

Miss Genevieve Ward's Company placed another new piece before the Auckland public last night, on this ocoasion producing Sydney Grundy's drama, " Rachel" on the boards in a most effective manner ; and from the reception it met with last night must be pronounced a decided success. The piece goes without flagging, and is well worked np. The aituatioDß are particularly striking, especially in the second and third acts. In the prologue to the play it is shown that the daughter of Sir Philip Grant (Mr. A. R. Lawrence), a magistrate and a man of property has just died, the result of her demise beibg that the trniteeship of the property pastes from Sir Philip. Bankruptcy threatens the baronet, and he is induced by a friend. Captain Craven (Mr. W. H. Vernon) to substitute' another child for his daughter, hide her death, retain the trusteeship, and avoid ruin and disgrace. A woman called Rachel (Miss Genevieve Ward), but who is the widow of Sir Philip Grant's brother, who has been sent away by Sir Philip with their child, hatches a plot with an old baby farmer to abduct Sir Philip's child. When doing 10, Rachel's own child is left conveniently on the sofa, and Rachel returning is deceived, thinks it is her child, and takes it away to Sir . Philip's friend. Jack Adams (Mr. A. Darvill), who had left the child on the sofa, and at later date returns and informs Raohel of the death of her husband, and that he had brought back her own child. Suffering from the shock of the loss of her child, Rachel is arrested for conspiring to steal the child. On these facts the drama, hinges; and the four acts whioh follow pourtray Rachel, now Mrs. Athelstane, with whom Sir Philip la in lore, while his reputed daughter, Gladys (Miss Watts Philips), has given her affections to Harold Lee (Mr. Montgomery), who is next heir to the estate. As companion to the heiress, the widow devotes her energies to prove the identity of her daughter, and to the discovery of Captain Craven. How well she succeeds the play shows, and the "little game " between Craven and Sir Philip closes by the captain denouncing Rachel as a convict, but he is outwitted by her. The captain is arrested for forgery, and all ends happily. In her impersonation of the title role, Miss Ward ably sustains the reputation she has acquired, and her finished acting in this character was frequently applauded. Miss Watts Philips was very effective as Gladys. The Captain Craven of Mr. W. H. Vernon was an impersonation vfhich we jannot speak too highly of, hie cool edroflCery and repartee with Rachel being admirable, while Mr. A. K. Lawreno* ably filled tne part of Sir Philip Grant. The other characters were satisfactorily taken. Raohel will be repeated to-night,