A DEBUTANTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3929, 19 September 1874, Page 6 (Supplement)

A DEBUTANTE.

London, with, its many'theatres, is-in a constant state of theatrical excitement, which Edinburgh, the possessor of one select house of dramatic entertainment, can scarcely realir.e. There the Haymarket, the Princess's, and the Prince ofWales's parade magnificence simultaneously, while the Italian Opera's two lovely prime donne carry the night with aristocratic musicians, and Le Ooq's sparkling operetta of " GirofM-Girofla " wins the hearts of humbler devotees, who like to be made laugh, and who see more to admire in the palpable joke of twin sisters mistaken for one another than in M, Ambrose Thomas's deeply significant miguon. A debiitante on the.London stage has therefore much to encounter to~ steer clear of rival interests, and to appropriate for herself some character which is not already sufficiently illustrated by a successful artiste. . The well-known sandwiches largely perambulating Piccadilly inform the public at present that the never-forgotten " School for Scandal" is in its lull glory; that one house has gained itself a little lucrative notoriety by adapting a drama from one of Mrs Edwardes's novels without asking her leave. The vices of society are decried in " Pride "and "The Road to Ruin," and sensationalism is duly cared for by "The Prayer in tlie Storm," where an" iceberg and some hitherto unlieard of perils act a prominent part; while the realistic traveller can indulge his fancy in "The Overland Route." Strange to say, for the moment the immortal Shakespeare lies -dormant ; but the Bard of Avon is too grand a test for the novice on the boards, and historical plays now emanate from the unromantic pen of Tom Taylor, where any deficiency i in literary power is fully made up by good situations, which the public pan appreciate with little intelieptu'al effort'; and King Charles the. First's melancholy ■ countenance has been studiously resurrection-' ised by Henry Irving. London and the theatrical world is full of " bright particular stars," who have all good characters on the stage, but who, alas! have generally little to boast of anywhere else. It is time, indeed, that ladies '' sans peur et sans reproche " " should descend into the arena and raise the drama from the dust into which it has fallen. The present debutante in the Gaiety Theatre, Mrs Fan-fax, 13 one of the first who has ventured'on this hazardous ground since the retirement of Miss Faucit.- Did this lady's merit; lie entirely in her effort for the public good she would be praiseworthy ; as facts Btandher first appearance last Saturday has shown her to be gifted with high dramatic powers already raising her far above the average. Mrs Fairfax has been for some years known by another name to gay and to learned society;: but probably most of her friends were surprised that one versatile and gifted both iq mind

and in body lay a certain brilliancy should so devote herself. On Saturday morning she came; before a crowded house in the beautiful and almost fantastic character of Julia-in "The Hunchback," by Sheridan Knowles.: Here were collected an audience of which any debutante might be proud. :Fr6m;the floor to the ceiling were rows upon rows of eager listeners ; the literary world of London had done its duty by one of its own bright members and was present, while theatre managers and newspaper editors were there in force, and lynx-eyed theatrical critics were not found wanting. That the whole work of entertaining this great assemblage might hot be placed on j the new source of attraction, .Mrs Fairfax was well supported by Mr Hermann1 "Vezin, and Miss Fowler' played the sprightly part of Helen to satisfaction., The newly-arisen star was welcomed in the second scene of the first act by thundering applause, and created a most favourable impression. Doubtless this is not the last that the public will hear of the young and handsome officer's wife who has so bravely .broken the bonds of conventionality and has gone on to the stage.'—Scotsman.