Impulse.

Southland Times, Issue 8079, 6 August 1885, Page 2

Impulse.

Mr Wybert Reeve and hia comedy company open in this play to-morrow evening in Sloan's Theatre. It ie by Mr B. C. Stephenaon, and is founded on the French "LaMuisondu Mari." The plot of the play is exceedingly simple, and is principally founded on tbe inconsistencies of a fickle wife, who ie twice led away through the persistent addresses of a Fronchman, Victor de Riel. Colonel Macdonald, tho husbmd, haa been away to the Cipc, and on tdo eve of: hia arrival this Frenchman induces Mrs Macdonald to elope with him. Mrs Bercsford, a widow, and the sister of Mrs Macdonald, heara of her sister's foolishness, find she at once commissions Captain Cricbton, a lover of here, to intercept tbe couple. la the meantime Colonel Mucdoaald arrives, and makes inquiries for hi.s wife. Mtb Beresford tries to hido the facta f mm him for the time beiDg, but a mischief-making old maid (Miss Kdtnore) gives him in an indirect manner tho necesS if y information, and he pursues tho fugitives. In the course of his pursuit he Finds Captain Crichton at an inn, and, as luck will have it, tbe Ciptain h;is managed to pick Riel off to the railway station, and induced the erring wife to return to her homo. Capt. Crichton explains matters, and leaves th'j bus baud and wi f e alone ; and it is said that the scene which ensues between the two is one of the striking features of the play. Eventually the husband consents to his wife returning to hia hom^, but not to his heart, ou condition that she shall give up Riel — which she promises. For a time all go^s well, until Riel turns up again, renews his efforts to get the wretched wifo to fly with him, and even compels her to introduce him to her husband as the Count do Prangin. Colonel MacJonaid, learning by accident that Riel and the Count de Piangin are one, becomes terribly enraged at what he beliovGS to be the duplicity of his wife. But overhearing a conversation between the two, in wliif-h his wife expresses her dire hate for Riel, and lur love for her husband, all ia forgiven, aad Riel ie iguominicnily defeated. o>ptain Cricluon and Mrs B rtbforil, wl-.o supply the comedy of the pieoo, increase the general happiness by becoming united, aad thus all ends happily. As Captain Crichton Mr Reeve pri-Hcnla an < xcecdingly able pit.cc of actiog, and, according to the Press of the northern towns, the whole of tho characters arc pi«y»:d in a masterly manner.