MISS GENEVIEVE WARD AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3277, 28 March 1885, Page 3

MISS GENEVIEVE WARD AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

" FOEGET-ME-NOT."

Seldom, if ever, we should imagine, has any leading artiste and a company met with such an enthusiastic reception, or achieved a more brilliant success m this colony, than did Miss Genevievo Ward and her most talented Company at the Theatre Eoyal last evening. Miss Ward's visit had so long been promised, that -when it became a reality, and she made her ■ appearance on our stage the applause was deafening, and the audience showed m the plainest manner possible that the great expectations raised here months ago had been realised to the full. Our pretty little Theatre was filled to overflowing, m circle, stalls and pit, and so eager were many to see Miss Ward that rather than go away because they could not secure seats, decided to stand throughout the performance. Miss Ward is acknowledged by all who have had the pleasure of seeing her m the Old Country and m the colonies to be one of the most talented exponents of the dramatic art, and m choosing " Forget- Me-Not " for the opening piece she displayed marked taste, as it is with this drama her name is inseparably associated. - It is now, we believe, nearly seven years since she first appeared m London as Stephanie, and yet many who saw her then and who have seen her playing this part m our colony avow that Bhe not only still retains all the freshness of a " first appearance," but has acquired (to her naturally) the most complete " finish " born of diligent and careful study and much experience. " Forgot-me-Not " is by Messrs Merivale and Grove, and is a drama of remarkable power. Briefly told the story is as follows : — Stephanie (Marquisse de ' Mohrivart), who married at 16 years a man much her senior m age, and -who with him kept for years a gambling house m Paris, has resolved to turn respectable, but only on the condition that she can achieve an entrance into good society. With this object she seeks out Alice Verney, a rich young English lady, whose sister Eose is the widow of her (Stephanie's) deceased son', and informs her that according to article 148 of the " Code Napoleon " the marriage was illegal, as her son was not 25 years of age, and had not received the consent of his parents to tho union. Alice, to save her sister's good name and her infant nephew's legitimacy, consents to receive her into her residence at Some for six weeks, at the end of which period Stephanie engages to sign a written consent to the marriage on behalf of herself and bier dead husband. At this stage Sir Horace Welby, an English baronet, who is desperately m love with Alice, arrives m Some, and is horrified to find as a favored friend of hers the soi-disant gambling queen, whom m hla wild days he had known m Paris as ",Forget-me-Not." A duel "to the death " is at once openly proclaimed between them. He threatens her with immediate expulsion from Borne by the pplice ; she laughs at him. He taunts her with her previous reputation, and she reminds him of his early life amidst such associations as he classes with her. In despair he appeals to her womanliness, her kindliness, her cupidity. Her only reply is that money is a secondary consideration, and a social position her first and paramount object. Chance befriends him. An Italian police spy, whom he once assisted, seeks him out and makes him a confident of his past career. He tells him that he, Benedetto Franchini, a Corsican gentleman by birth, lulled the Marquis de Mohrivart, and tried to slay Stephanie, they having beggared him after the woman had lured him to their " hell." Sent to the galleys for life, he was permitted to escape for aiding the police during an uprising, and if death had not robbed him of Stephanie he could not rest until he had slain her. The story is re- told to Stephanie as she is waiting for Alice to go to an evening concert with her — their first appearance m public together — but, although at first affrighted, she resorts to bravado, and brands it as a lie. Sir Horac* reasons and entreats m vain, and finally throws asunder the window curtains and reveals to the guilty ■woman's astonished gaze the silent figure of the Corsican. He has conquered, she has lost the battle, and "Forget-me-Not" looks her last upon the first pure lady's home her feet have entered. The two characters who stand out most prominently are Stephanie (Marquisse de Mohrivart), and Sir Horace Welby, and, all through, the play may bo said to centre m them, their interviews, actions and struggles being watched with most keen interest ; m fact, the audience from first to last were completely carried away, so interwoven had their sympathies become m watching the scenes that passed before them. As Stephanie, Miss Genevieve Ward played her part admirably, never once for even a .fleeting moment forgetting it, and that she possesses histrionic abilities of the highest order, no one, we should think, after witnessing the performance lost evening, -will doubt. When she enters m Act I. as the " unbidden guest," to the time when she m the last act sees "the face' m the garden," she sustains grandly the pait she bos lined out for herself, and when broken, crushed, and all her fond and cherished hopes blighted and her last card played, she suffers an unexpected reverse, she by the force of her acting fairly carried the audience away, and was applauded to the echo. The part of Stephanie is an extremely difficult one to sustain, but Miss Ward is quite at home m it, and her success of last evening adds one more jewel to her already well-filled casket. As Bir Horace Welby, Mr W. Hi Vernon is a fitting companion for Miss Ward, and we doubt very much whether there is another actor who could be chosen to more ably support hor. His Sir Horace Welby was as near perfection as could be, and there is no denying that hod it not been so " Forget-me-Not" would not have been the pronounced success it was. Mr Vernon very soon established himself a favorite with his audience, being all through cool, courteous and firm. His part was rather a fatiguing one, but throughout he was ever the same, and more' than once he created much merriment by the off-hand manner m which he treated persons and subjects. Miss Watts Phillips, as Alice Verney, played exquisitely, and -m more than one soene she exhibited powers of a very high order. The part of Mrs Foley was taken by Miss Nelly Veitch, and was done full justice to ; whilst as Prince Malleotti, Mr Arthur B. Lawrence acquitted himself creditably, as also did Mr C. Fenton as Barrato. At the close of the second act Miss Word, Mr Vernon, and Miss Phillips •were recalled, whilst at the conclusion of the drama they were again vociferously called for, Miss Ward being literally overwhelmed -with, floral offerings. - I Thin evening the "Queen's Favorite," a sparkling historical' comedy, will be presented, -with Miss Genevieve Ward as the Duchess of Marlborough and Mr W. H. | Vernon as Viscouut Bolingbroko. A largo] number of seats have been reserved, and those who intend going, and have not yet reserved their seats, should not fail to do so at once.

The performances speak for themselves ; all we recommend is that the public of Timaru should not miss this opportunity of seeing one of the most talented actresses of our time, and a company that is second to none that has ever visited our coleny.