Amusements.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1977, 6 May 1875, Page 2

Amusements.

THEATRE ROYAL.

The play of " Leah, the Forsakeiu" was produced last night, and attracted a very good house. We could scarcely imagine that Mrs Darrell's appearance in any character would do less than attract a good house, and last night's was,' comparatively speaking, good. We have seen better, but a&t. times go, the attendance was encouraging. It was evident that the interest centred, in the character of. Leah, which Mrs Darrell has certainly made a careful study, as she does any character that she attempts. Years ago when this ■ lady ' played the part of the love-stricken Jewess' it was apparent to all that she had ablyconceived the requirements of a difficult: part, and that the realisation was equal to the conception. Seeing the play last ■ night confirmed the impression conveyed' long ago; that there was nothing wanting —no room for improvement. Mrs Darrell is not only an intelligent actress, but a legitimate one. "She attempts no new business" calculated to win applause. Having worked out what she conceives tobe the idea of the author, ihe rigidly adheres- to her ideal;-, and this was apparent last night to everyone who had had the opportunity 6f' seeing her in, the same part before. There was nothing : left undone or. unsaid which could give , force or vigor to the impassioned language of Leah, neither was there 'the slightest attempt to improve tha^ccasion by spy. meretricious arts peculiar to the stage, which some artistes think absolutely necessary to a successful career. -We look upon Mrs Darfell's acting of Leah as one of her finest impersonations, and last night it was so like what we had seen formerly that we could almost fancy we saw her as she appeared some four or five years ago; the same dress, the v same voice—so excellently tuned to express the different emotions — whether .of tender, confiding love, or. of passionate hate. Every detail of tho .character is so finished, that we were forced to admit that Mrs Darrell more than realised whatever" conception an observer can possibly form of sucli an unreal character as Leah. The drama itself is what may be termed a character piece, and Leah is the character ; -the other parts being merely subsidiary to the principal, and important only as serving to keep up the action, of the piece. This may be an erroneous opinion, but it is ours. Rudolph is not a great character, but it is capable of being lifted above mere utility, and Mr Darrell has evidently devoted to it the same careful study which-is manifest in all his impersonations, but it docs not command the interest which centres upon Leah. The other parts are quite secondary in importance, but in the hands of skilful students they are raised above mediocrity. Miss Stephenion deserves praise for her careful and painstaking assumption of the loving wife of RudolphM The other parts were filled as [well as the exigences of the company; would admit; The low comedy element; in the play 13 not of a high order. It has; ;the studied:humour:of; the Frencfcdrama,' and a trifle of its broadness; circum-: stances whichfmay ,be/put down; tqjthe' score of the author rather than the actors.; Generally, however; we can speak favor- \ ably of,the, piece as 4 produced. ,Mr Samj Poole, as Doctor Ludwig, worked out his part in the traditional stage style, and Mrs Jones was as good as most ladies we have seen in the part for which she: was cast. The Apostate Jew, Nathan, by Mr C.'^Holldwayy was riot" niade as; much of a3 it" has been by some; actors. Mr Aveling filled two parts, and did both tolerably well. The five acts of the play went: smoothly, arid Mr and Mrs Darrell were twice called before tho curtain. In noticing a performance of this kind, under circumstances like 1 those which attend the present company at the Royal,- it is well to remember the fact that a new play is produced every night. This overtaxes the energies of both star and stock actors, and a great amount of indulgence must be conceded to them. ISTone but the most pains-, taking actors and actresses could acquit themselves crajjfably under such circumstances, and^pis much may be said, that the company at the Royal'have dono this through the portion of the short season they have appeared. We should be glad to hear that the season will be extended over the period announced. It is so long since a .good company visited the Thames that the taste for the legitimate drama has declined. ;'■ It would, however, be revived under the present course of management, and \it would afford pleasure 'to theatre-goers—and, we are sanguine enough to; believe, profit to the lessee, to prolong the season so far as to afford Darrell, an opportunity of appearing in some of her best plays which have not-yet been produced. .