The Express.
London, England, 1863-10-02 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2, 1888.

'DRAMA.

ADWLPHL

The short recess of three days during which this
theatre bee remained closed far redsemlbs eluded last
night with the introduction of • new piece and • sew
alma The pion ia an American version of Harr ][-
seethes pastoral tragedy of Deborah—lint played is

Italian in' this occur; by Madame RUori, during km
recent engagement, and the screen is Men Bateman, a
young American lady, who is not altogether a stranger to
London andieneas In conjunction with a winter who has
since left the siege ate ►ppeared at the St. James s Theatre
about sine yams ago, and stove to amuse the town with
or of those mistaken perforniaames which were only tole-
rated in the "good old days" of the drama. Times per-
formances resisted chiefly of juvenile representations of
Sir Peter and Lady Teazle, and the performers were known
as the clever " Bateman children," and nothing more.
It is not often that theatrical armor laze " infant pro-
digits" bud into scything more striking than very common-
place members of society. The case of the " infant
Busies "—Muter Betty—is a notorious can in point. Be
was a wonder at twelve—at least cur father, who sup-
ported the " legitimate ", drama, thought so—but he was
an utter failure at twenty-two. The child, in this instance,
was not the parent of the man. The order of *bp was
reversed, and the young gentleman, inroad of deserting
tem% lomPrat tarnaz. g••• apspottingkegad, 41.410*
to *reds.
Mir Bataire—the new and strosufal setter of last night

-Ibis not boas deterred by this melancholy exemple hem
dinning to her profession. It was her midi:stud perkide.
and not her fault, that she had to strut shoat ss e weeder-
ful instance of preeocity ; but this hes nos pre-
vented her from thoroughly studying her art
She came te us with an Americas repuldien
which in Bait win cadent to excite curiosity, and she
chess for her opining part the character of Leah-4b
heroine of the German play we have mentioced abo►e.
This play, by Mks Bateman's acting, has bees rendered so
popular in America that hate-dolma bselasques of It ere
now being performed there at the chief thuds.
The story of irdrroh, or Leak as it is called in the ver-
sion played bat night, Is mere idyllic and ample in oar
duration that the simplest of our domestic dramas. It is
more pastoral even then Diserst The plot tares caddy
upon the ideate prejudice which existed aided the Jews
in Styris, where the Mail is isid, during the 'lady part of
the LAS ode*.
Miss Haidirea's reespliam scoding to the FALBA Laird
was hospitable aced elthoriloithe, end as the play pregreessi
she showed that she dB worthy of the weleome. eke is not
a greet actress—a occomanding genius ; and it is as well to
state this opinion at once, bat she is an actress entitled to
respect. He figure is did, though she is yet young, and
her face is a little too round and plump in the lower half
to be perfect g for tragic expression ; but her eyes
an very leap sod briniest, and her ellibedss ere very
striking. Her hair is a light ashes esker, which gives her
• fair appeamase—see that is mess gasedly associated

with conic the. tragic sateen& Her Koh h sot roam
fol, but it is free from rime rat, sad ha shiation is not
very full of Americas peeshorates. When she hi mailed
the mal tom h mahogany hard ' • but is the
pathetic path, exception burg goodie to • slight
tendency to clip her wards, she does her author
full justice. In the Ant short sot of the play she had
nothing to de bat to rush in hunted by the manna and
to take her haul in the =Wile of • fusions erowd. Tide
she did with so iamb pietaremae fens and dighty, that
she brought the curtain down amidst lend wham Is
the ncend act--• fewest ease with • keg adikezny,
eom-
priisg a Della Cinema apostrophe to Liena—siss we net
so socesedol, tomb bee tenderness is sa interview with
her lover obtained a an for her at the aid of the was.
In the third and fourth act' else wee very ono-
ansfal—auling the latter with • ease which
she delivered with peat power. The 'suit no-
ticeable hen wad the waimemkr and matilied character of the
eloontioa, and the final attestant ci the three "Amens."
It savored her sooner with the andtegice—criticel and on-
shtick]. Her acting in the fifth and hut act wu • tittle dis-
figured by an old womanish bobble, but her pathetic scone
with the little child was partorasid with real taste and
feeling.

Mr. driller Stirling, who made his but appearance at
this theatre in the part of the apostate Nathan, acted with
force and meaning, but he has not yet got rid of his dog-
ma' mode of delivery. Mr. Billiogton played the young
farmer carefully, and Mr. Stuart was istisfectory ma his
father, the old magistrate ; but moat of the minor parte
might be acted much better than they are. Min
Sinaloa, as Madeline, was very pleasing, sad Mn. Billington
ked a very alight nibble of a part as a poor Jewish woman.
The coMareas and scenery— he latter by Mr. William Call.
Doti and MIMI. Jam.. and Thompson—left nothing to be
desired ; and the chorus.., dances, and incidental music—
the latter by Mr. Robert Stoepel—wea very effective. The
piece, in fact, was put upon the stage with care, judgment,
and literality, and when Mr. Webster led on Min Bateman
at the aloes he was fairly entitled to a share in the applause.
The house looks lighter for its new decorations, and it was
densely crowded to every part.