The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-18 00:00:00

DRAMA.

HAYBIARIET THEATRE.
A play. in three act., calltd "The Loving Woman,"
by Mr. Mark Lemon, w..s produced at this the.itre
last eve! log, with complete success, which it futly de-
served, from the skill of its dramatic construction, the
strong interestof the etory,and the great beauty of the
principal character. The incidents, at the same time,
though sufficiently clear in rcpresentt*tion, are s 3 nu-
merous, end are complicated with so long a train of
events, suppoael to have occurred prior to the com-
mencement of the piece, that it is imtssible to give
snintelligible account f the plot within any reason-

able compass.
The heroine, 0/lilies, is the ward of WieVert, •
rich usurer of Prague, and is on the eve of marriage
with Rosen, a young man of the city, to whom she is
devotedly attached. Iler guardian, who has nous idled
I &passion for her from her infancy, and who finds his
hopes on the point of being destroyed by this mar-
riage, which he has vainly endeavoured to prevent, is
driven to make a desperate avowal of his feelings,
and receives, of course, a scornful repulse. From
that moment hatred and revenge take possession of
his mind, and he resolves to work the ruin of
the pair. Rose n's late mother, who had lived
for many years es a widow, had borrowed
large sums on the security of her house and gcods, to
enable her to bring up and educate her son. Mel-
fee knowing this, purchsves the bonds for these sums,
in order to make them tho instruments of his
vengeance. Toe marriage takes place, end a gay
company of bridal guests are as.embled in Rosen 's
house, when the festivity is interrupted by the sud-
den appearance of Ill'eyert, atterded by officers of
just:ce, who claims the house and property under the
forfeiture in the bonds. The bridegroom is stunned
by the blow, and gives way to violence;
but the young wife, by her sweet cheerfulness and
devoted affection, soothes his feelings; and the pair
depart along with their sympathising guests, having
the houae in the possession of the vindictive creditor.
Months elapse; and the married pair are living
almost in indigence, their only support being Ottilia'e
small fortune. Rosen is much changed; he has be-
come moody, irrit-ble, (wranged from hia home, and
galled by the idea of dependence on his wife. His
enemy is unwearied in his endeavours to sow suspi-
cion between them. In her distress, Ot/i/io visits an
old and faithful friend of her husband, to take counsel
from his friendship. Rosen finds her in his friend's house,
and, in a transport of jealousy treats her with harsh-
ness and violence. In this extremity she has recourse
to her guardian, who has in his possession the deed
which secures her fortune to herself. He craftily
suggests that she may dissolve a union which is no
longer happy by obtaining a divorce ; she consents
that the necessary were; to that effect shall be taken.
Notice is served upon Rosen, and the parties meet at
the house of if ielferes lawyer to sign the deed of
divorce. The deed is signed, and the mar-
riage is uull. If te!fert is triumphing in
the success of his /scheme, when
tearing the paper which secured her fortune, turns to
Rosen, and tells him that she had renounced his head
only that she may sue for it again, and be his wife in
entire dependence on him. A separate chain of events
is brought to a denouement at the same time. Her-
mann, &personage who, under a disguise, has played
an important part in the piece, turns out to be the
father of Rosen, reined many years before by the
criminal arts of WieVert, but who has now returned,
armed with ample proofs of the villain's guilt. The
curtain falls upon the happiness ef the reunited
pair, and the punishment of the wicked.
The character of °talk is perfectly suited to Mrs.
Charles Kean. Nothing can be more charming than
the picture, by this most feminine of actresses, of that
love, strong as death, which woman only can feel.
The part of Rosen is comparatively weak. He is
intstisting only because his wife's happiness is in-
volved in his; and his pride, sullenness, and sourness
ere so unamiable that he appears unworthy of such
a creature's love. Mr. Kean made the most of a not
very grateful part, especially in the last scene, to
which he gave great effect. If' iqfert, a sort of
6Aylock, was acted with considerable power by
Mr. Howe : and the disguised Hermann. a part
full of pointed sarcasm, was well supported by
Mr. James Wallach. The ensemble was excellent;
and we bar. seldom seen a play acted. with more
warmth and animation. The applause was immense;
and the principal performers, as well as the author.
were called for at tLe fall of the curtain.

THE SOUTH SHIELDS LIFIBOAT.—On Monday, at
a publio meeting in South Shields, Ur. Robert Anderson
stated that this lifeboat had gots, off from South Shields sines
1841 to 66 vessel!, and brought on above 466 shipwrecked
mariners.—On Frie.ay a public meeting, convened in com-
pliance with a requisition, was held in the Guildhall, New.
castle, to promote a public subsiripation for the relief of the
widows and orphans cf the pilots who p rithad on the 4th
instant.—The Mayor, ifiaeph Crawhall, Esq.. took the
chnir.—There was a tremerous attendacce, comrtiaiug the
most influeatial inhabitants of the town.—Resolutions wee*
"mad, and an expression of sorrow and sympathy was fel-
bwed up by the appointment of a committee to raise a sub-
scription, at the bead of which are the Mayor and the Master
of the Trinity Roam.—Mr. John Rayne, who supported
one of the resolutions, made a powerful appeil in hihalf of
Mi. widows and orphans, and spoke in warm terms of com-
mendation of the spirit manifested at the meeting in South
Shields, where, he said, 5001. had already beta subscribed.
A. suggestion was thrown out that the resolutions of the
Newcastle meeting should be Lent to the London Coal Ex.
I charm ; but an application in that 'penal., it was justly oh-
served, would COOll with more propriety (if it hod not
already emanated) from the South Shields committee. On
Sunday lot collections were made in Hanover-square
chapel, Newcastle, for the reliof of the widows, orpham, and
other dependent relatives of the brave pilots who perished
on the unfortunate occasion above mentioned. —At the
Methodist New Connexion chapel, Dunstan, after aa appro-
priate unman, the sum of 16s. was collec
colleted in ai
ionsd of
ha thve
e
relief fund—Several other congregational ot
already been made; and others are to follow, in various
towns, forthwith.—Oatealead Observer.—The Queen his
forwarded cue hundred guineas towards this fund. The
°operation of NewcrAls bare sent a dentin' in of 100 guineas,
and the Master and Bratheren of the Trinity lions* hare
also tellttibUtte. 100 guineas to the same deserving object.
NICE BCARD WAOES.—The Admiralty Board him
136,3034. e year.—Puncka ellmawAr4.