The Express.
London, England, 1859-10-25 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S.

Oa the occasion of Miss Louise Keeley's di but in
Law erect ?swum we had the gratification of speaking of her
la very laudatory terms. fled there been the Mast doubt of
the edginality of her talent, or of the position she is likely to
mew on the English stage, the question would have been
solved last night by her performance of the principal
ehersetes in • little piece called Puss, or keteuipsycliosis.
The oonehohis itself, though smartly written and abounding
la bang albadons, is almost • literal translation of La
lame Ifetamorpliosie en Chalk, in which Madame Jenny
Veprez turned the beads of the Parisian playgoer., and it
depends entirely on the manner in which the heroine is
played, as stern sense refines to believe In the probability of
the plot. Karl (Mr. G. Shore), • German student, is
la miserable poveety, but will not hear of accepting
may aid from his wealthy female combs, Adelaide
(Ulm L. Keeley), whom be has never seen, but whom he re.
glade with a hatred which be is good enough to extend to
all womaaldnd, save an old housekeeper, Bonne (Mrs. Wes.
ton). With her end • at, for whom he has the greatest
afration, be passe. • misemble existence in • garret.
Aralside has beard of his Mine regard, and the diseased
Nees of Wad late which • sesatenation of poverty and hard
maw haste bissibt him, r dellunnines to profit by her
harevisage. Illhe maw her steward, Schott') (Mr. Garden),
to drape Mown as an Inaba magician, and to represent to
the muddle-beaded student that he is in possession of the
gnat ascret of the doctrine of metenipmchoeis—a word
which for the benefit of future pit and gallery audiences we
will translate as transmigration of souls. Karl implores the
Brahmin to nee his power on his favourite cat, then asleep
in a curtained niche. The magician gives him a ring,
and teaches him • certain rhymed formula. The
young man goes through the nemmary cabalistic
performance, sad on opening the curtain finds
in the place of his cat • lovely young girl. How the cajoles
him with her little pettish ways; how she firmly persuades
blot of her pussy origin, end of the imporability to rid her-
self of her feline tricks and habits ; bow she strongly feed-
Wes him, and then unfolds her secret, may—let use once
mere avail ourselves of the noblest sentence In the English
isopsogs, sad say—"may be more easily imagined than
deacribed." There la • charmiug fn shams and winning
piquancy about Miss Louise Keeley's acting which
are now-a-days perfectly unknown on the English
serge, and but rarely seen at the beet Parisian theatre..
From the first moment of her eppearance until the fall Of
the curtain she thoroughly enthrals the attention of
the audience ; and the "basin's" of the cat—the
milk-drinking, the toeing a ball of worsted about, the sager,
savage dash at the bird-cage, and, above ell, her start of
delight and tiger-like spring when she thinks she hears the
moues, were little bite of artistic emelleince as admirable es
they are moommon. She sang two very ineffective chess-
marten in a very charming wanner, and obtained • hearty
esteem Mr. Shore played the student very naturally, and
Mrs Weston ales deserves credit for her quiet rendering of
the quaint old housekeeper.
The piece was thoroughly eucceesful, and should be seen
by all who appreciate genuine acting. The adaptation bee
been done, it is said, by the heruina'a father, the well-known
Icomadian.