The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-27 00:00:00

SURREY THEATRE.

After having been so long appalled by the representation,
at nearly all our theatres, of exotic horrors, it is really quite
delightful to sit out at any one of them the progrera of a
domestic calamity or 'murder, which may move comfortably
on, without the intervention of fiends or devils. (bur
friends at the Surrey Theatre hit our taste exactly last
night, by the production of Was-duel: Kennilson, or Me
Outcast 3fother and Her Son, of which the outline is as
follows: Wardock having been seduced in early life under
fair promises, by Farmer Laster, and learning that he is
about to be married to another, acquaints the intended
bride of the fitilsoa already existing between herself and
Lyster. The lady spurns her, and the marriage is effected,
and from this moment Wardu•k vows rev, nge. She turns
gipsy, and hovers about the neighbourly" ti. until she
finds an opportunity of exchanging her child for the legiti-
mate one, which she does WitilOta the knowledge of any
other person than the nurse, flfaute But Icycurn, whom she
frightens with the most terrible threats of vengeance, should
she ever reveal the secret. She then leaves her supposed
child, Edward Kennilson, which is supported by charity,
310 becomes in time a very creditable character. Richard
Lister, her real child, iv brought up by foster and his
wife; as their own offspring, but from an overweening in-
dulgence, he becomes wayward, and contracts habits of
gaining and dritiking, and mixes with the most abandoned
characters of the village. After a lapse of twenty years,
Trardoek kennilsrm, who is a .ifs 3ferrilics sort of a
personage, makes her re-appearance in the neighbourhood,
to execute her vengeance against I.yrst,r's wife. She en-
deavours to induce her supp.sted son to commit a robbery,
which he cannot be provaiksl on to do, hut consents to
meet ft'ardu•k at midnight at the ruins of the Ivy Tower,
to devise some means of procuring money for her. Mean-
while Richard I.sstier, who has lost all his money by
gambling, determines on robbing his supposed father,
who he knows will be passing the ruins of the Ivy 1,
Tower, and in possession of a large sum of money. '
L.esitr passes the ruins during the conference of the
gipsy and E'dn•.nd, who retire ; when Richard ntshes
in, and his father offering some resistance, he shoots
and robs him. TT arduck hearing the groans of Lys-
ter, returns with Edoe trd, and the report of the pis-
tol having drawn the neighbours to the spot, she charges
the murder upon Edward, as a means of revenge e.gaiust
/..ester's wife ; but upon learning that she has been dead
seine time, a fact which her absence from the spot had
prey:mull her from knowing sooner, she is struck with re-
inorse at her persecution of F:iite,tr,/, and in her contrition de-
velopes the whole mystery, and claims Richard I.yster as her
son. substantiating her story by the evidence of the nurse.
Richard, in his agonies at the discovery, drops the money
which he had taken from Luster, and fully acquits Edward
of the robbery ; and Rirhard, unable to meet his associates
under his reverse of fortune, tubs himself, and time gipsy
canna., from grief at his death. Edward is then restored
to his rights, and the piece concludes. The whole of the
characters were very well supported, particularly those of
War,/,,ek Kennilsan and Ricito Littler, by Mrs. W. Clif-
fad and Mr. H. Kemble. Herring was also exceedingly
comic is a country publican, and there was also a very
humorous egutirocue between him and Jststiee Ramble
(Lovcday). The house was very respectably tilled, and we
have no doubt the managers will find their account in
Warduck Krimilsom. or the Outcast Mother and her Sun.