The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-21 00:00:00

COMMANDER.

J. H. Crang, to the Perseverance.

LIEUTENANT.
Lewis T. Moore, to the Salamander.
MASTER.

W. A. T. Green, to the Perseverance.

11AY kfARKET THEATRE.

(From the 11forning Herald of this day.)
The Provoked Husband was revived at this theatre
last night, the two principal characters being sustained
by Miss Cushman and Mr. Howe. We do not remem-
ber when this once popular comedy was last performed
in the metropolis, but some five-and-twenty years ago it
was acted with great excellence at Covent Garden, dur-
ing the period of Miss Fanny Kemble's earliest dramatic
experiences. That it has not been more frequently re-
presented is a matter of little surprise, for although as a
picture of the fashionable and domestic manners of the
last century it enjoys a high reputation, it has ceased to
be the type of anything of which a modern audience has
cognisance ; and hence it now awakens but a compara•
tively small degree of interest.

Actresses of the highest rank have from time to
time essayed the part of the restless and infatuated
Lady Townley. That Miss Cushman would analyse
the elements of the character with shrewdness and
ability we were sure ; but an intelligent survey of
a part like this is not, at all times, realised by a
successful erubeliment ; and here was an instance.
Miss Cushman is not by any means a happy ex-
ponent of she gay and reckless trifler, whose love of
pleasure and the excitements of the gaming-table so well
suggest the lineaments of the frivolous and capricious
woman of the olden school. The delineation of the
scenes which precede the crisis wanted, as might have
been expected, the geniality and finesse of high comedy,
and grievously failed in the estimation of those who could
remember former portrayals. But in the last act, when
Lord Townley, chafing at the discreditable collision of
his wife with a clamorous creditor, openly admonishes
her, and by the severity of his reproof not only humbies
her instinct of resistance, but touches her better nature,
Miss Cushman was all that could be wished ; and to the
painful force of the address, in which she confesses her
humiliation in words of the deepest remorse and contri-
tion, the audience was far from being indifferent. Mr.
Howe, always sensible and manly, played the amiable
Lord Townley with his usual propriety ; and in the clos-
ing scene, when he details his provocations, asserts per-
emptorily his authority, but yields to the symptoms of
penitence and amendment, was impressively effective.
We need specify no further, excepting to praise Mr.
Rogers for the zest and heartiness which he threw into
his portraiture of the unsophisticated John Moody ; and
to observe that Mr. Compton and Miss Ellen Chaplin,
1%.3 the wilful and audacious children of the rustic baronet,
diverted the spectators immensely by their practical
escapades.

(Front tke Morning Post.)
The style in which the Provoked Husband was per-
formed last evening deserves great praise. Mr. Howe,
as Lord Townley, is gaining fresh laurels as he proceeds,
and evidently increases in means in proportion to the
difficulty of the situation. Tbo Mr. Manly, by Mr. W.
Farrel), was a very satisfactory effort. Sir Francis
Wronghead, by Mr. Chippendale, was exactly what it
ought to be ; Joh❑ Moody found a very judicious and
natural representative i❑ Mr. Rogers ; and Squire
Richard and Miss Jenny, in the hands of Mr. Compton
and Miss Eden Chaplin, furnished the necessary breadth
of humour to the piece. The Lady Grace of Miss
Swanborough was by far the very best of her dramatis
efforts ; an ,1 in Lady Townley Miss Cushman, if she dis-
played a little too much gesticulation in the earlier
scenes, by the pure and effective performance of the last
compensated far all. The sympathies of the audience
were fairly subdued by the simple earnestness of her last
appeal to her offended husband, and their tears were a
just tribute to the consummate skill of the actress.

(Front the Daily News.)
The Provoked Husband was revived last night. The
performance was careful, and on the whole good. Miss
Cushman essayed the part of Lady Townley, and
was injudicious in doing so. This lady, with all
her merit in her own line, ought to have known that
Lady Townley is entirely out of it. She has neither the
face, person, voice, nor manner belonging to the grace-
ful, elegant, gay, frivolous, high-bred woman of fashion.
It was only in the last scene, which approaches to tra-
gedy in its display of passion—the scene of Lady Town-
ley's sudden penitence and reconciliation with her hus-
band—a scene, by the way, out of keeping with the
inveterate levity of the character—that Miss Cushman
made anything like a strong impression. That scene
was warmly and deservedly applauded. Mr. Howe and
Mr. Farren made as much of Lord Townley and Mr.
Manly as could be expected. Miss Swaaborough was
a graceful Lady Grace. She acted the part " soberly,:
and at the same time pleasantly. The " Wronghead'
scenes went off with spirit, and caused much amusement.
Chippendale was the Old Squire, Compton was Spur!
Richard, Miss Ellen Chaplin was Miss Jenny, .and
Rogue was John Moody. All excellent, especially
seeingas now acted.
Compton and Miss Chaplin. The
play is worth