The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-05 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

Last night a new four-act drama, entitled the Actress
of Padua, was produced here with most triumphant
success. The plot is short, and may be explained as
follows-:—Tisbe, an actress, has risen by her talents
from a child who sang about the streets to a station of
wealth sufficient to entertain the Governor of Padua,
Angelo Malapieri, at a grand fete. The Governor is
also among the host of lovers of the successful actress—
albeit he is married—but his love is not reciprocated ;
:n fact, Tisbe doatingly loves another. The Governor,
in his attentions to Tighe, neglects his wife, who has
been forced into the marriage against her inclination,
her heart having been given to another. This person
turns out to be none other than the man upon whom
Tisbe lavishes all her affections one Rodolpho, a
banished lord, whom she passes off as her brother, and
he, in his turn, is dying of an early love for Catarina,
the wife of the governor of Padua. Omodei, a secret
agent of the Council of Ten, who is supposed to be an
idiot, overhears the secret of the different parties, and
as Rodolpho has saved his life, he procures him an in-
terview with the governor's wife, and then communi-
cates to Tisbe where she will find her lover. Driven to
desperation by jealousy she enters the secret chamber of
Angelo ; but there only discovers his neglected wife,
but her suspicions are aroused by discovering a cloak.
Her rage knows no bounds, but on discovering that
Catarina, when a child, saved the life of her mother,
which circumstance is brought to light by a crucifix,
which the mother of the actress gave the child,
her hate turns to love, and she resolves to sacri-
fice her own happiness to secure that of Catarina.
The circumstance of a stranger having been in the
palace hay been communicated to the governor, and as
his wife refuses to write or speak the name of the visi-
tor, he determines to poison her, and thus avenge his
supposed dishonour. Tisbe having given him two
potions, one to produce nearly instant death, and the
other sound sleep, she so contrives that the sleeping
draught is givea to Catarina ; and having promised
Angelo to have the corpse secretly conveyed from
the palace, he departs to find his male enemy.
Tisbe, however, has the sleeping lady conveyed
to her own home, and here Rodolpho, who has
heard that Catarina has been poisoned by the agency of
Tisbe, enters mad with rage as he is about to assassinate
her. She seizes his dagger and dies by her own hand.
Catarina now revives, and all is explained. A bell is
heard to toll, and a messenger enters with the intelli-
gence that the Governor of Padua has ceased to exist,
he having swallowed the contents of the other phial
with the hope of getting refreshing sleep.
Although the materials are not entirely new, they
are worked upon with extraordinary ability. A play is
produced that will take its place amongst the
best-acting dramas of the day. Miss Cushman, as
Tisbe, acted with her usual ability, and hence-
forward this will be one of her greatest parts. The cha-
racters in the drama were well sustained by Miss
Reynolds, Mr. Howe, Mr. W. Farren, and Mr. Rogers.
The scenery was excellent, and the dresses magnificent.
The principal performers having received the honour of
a "call," the author's name was demanded. Here Mr.
Buckstone stepped forward and said :—" The author is
a Frenchman—Victor Hugo—part adapter, your humble
servant. With your kind permission the Actress of
Padua will be repeated every Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday, till further notice." This laconic address was
received with the loudest cheers from a house crowded
to suffocation.