The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-16 00:00:00

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

PAUL'S RETURN.

Dist night a new three-act drama, by Watts
Phillips, Esq., entitled " Paul's Return," was sue
cessfully produced at this theatre. The main inci-
dent of the piece, although by no means a novel one
(it having been well worked up in "Payable on
Demand," and similar plays), has been so well
treated in the present instance, that a freshness has
been given to an old subject. However good the
piece, to persons unacquainted with managerial
secrets, it must seem somewhat strange that West-
land Marston's admirable play of "Donna Diana"
should have been stopped in its lull tide of
'uccess for the production of "Paul's Return," for
without in the least wishing to detract from the
sterling abilities of Mr. Phillips as a dramatist, it
cannot be said that the new piece is equal, either
in point of elegance of writing or dramatic interest,
to the one it has displaced. It is certainly good
policy on the part of a manager to keep up a suc-
cession of novehies, yet there may sometimes ba
precipitation which, instead of answering the object
intended, may lead to a totally different result. In
the present days of sensation dramas it was a relief
to find one manager making a bold stand for
pure and elegant comedy, yet through no lack of
patrcnsge, the effort lasts for Lbout a month, and
then he falls back on old the conventional three

act domestic drama. However, Mr. Vining is a
very clever manager, and we have no wish to dis-
cover any of his secrets. The plot of " Paul's Re-
turn" may be very briefly stated. A certain Mr.
Richard Goldsworthy, the head of a mercantile firm
of the highest repute, is entrusted with the fortune
of his niece, Blanche Wilton, by her father, and
news haviug arrived of Wilton's death by shipwreck,
Goldsworthy is induced, owing to severe pressure, to
make use of the fortune of Bianche in the prosecution

of his own business. The money is lost in speculation,
and for ever afterwards Goldsworthy becomes a
victim to remorse, although to outward appearance
he is a wealthy and influential man. Blanche,
knowing nothing of her lost fortune, is an inmate of
Goldsworthy House, where she is looked upon by
the other members of " the family" as a dependant
and an incumbrance. Paul Goldsworthy, a nephew
of the merchant's, after an absence of six years in
California, returns, and is the bearer of papers from
Blanche's dying father, whom he has met in foreign

lands, which will expose the fraad of Goldsworthy.
Owing to Paul's love for the merchant's
daughter, Beatrice, he grants him a month to

make good the money he has lost. In his
extreme need Goldsworthy applies to a friend,
one Abel Honeydew, to assist him ; but imme-
diately this friend finds that Goldsworthy is
in urgent want of assistance, he throws off the
mask and shows himself a thorough rascal. He is
willing to advance the money provided he re-
ceives the hand of Goldsworthy's daughter. This
proposal is scornfully rejected by the father; but
Beatrice, although betrothed to Paul, to save her
father determines to sacrifice herself. Paul, who
previous to his arrival in England, has been robbed
of an immense fortune by his companion at the
gold diggings, one Brassington, determines to
see Mr. Honeydew, and to endeavour to make
other arrangements than the proposed marriage ;
but the merchant, Goldsworthy, makes a full con-
fession of his crime before " the family," and deter-
mines to brave the worst. Mr. Honeydew calls at
nine o'clock for a final answer, rind on that occasion
he is seen by Paul, who immediately recognises in
him the thief who robbed him in America. Honey-
dew is compelled to disgorge his wealth to Paul.
He at once places the whole of it at Goldsworthy's
disposal, whose first act is to restore to Blanche
her fortune, and his next to make his daughter
happy by giving her a husband in the person of
her cousin Paui.

The acting of the drama was unexceptionable.
Mr. Vining sustained the part of the merchant,
Richard Goldsworthy, with dramatic effect, and in
many of the scenes he threw into it the utmost in-
tensity—the avowal of his crime to Paul was a fine
specimen of artistic excellence. Mr. Nelson, who
made his first appearance in London as Paul, did
not have much of a part to show the extent of his
abilities. All he had to do was to repeat a few
set and claptrap phrases, which, of course, went
well with the audience. Before expressing our
opinion of him as an actor, we must see him in
something better than a walking gentleman's part.
Mr. David Fisher secured high honours. His Abel
Honeydew was a remarkably well sustained cha-
racter, and it is only to be regretted that more
opportunities are not afforded him of displaying the
great abilities he undoubtedly possesess. Miss Kate
Saville gave a pretty embodiment of the merchant's
daughter, and Miss Powell was excellent as Blanche
Wilton. There are a number of other characters in
the piece, but they have nothing to do with the
development of the plot. Fur instance, Mrs. Mars-
ton represents " a member of the family," who is
given to embroidering velvet smoking caps, and
making fine baby clothes for emancipated ncgcoes.
Mr. Mellon appears as a " Humanitarian," wnose
charity, born in the heart, dies before it reaches the
breeches' pocket, and Mr. Forrester, a poor lieu-
tenant, dying in love for Blanche Wilton.
The scenery is remarkably beautiful, and the
dresses and appointments in the best taste.
All the principal actors were summoned before
the curtain to acknowledge the applause their efforts
had evoked, and Mr. Vining announced the piece
for r-petition every evening until fu,rther notice.