The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-21 00:00:00

ADELPHI THEATRE.

An original drama, called Two Loves and a Life, ....Rs
produced at this theatre last night. It was not only a
sterling Adelphi success, but one of which the authors,
Messrs. Taylor and Reade, have reason to be proud in a
literary point of view. They have selected the year
1745 as their date, and for some reason have chosen the
month of October as the precise period of the play.
Prestonpans was fought on the 21st September, and
thenceforth the triumphant Charles Edward was occupied
in celebrating, instead of improving, his victory, with balls
at Holyrood, and other festivities, until the last day of
the month, when he left Holyrood en route for Culloden.
At the opening of the play Sir Gervase Rokewode
(Leigh Murray), arid Father Radcliffe (Webster), are re
siding under fictitious names at Ulverstone, the former
adopting the dress and manner of a fisherman, the latter
those of a Quaker. Sir Gervase is a handsome and fas-
cinating young gentleman, and the "two loves" are
speedily accounted for. He has secured the heart of
Anne Musgrave (Miss Woolgar), daughter of the rich,
wicked, and crafty postmaster of the place ; and of Ruth
Raveuscar (Madame Celeste), an orphan girl, who has
been saved when a child from a wreck, and who con-
veys the letters from the next town. It is due to Sir
Gervase to say that he loves Anne only, and has no idea
of the havoc he has wrought with the more fiery, but
not more loving heart of the other young lady. The
Duke of Cumberland (Selby) comes to Ulverstone
with a portion of his army. The sands are dan-
gerous, and imperil the royal leader and his men,
but he is conducted safely by Ruth. The Duke gives
her a ring, which is to insure her protection at any
future time. Anne's father is a scoundrel, who
reads—or rather being unable, from defective educa-
tion, to peruse correspondence for himself, makes his
daughter read the letters which pass through his hands.
He receives an epistle which implicates Sir Gervase,
and which informs him of a Jacobite rendezvous. He,
of course, determines, for the sake of the reward which
is offered, to bring the troops upon the rebels ;
but as Anne simultaneously becomes aware of the
scent, the plot acquires double action, which is
also complicated by the agency of Ruth, who
climbs windows and does various daring things to save
Sir Gervase. The two women mutually discover their
situation as regards Rokewode, and the struggle between
them is which shall serve him best, and this bate is capi-
tally got up. Ruth risks her life, and Anne her fair
fame, but in the end Gervase gets to the Tower. Then
Ruth uses her influence with the duke, and fairly bullies
him into discharging the debt of gratitude he owes,
while Anne, who has been suffering from fever, visits
him, and at his prayer becomes his wife. He escapes,
after the fashion of Lord Derwentwater, in another
dress, and she is led to Tower-hill in his place, but he
follows, unable to remain in doubt as to her fate,
rescues her, and is himself seized and about to be
executed, when Ruth dashes in with his pardon, to
find him Anne's husband. Ruth, however, turns out
to be Father Radcliffe's lost child, and under his
sacerdotal counsel forgives Anne and Sir Gervase, and
all ends in grave but assured happiness. The acting
of Messrs. Selby, Murray, Webster, Keeley, and 0.
Smith, and of Madame Celeste and Miss Woolgar was
deserving of the very highest ineed of praise—and the
scenery, dresses, and effects were new and well devised.
The applause began atter the first act, increased at each
fall of the drop, and was uproarious at the close, when
the actors, and afterwards the authors, were " called."
The piece was announced by Mr. Webster for every
evening, and will have, and richly deserves, a capital

run.