The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

WHITSUN AMUSEMENTS.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.

A comic drama, in two acts, Written by Mr. J. M. Mor-
ton, and called From, Village to Court, was brought out last
night. The scene is laid at the Court of some German
Grand Duchy, where the handsome Bertha, Countess of
Lindenberg (Miss Murray), reigns predominant over the
heart of the Grand Duke. Eminence provokes envy, and,
as the Countess, by her elevation, has lessened the influence
of the BaronvonGrosenbach (Mr. Harley), she has a deadly
enemy in that ornament of the Ducal Court. The Baron
would do anything in his power to catch the Countess
tripping, during the absence of the Grand Duke, and to
report accordingly ; and, as ho has reason to believe .that
she is indulging in a little flirtation with a certain Captain
Manheim (Mr. Cathcart), he has a definite point to which
he can direct his exertions. On the other hand, the Countess
is fully aware of her peril, and, as it is her intention to
become Grand Duchess, if possible, her only object in seek-
ing interviews with Captain Manheim is to get rid of him as
delicately as possible. However, thanks to the vigilance
of the Baronet, it is difficult to carry out even this innocent
intention, and hence a system of telegraphing is invented,
that Manheim may learn when it is safe, and when it is
dangerous to seek the stately beauty. The telegraph em-
ployed is Rose Walstein (Miss Heath), the daughter of a
pensionless veteran, who is at Court with a petition for her
father, and who, by wearing a bracelet at the request of
one party, and a ring at the solicitation of another, may be
made to keep up a very pretty series of signals between the
Countess and the Captain. Two obstacles prevent the un-
conscious telegraph from working well. Rose has a heart,
and she has, also, a jealous lover, in the person of a peasant
named Maximilian Krootz (Mr. D. Fisher). Her heart is
devoted to Captain Manheim, whom she has tended while
in a wounded condition—so desperate, indeed, that he
was never able to open his eyes upon his benefactress. The
jealous lover has acquired a knack of listening, and, as he
overhears a conversation which reveals the whole system
of signals, he loses no time in communicating to Rose the
humiliating position in which she is placed, hoping thus to
show her the unworthiness of the Captain. On this foun-
dation a number of amusing incidents arise, which are of
a kind too minute to be recorded, and which, in order to
be appreciated, must be seen. Here it is sufficient to say,
that the Countess, triumphing over her enemy, attains the
dignity after which she aspires; that Maximilian, by
shrewdness and presence of mind, repairs the mischief
which his jealous interference occasioned, and that the
Captain and Rose ultimately become man and wife.
Though slight in its texture, this piece, elegantly put
upon the stage, and ably acted, is an agreeable specimen
of that numerous class of French (or French-like) pieces,
in which the action takes place at some Court, real or
imaginary, and in which the author's whole aim is to con-
struct an ingenious intrigue, without caring to give much
substantiality to his figures. On the present occasion the
well-dressed personages have more than a usual quantum
of fun in their mouths, through the talent of Mr. J. M.
Morton for comic dialogue, and the character of the pea-
sant Maximilian is brought into a prominence above the
ordinary level of courtly pieces, by the humour of Mr.
Fisher, who becomes a low comedian for the first time,
and thus displays singular versatility. On the whole,
Fro:l2. Village to Court seems pleasantly to introduce the
more solid entertainments of the evening, and the audience
last night proved their gratification by their laughter and
their applause.