The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-09 00:00:00

ADEL= TII '

The new drama entitled Thirst of Gold, or the Lost
S/tip, and the Wild Flower of Mexico, produced for the
first time here on Monday with the most unequivocal
success, has ever since been nightly received with the
greatest applause, and it may now be classed among
those stock- pieces of the Adeiphi which to Londoners
puss, -ts enduriii,4- attraction. In point of romantic
interest, diversity of character, and scenic effect, it is
not equalled by any modern production now on the
stage, and does infinite credit to the talent, taste, and
judgment of Mr. Webster, who, we believe, is the
adapter of it from the popular piece, in five tableaux,
entitled "La Priere des Naufrages," now being per-
formed with great success at the Parisian " Ambigu.”
It may he mentioned, however, that the orezinal story
is much altered and improved, so as to suit the tastes of
an English audience. The intensely exciting inci-
dents embraced in the drama take place on board
ship in the arctic regions amidst gigantic and threat-
ening icebergs, in the glorious clime of Mexico, and in
the glittering and gorgeous mansions of Paris. The
story opens with the tableau of the ship Eugenie, Captain
Jules de Valois, with Pedro as a passenger. Blanche
de Valois, the captain's wife and their child, Marie, are
also on board. Pedro is a man of cool and calculating
character and swelling ambition. He has heard from
the only survivor of some men who were wrecked on the
coast of California in 1705, that that place abounds in
gold. With this knowledge, having stabbed the man
who gave it to him, he lays the first step of the ladder
on which he mounts to power and rank. He contrives
to get several men, whom he inflames with the prospect
of gold, as sailors on board the Eugenie. They mutiny
during the voyage, and M. de Valois, his wife and child
arelowered into the boat, and sent adrift. The next ta-
bleau represents the Arctic Regions, a capitally painted
scene. The boat has drifted to these deep and cold soli-
tudes, and a painful portraiture of the misery and priva-
tions endured is exhibited. At last the ice breaks up,
and the child. Marie, alone on a fragment of iceberg,
seems to have a possibility of escaping. The breaking
up of the ice and the rush of waters which concluded this
tableau, was admirably executed and greatly applauded.
From this to the next tableau—the Bay and Landscape
of Mexico—also a fine picture—fifteen years are sup-
posed to have passed. Here we find Pedro decked in
the richest costume, and abounding in gold, preparing
to set sail for France, and to acquire by means of that
potent weapon the power and dignity he so much covets.
Here Unarita meets with her sister Acthle, and Pedro
the man who destroyed her parents. A mysterious sen-
timent leads her to love the former, whilst from the
latter she instinctively shrinks in horror.
In the fOurth tableau, we find Unarita in Paris, whi-
ther she has been carried by her relatives, who have
recognised her. Pedro, now Marquis D'Arvez, also
facilitates her removal, for he not only fears, but loves
her after his fashion. In the fifth and last tableau she
is transformed into a perfect fine lady, the betrothed of
the rich Marquis D'Arvez.
Unarita, however, has discovered in her lover the
murderer of her parents, and only promises to be his in
order that she may more securely work out her plan of
retribution, This she accomplishes easily, and when the
curtain falls her well-earned triumph is complete.
Madame Celeste's acting, as Unarita, was perfect
throughout the drama, and no smaller amount of
eulogy could justly be bestowed on that of Mr. Web-
ster, whose delineation of the diabolical gold worshipper
was terribly truthful.

Mr. Keeley, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Leigh Murray,
and Mr. Selby, also in their respective parts, add con-
siderably to the success of the drama.

A contemporary, speaking of Madame Celeste's per-
formance, says :—Madame Celeste never appeared to
greater advantage than as the heroine of this drama,
whose strange eventful history affords the fullest pos-
sible scope for her inimitable powers. As a melodra-
matic and pantomimic actress, Madame Celeste is gene-
rally admitted to be without a rival on our stage ; and
as the part of "[Morita effectively calls into requisition
those qualities which characterise her style, the surpass-
ing excellence of the general result may be readily con-
ceived.