The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-10 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

The lessee of this little unique refuge of the
drama presented his holiday patrons with as good a
bill of Easter fare as, were they more fastidious than
is their wont, they could not with reason carp at.
Two new pieces—the one a five-act play, and the
other a burlesque, and possessing, moreover, in these
days, this startling peculiarity, that neither are adap-
tations from the French, constituted the amusements
of the evening. Heart's Trials, from the pen of Mr.
Hughes, of the Adelphi Theatre, though not a pro-
ductionincident ofa considerable
production
ofinterest,
merit, is yet in language and
and
evinces
respectability of talent in its author. Its
poetry does not startle by its brilliancy ;
its incidents do not wind up the audience
to the highest pitch of excitement, nevertheless the
simplicity of the narrative, and the excellence of the
performers entrusted with its development, com-
mended it to the audience, and its success was com-
plete. The story is simple. The Duke Alberto
(Mr. Davenport), a gay cavalier, with a character for
morality and stability about equal to that of our own
Charles 11., succeeds to the Duchy of Mantua by the
sudden demise of the former Duke. The licentious-
ness of his former life, and the dread of a licentious
Court, cause the grave councillors of the State much
choler. Among those who dread this most is the Lord
Montano (Mr. James Johnstone), who possesses a
beautiful and only daughter Florinia (Mrs. Mowatt),
betrothed to Lord Angelo (Mr. H. T. Craven), who
had saved her father's life in battle. Before the nup-
tials can be solemnized the Duke and his daughter
are invited to the coronation of the Duke Alberto.
They go ; the Duke seeks an interview with the
Lord Montano, and informs him that he his passion-
ately enamoured of his daughter, and asks her in
marriage, intimating that his former follies shall not
tarnish his new-born dignity. He tells him that she
is an affianced bride, and hastens to remove her from
the Court. The Duke, who is sincere in his reforma-
tion, though apparently resigned, is agonized at the
thought that Florina is to become the wife of an-
other. An accident happens to the carriage in which
Florina is travelling, the Duke saves her life, and
causes her to be conveyed, while in state of insen-

sibility, to Come private apartments, where he detains
I er, in the hope that he shall be able to overcome her
objections to share his ducal state. Florina, however,
being, like many other young ladies, rather self-willed,
is not at all mollified by the persuasions of her royal
admirer. Lord Montano, and her lover, Angelo, for
some time believe her to have been drowned in the
river, along the strand of which ran the road on which
her carriage overset ; but their apprehensions are re-
lieved by a note from Florina herself, forwarded by
consent of the Duke, but containing no more words
than were necessary to intimate her existence. Mean •
while Gasper (Mr. Lee), an Indian slave belonging
to Montano, who cherishes an aspiring passion for
his young mistress, has discovered her retreat, and
obtains admission. He endeavours to persuade her
to escape with him, professing of course, an intention
to escort her to her father's castle, but really design-
ing to get her into his own power. The scene, how-
ever, is interrupted by Duke Alberto, and almost im-
mediately aftemards by Montano and Angelo, who
had received Florina's note, and, we presume, had
also discovered the place of her confinement. The
Indian slave, finding his plot thwarted, stabs the
Duke in the back, and he dies, good-naturedly be-
queathing his duchy es a legacy to the fortunate lovers.
The materials, as we have said, are slight, yet out of
them an entertaining play has been concocted, each of
the five acts of which are remarkably short ; indeed, the
whole compressed into three would but occupy the
time of an ordinary drama. The acting of Mr.
Davenport and Mrs. Mowatt was excellent, and in-
deed the whole of the performers exerted themselves
to the utmost. The scenery was extremely pretty.
The burlesque, which we understand is from the
prolific pen of Albert Smith, entitled Guy Fawkes;
or a Match for a King, is one of the best productions
of the kind we have ever witnessed. It abounds in
smart hits at past and passing events, and, in
short, kept the audience in good humour from
the beginning to the end. A smarter piece,
or one better got up in scenery and costume,
has never been produced here, and we recommend
our friends to pay the theatre an early visit. Miss
Saunders sustained the burlesque part of Guy Fawkes
with a raciness and drollery only met with in the best
comic actors. Miss Villars, Miss Hamilton, Mr. H.
J. Craven, Mr. G. Cooke, and Mr. J. Herbert, "one
of the American aristocracy, and having landed
property in California," sustained the principal cha-
racters, and one and all made the most of the parts
set down for them. The house was well attended.