The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-09 00:00:00

CHI7-CHAT ON LONDON THEATRES•

j We are of opinion that it is, to a certain extent, a
1 mistake to attend the performance on the first
night of any piece, and prefer to bide our time until
we consider it to be in something like what may be
termed working order. Acting on this principle, we
visited the " Gaiety" to see " Uncle Dick's Dar-
ling" and " Wat Tyler, M.P.," which were pre-
ceded by a very pretty little operetta by Offen-
bach, entitled the "Rose of Auvergne"
(the
English words by 11. B. Farnie, Esq.), which,
nicely sung and acted by the three, and only
performers, Miss Annie Tremaine, Mr. C. Lyall,
and Mr. Edward Perrin formed an exceedingly
agreeable prelude. The plot of " Uncle Dick's
Darling" is well conceived and well carried out.
Dick Dulland (Mr. J. Is Toole) is, as the iuscrip-
. lion on his cart informs us, a licensed liar, ker,
or, more familiarly speaking, a " Cheap Jack."
Mary Belton (Miss Neilson) has been found by him
when she was quite a child, and been adopted
by " Uncle Dick," as he prefers to be called by
her, at the earnest solicitation of Joe Leonard,
Mr, J. Clayton. Out of Uncle Dick's hard-
earned gains, Mary Belton has been educated at
an eminently respectable ladies' school, kept by
one Mrs. Torrington, Miss Maria Elsworthy, and
in the school-room of that establishment the play
begins. After an inquisitive discourse, held by
two of the pupils, Alice Renshaw and Kate Lsnd-
rail, respectively represented by Miss N. Mar-
lowe and Miss L. Heade, who are anxious to
know more about Miss Belton's birth, parentage,
and pedigree, that that young lady chooses to ac-
quaint them with, she is delighted by receiving
a visit from Uncle Dick, who brings a letter, above
all, from Joe Lennard, who is deeply in love with
the young lady, and her old guardian has to be
contented with a promise from her that an answer
to Joe's letter shall be given on the morrow, lie
has seen enough however to convince him that
" she ain't forgot Joe," if even her sentiments
do not take a warmer form. Mrs. Torrington
asks fond old " Uncle Dick" what he means to
do with Mary Belton, who is a " credit to her
establishment," and naturally, therefore, fitted
to fill any position, however exalted. She ear-
nestly urges him not to drag her down to his
level, and thoughts arise in that loving heart
whether he had really been acting as her best
friend or worst enemy. In the next scene see
find Uncle Dick pursuing his ordinary calling of
Cheap Jack, and a thoroughly characteristic speech
is delivered by him while endeavouring to sell
one of those marvellous bargains only to be met
with under similar conditions. After his audience
has dispersed, Uncle Dick sits down to his tea and
a quiet pipe. However, Joe arrives all anxiety to
know the result of the delivery of his letter, and has
to be content with the information that he will know
the worst or best as the case may be to-morrow. Uncle
Dick's pipe is further put out, metaphorical lyof course,
by the arrival of Mr. Chevenix. Mr. Henry Irving,
a gentleman of great wealth and position, who hav-
ing met Miss Belton has been so struck by her beauty
and accomplishments that he wishes to make her his
wife, and has called upon Uncle Dick with a view
of obtaining his consent, urging him, as Mrs.
Torrington had previously done, not to drag her
down to his, Uncle Dick's, level ; and giving thst
good-hearted soul until the morning to reflect
upon his proposal, he leaves Uncle Dick to his
oomforter—his pipe. In the second act, after a
lapse of some time, we find Mary Belton as tire
wife of Mr. Chevenix ; there is.but little sympathy
between husband and wife, and unfortunately
there is one friend who appears to enjoy her
esteem at least, the lion. Claude Lorrimor, Mr. 11.
R. Teesdale. What threatens to be a dangerous
flirtation between them is interrupted by the ar-
rival of Uncle Dick, who has determined to visit
his darling spite of the prohibition of Mr. Che-
venix. A very affecting scene follows, which ends
by Mary Belton, urged by conflicting passions, or-
dering her uncle from the house; she then falls
fainting. Uncle Dick has overheard and seen
too much for his peace of mind, and we find
Joe and him, in the third act, in Joe Lennard's
forge after an interval of some years, as in a
newspaper Joe reads the death by shipwreck of
the Hon. Claude Lorrimor, who figured some time
previously in the famous Divorce case of Chevenix
v. ,Chevenix. Uncle Dick and Joe, whose love
has neither failed nor faltered, are talking of their
lost one, when, in the midst of a pit:less storm,
a rap is heard at the door, the poor wanderer
is admitted, none other than their own Mary, a
poor weak, ailing woman, who only seeks their
forgiveness before she dies ; how freely this i 4 ac-
corded after her pitiful pleading way be imagine,?..
This, then, was the end of all poor Uncle Dick's
schemes, hopes, and plans for her welfare ;--their
larling returned an outcast, and, worst of all, re-
turned to die ? No ! dear reader, this was not the
end, althoursh we are very nearly at the end of the
last act. We would not for a moment destroy
the pleasure of those who witness this exceedingly
clever piece by one word more than this—it all ends
happily after all. We can speak with unqualified
praise of Mr. Toole's acting in this difficult character.
In laughter-exciting scenes, or in those requiring
deep pathos, he seems equally at home, and the
audience were moved to tears or excited to the
highest pitch of merriment as if by the wand of a
magician. Ile is most ably seconded by Miss Neil-
son as Mary Belton, and in that character she
developes powers of a high order, such as cannot
fail to delight her numerous admirers. Mr. Henry
Irving makes an excellent Mr. Chevenix, and Miss
Maria Elsworthy leaves nothing to be desired in
her performance of Mrs. Torrington. Messrs.
Clayton and Teesdale fill the parts of Joe Lennard
and Hon. Claude Lorrimor with their usual ability ;
and the subordinate characters find suitable represen-
tatives in the artistesmentioned before. Thescenery,
dresses, and stage accessories are excellent, and our
advice is, go and see it, if only to learn how a
happy termination is brought about, out of such
seemingly incongruous materials. 'The principal
characters were recalled several times during the
performance, as well as at the termination of the
piece. " Wat Tyler, M.P.," an operatic extrava-
ganza, is beautifully mcunted and well acted, the
scenery and dresses exhibiting that good taste for
which the management of this theatre is so justly
celebrated. Mr. Toole developed a most marvellous
talent for imitation, and gave us Messrs. Fechter,
Compton, Buckstone, and Phelps in the character of
Hamlet, and Mr. Ben. Webster also. We can
only say that we think Mr. Toole may fairly dis-
pense with the trouble he takes of mentioning the
names of the performers he intends to imitate,
which, as he naively expresses it, lie does " to save
discussion." The hand is under the able direction
of Herr Meyer Lutz. One word more, and we
have finished—No fees or gratuities are allowed
at this theatre.—Anglo-American Times.