The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-01 00:00:00

Haymarket Theatre.

Last evening a new four-act comedy, by Mr. John
ford, entitled " A Dangerous Friend," ,
was produced. St
theatre with complete success. The piece, like most of
new ones now-a-days, is an adaptation from the Fr,°°c,,..
but with alterations that have been made to suit the .913:
lish stage; and the care that has been taken to fit our u;s
equalled light comedians, Mr. Charles Mathews and. ht
wife, with parts suited to their respective talents, it Mibi,
almost be pronounced "entirely new and original." ,ed.
the opening scene we are introduced to a light-kesr;b 0
good-tempered gentleman, a general favourite with„iS
ladies, Mr. Samuel Handiman (Mr. C. Matthews), 'tv';
eat
on a visit to his friend, Sir Lancelot Livingston, at his
in Devonshire. Handiman, during the time he liar:::(1
Sir Lancelot's guest, has discovered that the baronet 'or
his wife do not exactly agree, the cause beinc, " an iiic°
i,nl.
50S
patibility of temper." Sir Lancelot is fond of his ,110 l
and hounds, while Lady Marion, a romantic bean*
has everything that can possibly tend to produce 11617:il
ness, thinks she is neglected. Handiman 50%v
this, and is in constant fear that some fine cid-ftlf
ing, sympathising visitor will turn up some
and that consequences will follow of the most disastretti
character. Haudiman is commissioned by his Pre
little cousin, the daughter of Sir Lancelot, to P-nr°lllo
her a feather, and on his return he is astonished 5' 00
arrival of a friend of his, Mr. Angus Mandevillel! 1,30
handsome young fellow, the very sort of person Peped
been in constant fear of meeting. lie seems des.,,,tiscly
to fill this void in the lady's heart ; but though .-she
Livingston is sentimental she is not vicious, andgs
repels him, but feels herself so weak that she vir:tir.
from hima promise to leave Europe. 513',tioli
nately, at the very time this strong et hasis waking her to a sense of propriety and duty,
sand
some small reason to become jealous of her husbanu'
Sent
the tempter again appears, and she seems about to oellbor
to fly with him, when her husband enters, and hears ll
guilty declaration. The lover leaves England, as h°bOut
not lift his hand in a duel against the man he Nos a„.
to wrong. The husband and wife agree, to avoids "::j,
dal, to live together until their only daughter is raarrTi he
but totally separated in sentiment and person• ore
last act shows us the simple wooing of the artless,
girl and the good young fellow, Handiman, wijci
served everybody throughout the play. When the ciivg
is disposed of the parents are about to separate, aceeruog
to agreement, but news arriving that the man wil°,eoo-
been the chief cause of their misery is dead, they arel., her
ciled. The deep lesson she has received throng ' iva
".dangerous friend" has thoroughly cleared the wife's :fell
of :all sentimental rot. The comedy is excellently fit
written, generally speaking, :tut there are portions
weaker than others, and these might with advents; ices
omitted, the effect of which would be to make the,fiog•
" go" a great deal better even than it did last eve" the
The part of Samuel Handiman is precisely ugh
thing for Mr. C. Mathews, and he rattles thre
n"76
r st
it with a vivacity that is perfectly re,c.‘fe
Mrs. C. Mathews, as the romantic Lady 11:11i
acted with more than her usual excellence, and MisßrOng
Moore, as her daughter, by her natural and 011:001
acting, gave importance to a part which, in other e- pre'
would have sunk into insignificance. Mr. Li°s°°„a
lsr
sentod Sir Lancelot with manly earnestness, a'ht)
Kendal (who made his debut in London last nig to the
Angus Mandeville, will prove an important addition
wan,
Haymarket company. He is a tall handsome young go.
and acts with the greatest ease and composer%tbers'
Chippendale and Mrs. Laws, as the two respected 111 osual;
in-law of husband and wife, were as excellent 115 3 couldindeed, as far as acting of the comedy is concerned; le piocs
not by possibility be better. The mounting of
was superb. The applause at the fall of the eert6ol.olo'
enthusiastic, and the whole of the principal porf°rlll„roeo
to appear, whilst the author bowed his ackuowle"4"
from a private box.
The house was filled to overflowing.

. -
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF PLY3IOUTII.TaIi llier
cordanco with the invitation of Sir Robert Porrett - °or
.tlinvdesllr. Walter Morrison, the parliamentary rePresf ton
fives
tahnedbnooronu-eglhecotofrsPloyfmtohaatth,baorloaurggehraaesesetigiuti°olo:,
liaole
Tuesday evening in the hall of the Plymouth gee" ,rifg
Institute to hear from the hon.gentleman some (ibs-'
tons upon public affairs. l, Safi/
CONSERVATIVE DINNER AT BOSTON. --CPI' -ifiel'• ft)
evening Mr. J. W
°
rßio.esdto.nc,owokase epnretesridtaeidn.edAartit
oan dinner in thattwc":slr I.
gst the company
Trollo
Pe? 31 •P• 7 Via 31r. J. B. tallhopp, 31.1' •