The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-04 00:00:00

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

On Saturday evening a new three-act comedy,
by Mr. :Stirling Coyne, entitled " Everybody's
Friend," was produced at this theatre, and met
with decided success. The plot is exceedingly
simple, and • turns mainly on the inconveniences
that may arise when family men with family re-
sponsibilities mind other folk's business rather
'than their own. Mr. Featherley (Mr. Charle's
Mathews) has a charming wife (Mrs. Charles
Mathews), who has a strong sense of her domestic
duties, and likes to be taken occasionally to Chis-
wick, ' but so completely is he absorbed in
the affairs of his friends that he cannot
spare a moment to lighten her cares or
to increase her pleasures. His male friend,
Icebrook (Mr. Compton), is deeply in love
with a fair -widow, Mrs. Swandown (Miss Rey-
nolds), and, being too bashful to speak his own
mind, is greatly in need of some good soul who
will speak it for him. Then his female friend, Mrs.
De Boots (Mrs. Wilkins), wife to Major Wellington
De Boots (Mr. Buckstone), owns a beautiful infant,
the result of his former clandestine marriage, and
wants some kind adviser who will instruct her how
to provide for the cherub without the knowledge
of her husband. With these delicate matters on
hand, Mr. Featherley has enough to do, but he goes
through his labours manfully. Finding that Major
De Boots, in spite of a blustering exterior, is
really a poltroon, he bullies him into taking charge
of the infant, which he pretends is his own, the
offspring. of. ,a ,secret amour, and thus provides -
it with a home beneath its mother's roof. •
Learning that Mrs.. Swandown is fond of
zoological curiosities, he furnishes himself with a
fine Angola cat, and, assuming the name of Bangles,
calls upon the. widow, asserting that he has just
arrived from the African coast laden with the precious
gift. A position is thus obtained which may be
worked for Icebrook's benefit. A little explana-
tion, of course, frees Featherley, from the suspicions
brought upon him by his officious conduct, and
renders him immaculate in the eyes of his wife and
friends. - However, he stands in need not only of
exculpation, but of reform, and this is brought
about by Mrs. Swandown, who counsels Mrs.,
Featherley to exert her fascinating as well as her
useful powers, and, instead of being contented with
the character of a domestic driidge, to essay the
effect of a little gaiety. The young wife astounds
her negligent husband by suddenly giving a ball,
and dazzles him by the beauty of her appear-
ance in full dress, while Icebrook makes violent
love to her, in accordance with the widow's
instructions, and thus to other stimulants adds the
sting of jealousy. At last Featherly finds himself.
coaxed and driven into domestic felicity, and re-
solves to abandon his universal friendship. Feather-
ley, played with admirable " nonchalance" by Mr.
Charles 'Mathews Mrs. Charles Mathews, as the
sighing, neglected wife ; Mrs. Wilkins, as the hand-
some and portly Mrs. Major De Boots, a " superior
woman;" Mr. Buckstone, as the Major himself,
completely under the " superior woman's" thumb,
ready to bully, and still more prompt to be inti-
midated ; Mr. Compton, as the awkwardly bashful
man; Miss Reynolds, who gave point and sparkle
to every word she spoke, made up a most agreeable
society; The dialogue was smart, fluent, and p,:eg._
Pant with shrewd remarks ; the characters were
well defined ; a foundation was apparentle boun-
daries for
a story that could be carried on withA t i
of strict comedy, ' and 1,-In amusing Withal.
Mr. Buckstone announced Ow pkece for repetition
every night C-11. .qW ellgligenlePt of Mr, and
Mrs C. Ms,ttlicws,

L A T S
ILI 'OO

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office

PARIS, MONDAY, April 4.

The Powers have not yet came to a complete
agreement as to the conditions of the Congress.
It is said that the French Government has taken
fresh steps to procure the admission of. Piedmont,
of which, however, there appears to be no hopes.
The Piedmontese Government is now preparing
another expostulatory manifesto against its defini-
tive exclusion from the Congress.

News from Hanover state that the French
Ambassador was. recently obliged to quit the
Theatre Royal in consequence of an anti-French
demonstration of the audience. The Royal Family
was present at the time.

TURIN, APRIL 2.

Count Cavour has arrived here, and as a testi-
mony of the public confidence, an imposing demon-
stration was [prepared for his reception. A great
concourse of peopla thronged the road, shouting
" Viva it Re !" " Vive Cavour !" " Vive I'ltalia !"
" Vive Franeia !"

Letters from Rome, Florence, and other towns of
Italy amio'unce that numerous subscriptions have
been opened for the purpose of affording pecuniary
assistance to the Sardinian Government, and also
that volunteers have been despatched to Piedmont.