The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-09 00:00:00

HAYMARKET 1717BATEE.

On Saturday evening, a new three act comedy, from
the pen of T. Taylor, Esq., entitled "An Unequal
Match," was produced here, and met with the most de-
cided and deserved success. The scene represents a
mountainous landscape, the foreground of which was
occupied by the inn and smithy of a Yorkshire village.
Hester (Miss Amy Sedgwick), daughter of Grazebrook
(Mr. Rogers), the village blacksmith, has two admirers.
One is Dr. Boerbaave Botcherly (Mr. Buckstone) the
.Esculapius of the spot, who, finding that his passion is
not returned, soon subsides into the faithful friend and
counseller ; the ether is Harry Arncliffe (Mr. W. Farren),
a romantic young gentleman of small means and high
family, for whom, though she is not blind to the differ-
ence of their social conditions, Hester conceives a deep
affection. Arncliffu's intentions are strictly honourable,
his civility in carry Hester' milk pail amid the derision
of certain fashionable friends being followed by a formal
offer of marriage, which is joyfully accepted. The lovers
are rapturously contemplating a sort of " love•in•a•
cottage" existence, to which pigs, cows, and poultry
will give an ineffable charm, when news arrives that Arn-
cliffe'a uncle, a wealthy baronet, is deceased, leaving
him a rich inheritance. The fashionable friends new
begin to fancy that Arncliffe will back out of his mar-
riage with the blacksmith's daughter, and Hester
herself is not without misgiving, But the faith•
ful lover, in spite of the beneficence of fortune,
which has made him "Sir Harry," sticks to his pur-
pose, and in the presence of his sneering acquaintance
renews his offer, boldly asking the hand of Hester from
her father the blacksmith.

After a lapse of 18 months we ate removed to
Arncliffe Manor.h else, and now we find that the
romantic passion, which seemed so delightful in the first
act, is not without its inconvenient results. Sir Harry
Arncliffe, who, now the flush of romance is over, begins
quietly to contrast the behaviour of his uncultivated
spouse with that of the accomplished Mrs. Tophatn
Montresor (Mrs. Buekingham White), much to the dis-
advantage of the former, who, he suggests, should take
the latter for her mode!. The arrival of Hester's father
on a visit to his child does not greatly improve the
position. Everybody knows that the worthy Graze.
brook ;is a blacksmith, and the daughter's joyful reception
of her humble father in the midst of her genteel
acquaintacce gives one pang more to the fastidious Sir
Harry, who takes occasion to lecture his wife on the
duty of repressing natural emotions and conforming to
the exigencies of an artificial society, still holding up
Mrs. Montressor as a standard of perfection. Sho
recsllects that her husband prior to his marriage was a
suitor for the hand of this very lady, but was rejected
on account of his poverty, and has reason to ballet e
that Mrs. Montressor, who is not over scrupulous in
her love of conquest, is taking advanta44e of her sojourn
in Arncliffs Manor-house to recover a heart that
she has once let slip. Feelings lead to words,
and altercation ensues between Hester and Mrs.
Montressor, in the course of which the latter -is ordered
to quit the premises. To effect the removal, however,
the aid of Dr. Botcherly, who is now in the house as
Mrs. Montressor's own medical adviser, is found neces•
sary. Leis eminent physician, true to the interests of
Hester, advises her fashionable rival to visit Ems for the
benefit of her health. Mrs. Montresor departs on the
strength of this advice, and now Hester fancies that the
only cause of unhappiness is removed. Poor deluded
soul ! Her husband, who has a pulmonary complaint that,
without proper care, may terminate in consumption, hss
received a letter from his physic an (not Botcherly) to the
effect that the waters of Ems can alone save his life. That
Hester may not be alarmed by the discovery that he is
threatened with one of the most terrible of maladies he
states hie sudden obligation to visit Erns alone without
assigning a cause, and then abruptly quits his home.
With the misery of Hester, in consequence of the natu-
ral, though incorrect, suspicion that her husband is gone
to join Mrs. Montressor, the second act comes to a con-
clusion.

A twelvemonth's interval is supposed to elapse before
the curtain is raised for the third act. The scene of
action is now a Gerrran watering-place. Its earns is
Seidlitz-Stinkingen, ard it owes its origin to the scientific
acumen of our old friend Dr. Botcherly, who, having
ascertained that the nastiest waters are invariably
eines:der:A the most efficacious, has been fortunate
enough to discover a spring surpassing alt others in
offensive qualities, end has thereupon written a book,
which so pleases the Duke that; he appoints him chief
inspector of the ducal baths. In this new Elysium Sir
Harry Arncliffe has taken up his temporary abode, hav-
ing changed since we saw him last from the most fastidi-
ous of gentlemen int) a long-bearde4, cap-wearing►, pipe-
smoking lounger of the Rh►ne. With Mr. Montrosor,
whom be has met a; Ems, he is on friendly terms ; bat
that aspiring lady now seeks to capture German grand
dukes rather than English baronets, while, on the other
hand, Sir Harry is so completely heart-whole that he
maliciously hopes to see Mrs. Montresor eclipsed at the
ducal Court by a❑ English lady of fashion, who is ex-
pected every moment, and who is mentioned in all the
papers as "die schwa() Englanderin." When the beauty
arrives she proves to be ❑e other than Hester, no If ap-
parently transformed into a heartless lady of high
society, without a single natural feeling,. Frankenstein
Was not more horrified at the man-monster of his crea-
tion than is Sir Harry at the living result of his own
counsels. He longs to see the Hester of forgoer days
restored to his arms, and of course she is restored. Her
heartless conduct was merely assumed to work a retor-
; and bar laxx.band, taucext at last ti:tat a good
heart is better than good manners, may now be happy
for as long a life as his plithisi,llcy constitution will allow
him.

The Hester Grazebrook of Miss Amy Sedgwick was
an exquisite creation. In the first act her performance
was distinguished by all the geniality and honest love of
the innocent country lass ; ,and as the plot proceeded,
and the village maid became Lady ArncWe, the manner
in which she receives the visit of her father in the pre-
sence of the fashionable society with which she is sur-
rounded, was exquisitely natural. Change of circum-
stances had not wrought a corresponding alteration in
her divosition—she is still the same loving, dutiful girl.
Then as the accomplished lady of fashion her acting was
perfect. Farren, as Sir Harry, was excellent as usual.
and Comptm's B eakinsop, the starchy valet, Rai ore of
those daguerreotypes for which he is so remarkable.
Buckstene's Botcherby, the village doctor, was a perfect
study. The manner in which the play has been put
upon tLe stage reflects the highest credit on the manage-
ment. The scenery, dresses, and appointments are
magnificent. At the termination of each act Miss
Sedgwick and Mr.Buckstone were summoned before the
curtain, and, amidst the most enthusiastic applause, the
piece was announced for repetition every evening until
further notice.

-- - -
OPERA BUFFA.-ST. JAMES'S TBEATBE.

To-morrow night this fashion Able and elegant theatre
will inaugurate a short season of Italian comic opera,
introducing a decided novelty in this cuuntry, in the
person of the veritable Neapolitan .Pulcinella in his
mask. The artists are also new to ns, and the reper-
toire for the most part unknown to the English musical
public. Report speaks highly of the opera to be per-
formed on the opening night, and of the powers of the
singers. The theatre has been entirely renovated for
these perfirmances. The following are the names of the
principal artists who will appear on the opening night :
Signora Fumagalli, soprano ; Sig. Dordoni, tenor ; Sig.
C,lumbo, baritone ; Sig. Castelli, bass ; Sig. Galli,
buffo ; and Sig. Carrione, buffo (Napolitano, in ?nos-
chera). Subsequently, other artists will appear, among
whom we may mention: Signori Tancioni, Dottini,
soprani ; and Signora Tamburini, contralto ; Sig. Gior-
getti, tenor ; Signors De Giorgi and Ferrario, baritones ;
and Sig. Ciampi, buffo.