The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-29 00:00:00

THE VICTORIA.

The Easter performances at this theatre commenced
with a new domestic drama, entitled The Lucky Horse-
shoe, or the Lone Chamber and the Silent Highway.
The piece, although it contained many striking situations,
was, upon the whole, somewhat exaggerated, improbable,
and inconsistent in its various incidents. The main
features of the plot are to this effect : Ellen Marchmont,
(Miss Vincent), has been promised in Marriage by her
father, Colonel Marchmont (Mr. Griffith), to Clement
Graylingford (Mr. Dale), but the lady's heart is devoted
to another ; she oyes George Framkton (Mr. Seaman),
and his father; after some resistance, consents to her
eoutracting the marriage of her choice. On the day,
however, appointed for the nuptials, Frankton is in-
vited to the sea-shore by the treachery of Graylingford;
he is then seized upon, and transported to the coast of
France, where he lingers for years. On returning after
a lapse of time, he finds Ellen married to his former
rival. He soon obtains an interview with her, at which
they are surprised by the husband ; a contest then en-
sues, which ends in the fall of Frankton, who
is shot, and left for dead by his rival. Ellen
is discarded by her husband ; they both, as
well, •as Frankton, arrive accidentally at the
same inn. Another busy actor in the drama, Robert
Rough (Mr. E. Saville), a farm servant of Grayling-
ford is also staying there, and for the purpose of aveng-
ing some wrongs he has suffered from his master (we do
not think it necessary to detail them), the unamiable
Mr. Rough strangles Graylingford, and is himself shot
by Ellen in her heroic attempt to defend the life of her
child against the murderer of 'hgr husband. We should
not forget to mention thattnere is some amusing bye-lay
in the character of Tom Hammer, in which Mr. Gardner
performs very cleverly the part ofa jealous and injured hus-
band. Tom Hammer, we must also observe, is the possessor
of the " lucky horse-shoe," which has, however, in reality
very little to do with the piece to which it gives its title.
The acting was very creditable to the various per-
formers ; and we must make particular mention of Miss
Vincent, who personated her character with her usual
energy and power. The drama was followed by a
" grand fairy legendary romance," entitled Al Iddin ;
or, the Wonderful Lamp. We have only to say of the
piece that the plot was adopted to the well-known story,
and that it was illustrated by some gorgeous scenery
and some clever scene-shifting. The house was
throughout the evening extremely crowded, and the
audience, considering the occasion, was unusually orderly
and attentive.

S.4DLER'S WELLS.

The performances at this theatre were, as usual, of

the most spirited kind, and calculated to attract an
overflowing audience during the holidays. The opening
piece, a new romantic drama, entitled Christine ; or,

the Poisoners of Paris, met with a most favourable re-
ception. The plot was much too complicated to admit,
though its interest would justify a minute description.
It was founded upon the system of poisoning, which
existed to such a fearful extent on the Continent during

the seventeenth century. Catherine, the fortune-telle
of Paris, was, in the play, the principal instrument in
the diabolical practice, and it was the connexion be-
tween her and a gambler named Raoul de Beauvillars,

upon which the denouement was made to turn. The cha-
racter of the fortune-teller was admirably sustained by
Mrs. A. Marston, and that of the gambler by Mr.
Lyon, formerly of the Adelphi, who proved himself a
great accession to the corps dramattgue of Sadler's
Wells. Mrs. loaner and Miss Richardson fully sus-
tained their former reputation, no slight praise when ap-
plied to actors of such reputation. The plot was one of
deep, and, towards the close, intense interest. It will
repay a visit. 'When the curtain dropped loud calls
were made for Mr. Lyons, who, in answering the call,
,announced its repetition every night until further no-
tice. This piece was followed by a new and lively farce,
called A _Regiment of. Tartars; or, the Pretty Girls of
Salberg, and the performances concluded with the
drama of Ambroes Gwinnett. The house was well filled.