The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-09
Laura Ksene's Thsatrc-a New pfny.

second Love- rs q Heff0C0mc drama Ia three &ca,
originally played At the HaymaIket thea re- London In
Jafe last and perform cd tor ire rs nein this country
al Laura Keene's theatre, isst night ls shs OF
Mr.. Palgrave sinpton author Who enjoys deserved
popularity IN bo,h sides OF tbe Atiaotic
The play pressb, review s story of tue siec
tons. with the Incidents worked up tell power
fully Upon the feelings OF the audience particularly
the fRrer pr,on Of H. The sory Is simple aud elective
Tie action takes place ia coratry villa Ia England The
heroine Elmer Mowbray Miss Laura Reene) Is blind
sir comparatively poor She hiss rustic attendant and
1.fdanie, Lucy (Niss Josephine Msaners); cousin,
Rsiph Thorrtiii (nr. George JoroARl hearty 5axon
gentleman, and u fam servant, Hswbuck (Ar Charles
Wbes;sigh), p hose character mixture OF ctowoish
ness cupidiy and low cunning. At toe commerce
ment OF tho play Informed OF tho death
Of Elinors uncle and that there is some DOUBT as to
which Of the ccrtn,, Ralph Eanor, bis Enor's
distant relative, Col Dangered (Mr Lir gnaml knowing
that she was tha egstee, has her affections the
osfuSe Il wandering painter, ana under assumed
name He Is mrca oRifcssed CT hearing that there is
secono will Ralph arrives from London with tue ntei.
geIce thst there nccona WILL and that the property
goes to Einor Il evident here 10 the audience that
Ralph sacrificing D naet to secure ths happiaess cf
Elnor, whom he loves devotedy. but does dare
approach. abe Simply treating him as faithful
dog. DaDRerfeld oiscoges hiE true slate and name
lis accepted BY El.nor, ard preparations Tor the
wedding are coDmeDced. In the second act find
Eiipcs N q splendid home but exceedingly unhappy
Her csusin. Mildred Vernon, Miss Ada Chton)
comes 70 visit her, and from some chance remarks Eli
Is sstsded that DangerGed has engaged Miss Yer.
nous afec,cns Ebnors blindness her misery
as prevents her from obtaining proof Of tho ruth
birify Of her suspciors Miss Vernon impruccnty
r,spencs With Dargsrnelt, and leaves passionao
Tor him In Gre OF The drawing room vasea This movs
mtEt 70 obscIved by Hawbuck who Is fully OF oil
The Coicnes n'rsues Hawbucx gains possession Of the
note has quarrel with the Colonel, goes the
enemy sns gives the note 10 Ralph che latter nobly
reiuses TO make OF the vantage put in hs hands
wheL Eror in,iais that sha read 10 her. no
preteru Us ttAt III
nor now has recourse to Lucy, and there b
sxnenely snesi,ve scere' Lucy Is slow read
snG tte ccnscieut'ous IN which she spels out
every word, conra:ed with inc esgsrness With which
tliIor oevosred he eonte2 Of the note made po
~ and isihng situation qnT equal 70 anything IN the
mocein drama. Enor nov begins TO ASCERTAIN how she
~ FOR three months, attended cnly by Lucy, to look
tht cs In the csse, which resolution she INN statey
carries nto effect Ralph resolves 10 challenge Danger
lhc tolcne. bowsver, challenges Ralph, osicnsIby
for stealing Mfs yernon's note but that duo prevent.
Cd b. Hawbucss explanation of the facts The three
months having expired all the pcrsonages In the drama
rett at the villa when Elinor demands that Ralph
tbsn read The will. he At las. consents,
bequearted 10 "Elnor Mowbray." AZ this point Eiiuor
stops him and points TO the words "RalDh Thcrnh,"
has been restored TO sight, physically and mentally. The
devotion Of Ralph rewarded by the hand OF Elinor and
he Colonel left liberty TO try the effect OF his fAsci
such 10 the story Of second Loveu The dialogue IL
smooth throughout little bis OF pathos and exquisite
sentiment scattered through IT Tho characters
pow erfuly orawn ard dingly we'll conrasted The
author has eheved OF the secrets 10 dr aatc
otnsruccn thai IN, 70 mako the action regularly
the dsnoaement without ftguing tho audience by
entcnmaxes. second Love IL altogether q charming
rlay. exactly suited W thn byo Of theatre and It's re-
nrsd audiences
The performance last night was excellent throughout
The = ny acted and gotten up in q which
would please the most astjoons author. The scenery
exquisite, and the general surroundings or the stage
could not Esve been msde perfect.
OF the acting Mrs Lsura Koene's performance OF Eli
n great triumph The varying phases OF the
blind girls character dclnested with artistic
power and the rorrsure Of tho idosy OF the
blind was most faithfully reproduced. Miss Keenc may
saely place this par, In the highest position In her gal
lery OF dramatic She richly deserved the tr
buies she reapedhe applause OF the and the
OF tho women, viii two distnct calls before the
played Lncy with naireis ami true fecins Tho per-
formancc has insured her position with the audience
Mr.. wbcatieighs Baw buck capital BE caught tho
idea OF the part exactly, and succeeded In impressing
upon tho audience Ralph Thornh II altogether OF
Mr. JordaDss line; but be achieved In It. and
gave spober proc. Of his versatility. He'd he
distinctly marked the transitions IN Rap bis character
rcm spooDsy senmeDialsm 10 manly grief and sturdy
courase, the performance would bave been perfect
Mr.. Iingbam needs dignity, and Miss Clfton acts TOO
much.
me piece wiihou, the slightest attempt clap trap
bed Tho audience erchsned during the entire perform
ancc, the fall OF the curtain the applause
unapimous. The second play VA, "youug New York"
which entered upon the third week OF s sucocssful
Boh plays warmly received by full house, and
they viii be rcpeaed this evening.