The Portland daily press., 1877-04-21
Miss Esogers' Benefit.

The severe storm of yesterday and last even
| ing prevented large house from attending
Miss Rogers benefit. As it was the audience,
though not large, was very appreciative, and
Miss Rogers fine Interpretation Of the much
wronged girl won her new laurels. The bill
was Walter Phillips play entitled "Grace
Holden's Secret" The play is purely emo
tional, and the whole story hinges upon will.
A titled lady, very wealthy, possesses a large
fortune, which her spendthrift nephew is de-
sirous of obtaining. The steward Of the
estate, who is the father of Grace Holden,
| Miss Rogers) has squandered the property Of
| the lady land is not prepared to render an
| account of his stewardship, but by coll1s.on
| with the nephew's friend, steals the will and
| murders the lady, go that the nephew-who
otherwise would have been disinherited-
comes into the possession of the property.
Grace Holden witnesses her fathers crime, but
to save him hides the secret in her breast. For
this she has to bear the suspicion of the lady 8
death herself. AT last she goes away, and
under the assumed name of Dora meets Cyril
Edgeworth, (Mr. Gossn) painter. She is at
last found by mischief makers, who knew her
in her former position. and who now envy her.
They cause her husband to believe that there is
a terrible secret concerning her early life, of
which he knows nothing He calls for an eX
PLANTATION, but she refuses to give it, and he
orders her to leave his house. This she is about
to dc, when he recalls his hasty words aud
entreats her to return. 1t is then made known
that the man who committed the murder was
not her father and she tells the truth ia regard
to the affair. which is corroboraJed by newly
arrived friends. Her husband asks her for
glveneas for his groundless suspicious, and
they are once more united and happy. Such in
brief is the plot of the piece
The play was given for the first time in this
city, and it was Miss Rogers first attempt in
the title role. Those who saw her would sup
pose that she was familiar with the part, SO
admirably did she portray its most difficult
phases. She showed power that even her
most ardent admirers did not know she pos
sessed. In the first act, where she witnessed
the crime of her father, she was fully equal to
the trying situation, and a hearty recall from
the audience brought her before the curtain at
the close of the act. In the last act, when
charged with the murder of the rich lady, in
the presence of the large company, she was
hrm and 1esolute, ana persisted bna1 Sn y
destroyed the deed, thus hoping to shield the
man she thought was her father. When the
| clouds were dispelled and she was shown guilt
| less, it seemed as though her whole nature was
| changed as by magic. and she was once more
| light hearted girl.
| The support was very good Mr. Gossin por-
| trayed the role of the husband of the self.
wronged woman with much feeling, and his
conception of the part was a very happy one
| His presence on the stage in the second &C
| was the signal for warm applause. Mr..
| Wooderson as Lord Milford" was excellent.
He dressed the part with good taste and acted
| in his usual careful manner Miss Williams
| made decided hit as Mrs. Maguilf." 1t is to
be hoped that we shall again see her in this line
of character. Miss Smith and Miss Bailey as
| Lady Shawburn and Constance were excellent
The other parts do not call for special mention
| The play will be repeated this afternoon and
also this evening, when Miss Rogers will make
her farewell appearance, aud there should be
crowded houses at each performance.