Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-02
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE NEW M~AGDALEN.

II NEW MAGDALEN.
The Cavendish troupe appeared for
the second time last night before a
fine audience at Leubrie's Theater in
Charles Reade's dramatization Of Col
Inns story, the New Magdalen, Miss
Cavendish acting the part of Mercy
Merrick." There are two versions of
the play in this country and that pre-
sented by Miss Cavendish is said to
have been written before the book
appeared from which the other, or
the American version, was taken.
There is no essential difference in the
plot and but little in the dialogue.
The version given by Miss Cavendish
is properly the correct one and she
has the sole right to act it in England.
Having performed Mercy Merrick"
so often she is naturally an adept in
the part,and it is claimed by many that
she is the best MERCY Merrick" on
the stage. In it she is certainly a great
dramatic figure. 1t is an original crea-
ton, bold and positive in conception,
delicate in coloring, artistic in finish
and commanding in repose. It's power
is proclaimed chiefly in the intensity
of the suppressive treatment and the
natural pathos which springs from
suppression. This method of
smothering the voice of the heart
and choking down the passions, natur-
ally belongs to the role. Ada Caven-
dish uses it with consummate artistic
skill and absolute certainty of effect.
She thoroughly reveals her artistic
self. To see this performance is to
feel it, and to accord it dramatic ex-
cellence Of a very high order. The
play tells a story full of the deepest
pathetic interest," 1t is somewhat dis
NAL and to some unattractive, as there
is no comedy in the underplot, but to
the many it is full Of interest without
this feature. The story Of the suffer
ings and heroism of the social outcast,
her efforts to reform, the cold, unfor-
giving nature Of "Grace Rosebery,"
whom she pretended to be, under the
belief that she was dead and the noble
devotion of Julian Gray" all
features which enchain the attention
OF an audience, and the absence of
humor is hardly noticed. The play
affords fine opportunities Tor the dis
play of dramatic ability. Miss CAV
endish exhibits marvellous power
throughout, but is exceedingly grand
in the second and the third acts, and
she was called before the cur
tainat the close of both. AS
Grace Rosenberg, Miss Adelaide
Cherie did capital acting, and
she added largely to the laurels won
by her here during the past week.
The part Of q relentless, u~nforgiving
woman, while not the most attractive.
was performed so effectively and with
so much spirit that the fair lady fully
divided honors with Gavendish. At
the end Of the second act and again
when the curtain fell, on the third act.
the enthusiasm of the audience rem
deredh her appearance before the curtain
necessary to appease its clamors, and
this too, after Miss Cavendish had been
led forth by Mr.. Percy. The latter
gentleman was exceptionally fine in
the part Of Julian Gray" He is one
Of the best readers and the most pol
ished actors we have been privileged
to witness on the stage of this city.
the remaining characters were fairly
sustained, and there could be no
cause for complaint against any, while
the piece ran smoothly from first to
last. The first act represented an
army outpost scene on the continent
Of Europe, where the French and the
Germans are close enough to skirmish
in the dark. Mercy Merrick, a social
%outcast, from the refuge for fallen
women, is with the French ambulance
corps as a hospital nurse. Grace
Roseberry, while travelling through
the country, becomes entangled with
the pickets, and seeks a nights shell
ter in a roadside cottage with Mercy
Merrick, where a stray bullet strikes
her in the head, and is supposed to
end her earthly career. Mercy Mer-
rick finds a letter Of introduction to
Grace's relative, Lady Janet Ray, Of
Marblethorpe Manor, England, and
from it leGgas that Miss Roseberry
has no other kindred, aud that she
has never met her aristocratic relation.
Mercy conceiyes ihe IDEA CT imper-
aonating Miss R~oseberry, and circum-
stances favor the deception, She be-
becomes an inmate Of the Marblethorpe
household, wins the love and respect
Of all, and about the time she is to
marry a frst-claSS war correspondent
n a ~