Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-01
"MoNrE CRIsTo."

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Its Presentation at the Opera House, Las
Night.
Monte Cristo" ives the piece produced
at tke0pTa House last night, and at al
early hour the theatre was well filed will
an Intelligent and appreciative audience
Down stairs as well as in the gallery stand
! ing loom only was the order, and the eur
tain went up for the first tine in this cit
on OK first act of this finest drsmatizstioI
of Alexauder Dumas most thrilling novel
The slory is 80 familiar to all that res
ume win be unnecessary, so notice of it
production will be enough.
Mf. James 0'Neill in the title role, sur
prised even the most ssnguine Of thos.
present b. his talented rendition Of thu
character. In fact he made it Just what
the author intended it shonld be, and il
certainly is fascinating character. The
character of Edmund Dantes and the
Count Of Monte Cristo are so diametriesl
ly opposed that it seems almost an impos
sibility thst one man should go thor
ouehly inpersonate both. The for
mer ia q needless, unpreteltious
psnrIiSss sailor, not caring whether tht
world moves or not, while the latter is g
learned, intriguing man, who lives for re
venge, and with millions of money to gain
his ends. Mr.. 0'Rsill, however, portrayt
both in an unexcelled manner. In both
characters he is superb, and he invests
bis Monte Cristo with startling vindictive.
ness coupled with 8 beautiful pathos. To
those he loved as Edmond Dsntes he is
wonderfully considerate, while to his three
enemies be is relentless and resistless in
his revenge.
There are frequent points in the piece
when the auditors are carried smoothly
along and wrought up to expect crisis
and when it bursts upon them, they are
carried away, as it were, and storm OF
enthusiastic applause follows, and 30 it
was last night The applause was frequent
and generous.
Mr.. O'Neilrs support is indeed fine.
Nortier was portrayed By Mr.. j. W. Shan
non in a manner incompatible, especially
as the character is full Of disguises and
subterfuges, but Mr.. Shannon was fully
equal to them all. The Albert de Morcerf
of Mr.. S. Miller Kent was excellent, and
ha certainly made a fitting son
to such man as Monte Cristo. He is a
Young actor, but certainly a talented and
complished one Mr.. b. B. Bradley, as
Villefort, Mr.. John B Melton, as Darglars,
Mr.. ]. 81. Shewell, as Morel, and Mr. How.
ard Gould as Fernando, were all especially
fine, while Mr.. W. Fl. Wallis, as Csder
ousse and Mrs. Annie Boudinot, as Gar
conte, were unusually good. Mr.. F. B.
Boudinot, as Able Faria, was also very
able. Miss Elizabeth Robbins gave an
accomplished portrayal of Mercedes. Be.
sides being quite beautiful, she is an
actress OF no ordinary power. The balance
of the cast was also good.
The scenery and stage settings are as
fine as ever seen upon the Opera House
stage, and no doubt Wheeling people were
never treated to q sight more beautiful than
the setting in the fourth scene, the illu-
minated gardens Of the Hotel de Morcert.
1t gave one an idea how the palaces Of
Paris look at night, with all the guests so
richly attired. The scene here between
the Count aud Mercedes is one of the most
thrilling of the play. The piece ends
with duel between the Count and his
enemy, Fernando, whom he kills, exclaim.
ing. Number three" then the restoration
of Mercedes and his son.