The Press. — 1855-07-14 (London, England)

JULY 14, 1855.  Egg, Mr. Wilkie Collins, Mr. Charles Dickens, the eldest son of the novelist, and Mr. Hogarth ; and the lady characters were supported by Miss Hogarth and Miss Mary Dickens. The play is a melodrama —the scene is laid in the old Eddystone Lighthouse —and the characters are well contrived to display the abilities of the performers and to develop a pleasing story of domestic light and shade. Mr. Dickens and Mr. Lemon, tried and finished actors, appeared to very great advantage—the personation of a conscience stricken but obdurate old man, by the former, being as perfect a piece of acting as we have over seen ; and Mr. Lemon's hearty, earnest, irascible portraiture of one of the lighthouse men was also thoroughly genial and unconventional. But all did well, and the grace and gentleness of the two ladies—Miss Hogarth as a wronged and forgiving woman, who, supposed to have been murdered, reappears to warn and to pardon, and Miss Dickens as the affectionate and trustful little jeune ingenue of the drama—gave a refined and charming tone to the whole performance. A beautiful drop scene was painted for the piece by Mr. Stanfield, who also contributed some capital devices for preserving the illusion of storm, spray, and ceaseless play of the waves. A second piece—Mr. Dance's Wonderful Woman—was given, and the Hon. Mrs. George Wrottesley (a daughter of the gallant Sir John Burgoyne) sustained the chief character with great ability. But one thing was wanting to complete the eclat of the night, and that was the presence of royalty, with which the performances would have been honoured but for the engagements rendered necessary by the visit of the King of the Belgians. Her Majesty was, nevertheless. graciously pleased to express her interest. in the success of the performances and to their object.  A PERFORMANCE of somewhat similar character took place at Grosvenor-house on Monday afternoon, under the direction of a committee of gentlemen, composed of Viscount Chelsea, M.P., Lord Dufferin, Baron Marochetti, &c., the object being to aid the funds of the Hospital for Women in Soho-square. The Marquis of Westminster having granted the use of his picture fallery for the purpose, it was arranged that a vocal and instrumental concert, embrucing some of the highest professional and amateur musical talent, should take place; and that an original comedietta by Mr. Tom Taylor should form a feature in the attractions of the fête. The first part of the performances consisted of a musical selection, in which the amateur talents of Sir John Harrington, the Hon. W. Ashley, and Mrs. Sartoris were assisted by the professional skill of Signor Belletti, Mr. Charles Braliam, and Mrs. Nassau, sen. Mr. Albert Smith also enlivened this portion of the entertainment by singing his favourite melange, entitled " The C mintry Fair." Mr. Tom Taylor's comedietta, The Late Lamented, was then performed with great Eclat, the chief character being sustained by the author, supported by Mrs. Sartoris, Mr. Alfred Wigan, Miss Mary Boyle, and Mr. Spence. The second part of the concert concluded the entertainment, which was highly successful, the sale of tickets having added the large sum of 8001. to the funds of the charity