The Herald of Wales. — 1888-05-05 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB."  "The Mystery of • Hansom Cab" was duly set forth and explained to a large house at the New Theatre, Swansea, on Monday night. This drama has been adapted from the famous novel, and those who have read the extraordinary book and have seen the play will probably conclude that Mx T. R. Nugent has performed the very difficult task of adaptation in • creditable manner. The drama, like the novel, is certainly not well written; both are deficient in style and finish, still the story is so excitcing,so brimful of mystery, the situations are so tragically striking, that much may be pardoned in the way of details. Mark Frettlby is a Melbourne millionaire, and resides with , his daughter Madge, who is engaged to Brian Fitizgerald. The prosperous Frettlby is not happy, for he hart always with him the knowledge that Se is • bigamist, that his wife, Rosanna Moore, is still living, and that his charming danghter 1. therefore illegitimate. With Oliver White, an adventurer, this woman Moore is now in Melbourne, with the object of exotrting money from the rich man. Moore, however, becomes unwell, and is dying in the houae of 'Mother Guttersnipe, when Fitzgerald arrives, and she confides to him the secret of her marriage with Frettlby, and enjoins him to get possession of her marriage certifies'', which White has just obtained from her. He leaves, and Sal Rawlins, an outcast, enters the room just in time to learn that the dying woman is her mother. This soene is one of the most powerful in the drama, thanks principally to Sal Rawlins. The next incident is the murder of Oliver White in a hansom nab, and the mystery is to detect the murderer. Staspir points to Brian Fitzgerald, who it is proved was in White's company on the night of the murder, and that a glove of his was found in the cab. He is arrested, tried, bat acquitted Meanwhile, Roger Moreland, the villan of the play, has been to see Mark Frettlby, and threatened to expose his bigamy unless he gave him a large sum of money. For £5,000 he was prepared to sell the certificate of marriage, and Frettlby assents to , the proposal. After much delay and speculation, the detectives hit upon the right person, and Moreland is arrested. Mr Nugeat has a very fair company, but the parts are, on the whole, badly balanced. Two of the members sot splendidly, three or four others come off fairly well, but some of the rest are far below par. Mies Nelsca Ramsay as dal Ratolsna is conspicuously the bent member of the company. Throughout she succeeds in giving the house an admirable pourtrayal of the most difficult character in the play, and her passion- , ately delivered sesten2es were frequently I greeted with enthusiastic applause. Mist Ramsey has studied and thoroughly mastered her part, a compliment which we cannot pay to several other members of the company. Next in importance, and next in order of merit, comes Miss Frances Emily Scott, who assumes, and Beaumont very successfully,the part of Moan. Guttersnipe. She brought down the house more than once, and was always effective. Miss M. Hessell an admirable impersonation of the loqnst Mrs. Sampson, but it was unfortunate that author makes her say so m things which are silly, wit' having the advantage of being ' Miss E. Clourtenay ea Madge though de,. inferior to those already ennumeested deserves praise for the good judgment she played and for her really powerful ac, in the third scene of the second act, w' Brian is arrested. Mr Frank Adair  gay, loqueeiou 'a that 1171 withou funs, decided' eti die actin whe _ arti part I °banes Frettil trug  appears as Brias Fitverald, boob the perfection, but hardly utilinee all his obi. whilst,againAr T. R. Nugent's Mark Frei the same objection holds good. The tr, character of the drama is very effeoti, relieved by the laughable rivalry betv Gorby and Kilsip, two detectives, parts being well represented by Walter Barton and Mr H.  Ricliardoo  There 1. 80 much good acting " The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," that ii inclined to forget what is indifferent, join in the general chorus of praise by r that the drama passe@ off well, and is et • visit. On Monday night, the k sever dropped but amidst loud applause, the house was apparently thoroughly 'EA the prodaouos.  woitl  culla  saiistl