The Sun. — 1860-09-11 (London, England)

ADELPIII 211EAT.RE.  Undoubtedly one of the best and most interesting dramas produced within the new theatre was that represented last evening for the first time, entitled "The Colleen Bawn ; or, the Brides of Garryowen." The drama is founded on Gerald Griffin's popular tale " The Collegians," and has been written by Mr. Dion Bourcicault for the purpose of introducing himself and wife to the playgoing public of the metropolis after an absence of seven years. Although the main incident in the drama is by no means new—viz., an Irish gentleman marrying a beautiful peasant girl, and then regretting the step he has taken—the minor details are so cleverly conceived and so admirably worked out that the old idea is forgotten by the interest created by the different underplots, if we may so call them, of the piece. In the opening scene we are introduced to Hardress Cregan, the heir to a ruined Irish estate, which has fallen into the clutches of a mortgagee, who is a villanous lawyer, has secretly married Eily O'Connor, a beautiful peasant, known as the " Colleen Bawn." The lawyer and mortgagee entertains a passion for the mother of Cregan, and is willing to cancel his mortgage as the price of her hand in marriage. An alternative, however, exists in the circumstance that it is possible that Anne Chute, an heiress, might become the wife of Hardress but for the obstacle of his previous marriage. This becomes known to his mother at a very critical moment, and everything seems lost but for the intervention of Danny Man, the foster-brother of Hardress, who offers to murder Eily. His proposal is rejected with horror by Hardress, but Danny declares that any time that he sends him his glove as a token that he consents, he will perform the duty he had offered to undertake. Mrs. Cregan contrives to send the glove to Danny, who, by means of a feigned message from her husband, inveigles Eily to accompany him in his boat to the Water Cave, in, the Lakes of Killarney. There one Myles-na-Coppaleen, a rejected lover of Eily's, who has established an illicit still, happens to be on the spot when Danny throws the girl into the lake ; although he does not see the deed itself. He only fires at and wounds Danny, whom he takes in the doubtful light for another ; but presently he sees the body of Eily in the water, plunges in, and rescues her. Hardress, thinking Eily dead, accepts the hand of Ann Chute ; but the wounded Danny Man crawls back to his cabin, and there, after suffering excruciating agony, he confesses the whole of the plot to Father Tom, a priest. The confession is overheard by the scheming lawyer, who instantly starts for Chute Castle, in order to procure the arrest of Hardress on the charge of murder. The. introduction of Eily by her brave protector Myles, sets all matters right ; and Har • dress, we need hardly say, receives from his proud but loving mother the hand of " the Colleen Bawn." The part of Eily, the Colleen Bawn, was very beautifully sustained by Miss Agnes Robertson. i.e., Mrs Dion Bourcicault, and the character of Myles could not bave been better represented than it was by Mr. Bourcicault. It was one of those finished performances now rarely seen on the London stage, and forcibly reminded us of poor Tyrone Power. Besides being finished actors, Mr. and Mrs. Bourcicault are capital vocalists, and the specimen given last evening of their powers perfectly enchanted the audienee. Miss Woolgar has a capital part in the play, which she portrays to perfection. Mr. Falconer and Mr. Stephenson, the latter gentleman being new to London, both acquitted themselves in admirable style.  The piece has been put upon the stage with the greatest taste and completeness, and the effects produced are really wonderful. The rescue of Eily from drowning by Myles, in the Water Cave, is perfectly astounding, from the natural manner in which the courageous act is performed. The Lakes of Killarney by Moonlight is also a very beautiful specimen of scenic art, as also is the Cottage of the Colleen B awn.  The applause bestowed on the drama was universal, and a more successful reception has not taken place for  many years.  The house was crowded in every part long before the rising of the curtain.