The Sun. — 1849-04-10 (London, England)

SURREY.  Mr. Shepherd has begun his campaign with that enerjy and spirit which, in nine cases out of ten, is of itself sufficient to command success. He gave us last evening a new drama (from the practised pen of Fitzball), entitled Alhamar the Moor. Pell's Ethiopian Serenaders, with "Boz's" Juba; the admirable comedy of COUBi7I Cherry, with Mrs. Stirling (who is now engaged at the Surrey) as the heroine; and a revival of the far-famed pantomime of Mother Goose, which last will for some time be a 301.1TC:3 of attrac tion, as the whole of the present race of playgoers will, no doubt, eagerly seize the opportunity now offered them of seeing a production of which every one has heard so much, and which yet so few have seen. But we are forgetting Alhamar the Moor. The scene of the story is laid in Valencia. Ferdinand the Fourth (Mr. Neville) has a favourite secretary, Don Cherubino (Mr. Raymond), whose sister Leonora (Mrs. Stirling) is beloved by Dorio Cavijal (Mr. Lyon), an eminent noble, upon whose loyalty suspicions have been breathed at court. Don Cherubino refuses his assent to the union of his sister with Dorio, which, conjoined with Leonora's advice to leave Valencia for a short period as a prudential measure until his innocence shall be made apparent, elicits from him violent language towards Cherubino in the moment of excitement. He resolves however to leave Valencia with his brother Garci (Miss Clara Tenet) and while on his way is accosted by Masco, a mendicant (Mr. Emery) who solicits alms. Dorio is still smarting under the pain of his refusal, and even entertains suspicions of Leonora's lore. So that Alasco overhears threatening language towards Cherubino. Garci, however, gives him alms, and a storm coming on, the mendicant in the next scene takes shelter in the ruins of an old moresco palace. While there, Alhamar (Mr. T. Mead), accompanied by Don Sanchiano (Mr. H. Widdicomb), who have both reasons for disliking Cherubino, attack and slay him while on his way. Alasco grapples with Alhamar, who escapes, but drops a ring, which Alasco picks up, but loses immediately afterwards. His suspicions, however, point to Dorio as the murderer; and Leonora, in the excitement caused by the assassination of her brother, adds weight to his testimony by reference to his lan• guage at their parting interview. The result is that Alhamar is restored to his former position as Secretary to the King. Dorio is arrested at Martos, whitherhe has retired, and imprisoned as the assassin. Sanchiano, whose complicity in the affair renders him dangerous to Alhamar, is confined in his palace for safe keeping, when the Moor enters, and believing himself alone, exults over the success of his schemes which have thus removed a rival favourite, and doomed his rival for the hand of Leonora to the grave at the same time. The suspected noble and his brother are on the way to execution when the ring is discovered, dropped by Alhamar on the night of the assassination. It is recognised by the King as one presented by himself to the Moor, and his revenge and ambition are at once disappointed, and the drama closed by his own death. The curtain fell amidst great applause, and the piece was decidedly successful.