The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-12-18 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

LIVER THEATRE.--On Monday last, a drama entitled " The Cavalier" was produced at this theatre, for the purpose of introducing Mr. Elton, after many years' absence, to the Liverpool playgoers. The plot of " The Cavalier" is taken from an antique novel, called " The Fool of Quality." The story of the play is briefly this :---111r8. Hargrave (Mrs. Gordon), the wife of Hargrave (Mr. Elton), having attracted the attention of Lord Moreton (Mr. Montague), is entrapped by him, and confined in an apartment of his house; a Madame de Grave (Miss Donville), a woman in his service, being appointed to keep guard over her. Hargrave, on missing his wife, receives information that she has fled to Lord Moretoei. The scene in which he obtains the intelligence is finely acted. Hargrave then goes to Lord Moreton's house, and demands his wife, when he is told by Madame de Grave that she is in the house, but by her own consent. ,We next find Hargrave almost heartbroken at the supposed falsehood of his wife, when she rushes in and explains the mode in which she had been entrapped, and the means by which she escaped, having stabbed Lord Moreton when he attempted to insult her. This portion of the play Mrs. Gordon played with an energy, a taste, and skill, that stamped her an actress of great merit. Mr. Elton's discovery of his wife's daring act was a clever, and most finished performance. His rejection of her until he finds the truth, was well done, and his delight at her innocence from shame and her perpetration of the deed was also acted extremely well, In the midst of their delight the officers of justice enter, to take Mrs. Hargrave into custody for the murder of Lord Moreton, and she is led away to prison, accompan'ed by her hushand. After the trial of Mrs. Hargrave, the tnnouncement of the verdict against her is made. The mode in which the intelligence was received by Mr. Elton was excellent, and Hargraves's emotions were powerfully depicted. Previous to the time appointed for the execution of Mrs. Hargrave, her husband tempts her to poison herself, to avoid the public disgrace, offering to swallow poisonalso •, she reje3ts the proposition, when her brother and sister rush in, and declare that a reprieve has been granted, Madame de Grave having confessed that she and all the witnesses had sworn falsely. This scene was very finely done, and drew forth rounds of applause. Mr. Elton's action of dropping on on' knee, and hiding his head in his hands, was a novel idea, and a most appropriate attitude. Throughout his acting he gave great spirit to the drama : it is a very good one, and is well and forcibly written, being much above the common run of such pieces.—On Wednesday " Eugene Aram" was performed, Mr. Elton assuming the character of the remorse-struck tutor. It was graceful and true to nature ; and Mrs. Gordon's Madeline was full of pathos and feeling. " Master Humphrey's Clock" was produced as the afterpiece, for the first time. An interesting plot is worked up, in which many of the leading characters are introduced. The scenery was new for the occasion, illustrating the woodcuts in the work. The scenes are well painted, and closely follow those in Boz's admirable publication. Mr. Gordon, as Master Humphrey, appeared as if he had step•nd out of the engraving; his making-up was very good. Mrs. Barton is too tall for .Nelly, but she played the part in her accustomed pleasant way. Mrs. Gordon, as Alice, gave a powerful picture of Misery. Mr. Barton, as Hartley, depicted a repulsive character with much truth. Mr. Marshall, as Kit Curious, set the audience screaming with laughter, especially when: assuming the statue of a knight by IVelly's bedside. This piece, after a judicious pruning, will have a run. It is well got up, and full of incident.—" Charles O'Malley" is nightly repeated, and serves to display the inimitable performances of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond.