The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1896-08-01 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.  THEATRE AIETROPOLE.  Probably few more charming and interesting plays have been staged at the Theatre Metropole than shall which- is engaging the attention of playgoers this week, entitled "A Woman's Revenge," written by the late Henry Pettitt. And yet there is not a single ingredient which is not hackneyed, and that has not done duty in numbers of other plays before. It is in the skilful blending of them together that the master hand of the great dramatist is apparent, and which tends to hold the interest of the audience flirts the opening to the close of the performance. The incidents and characters are all familiar, there being the loving couple parted by the machinations of the villain and the adventuress, whilst in relief comes the good-natured pair who assist in eventually bringing about a happy climax. To all intents and Irai this is the story of "A Woman's Revenge," and is: these well-worn themes are so skilfully interwoven that the interest never flags for a moment. Perhaps also the piece owes 'something to the capable manner in which it is interpreted for its great success, for Mr. Robert Ayrton is the beau ideal of a stage hero,. and plays the part of Frank Drummond, the barrister, who in the last act is placed in the unique position of defending his own wife on a charge of murder, with a grace and fervour that gales the ready sympathy of his audience. That accomplished actress, Miss Adria Hill, has also a difficult and trying role as Mary Lonsdale, but she proves fully equal to its requirements, and acts with a natural sympathy that frequently reduces the audience to tears. Not a little of the success of the production is due to the finished acting of Little Violet Hartley, who wins all hearts by her bright and intelligent rendering of the part of Little Mary, Drummond's daughter. lUr. Frank Ayrton played the part of Dick Chilton with the necessary lighness and humour, and in this connection received considerable assistance from Miss Madge Seymour, who gave a winsome, and, as occasion demanded, piquant study of Lottie Bromley. The partners in crime Jeptha Grimwade and Robert Overstone were adequately treated by respectively Mr. Cecil Ravenswood and Mr. Charles B. Vaughan, and Miss Grace Henri as the adventuress, Mabel Wentworth, was successful in evoking feelings of at first contempt, but ultimately pity. The remaining parts are all faithfully represented, Miss Beatrice Deigntort deserving a word of praise for her natural delineation of the part of Maggie Westwood, the servant. The mounting has received special attention, the court scene at the Old Bailey being singularly rea/istic, the attention given to detail being most marked. The acting manager for Miss Adria Hill and Mr. Robert Ayrton is Mr. H. Wells-Deignton, and to his and the local managements' care and forethought is largely due the highly realistic and finished manner in which the production is presented as a whole. Mr. Riley has secured a rare treat for his numerous patrons for the holiday week,'" One of tho bravest," a piece that has been rapturously received wherever it Ina been produced, opening for a week at the Grange-road house on Monday evening. .A feature of the production is a scene showing a house on fire, the inmates being rescued by means of life-saving lines, jumping nets, &c., and a real tire engine with. horses attached is introduced.