The Sun. — 1867-12-06 (London, England)

OLYMPIC THE.A7RE:  - o- A new three-act comedy, entitled " From Grave to Gay," has been produced at this theatre. Although an adaptation from the French piece by Scribe entitled " Le Feu Lionel," it is doubly welcome, as it furnishes our great light comedian, Mr. Charles Mathews, with a new part, and also restores Mrs. Stirling once more to the metropolitan stage. The author or adapter of the pieta is Mr. Benjamin Webster, jun., and the skill he has displayed on this occasion leads to hope one day or or I other we may have the pleasure of witnessing a really original work from Lim; because in this, his latest work, we live strong evidence that he has ability, wit, and imagination quite equal to the production of an entirely new play of his own. The plot of the new piece briefly relate" is as follows : --Edward Armitage, a romAntic young gentleman, hes quitted col,ge with the best prospects in life before him, and plenty of money at command. Ms fortune is soon dissipated in extravagamx., a,:d at the moment when he is left altno.,t penniless he meets with a rich widow, Lady Diver Kidd, and makes proposals of marriage to her, which she, believing him to be a man of large property, accepts. That he may be what he seems ill the eyes of his betrothed he speculates extensively, loses everything, and resolves to commit suicide. He writes to all his friends declaring his intention to that effect, and is on his way to the river to drown himself, when he s tves the life of Mr. Colburn, an old attorney, who takes his preserver home with him and inducts him into his domicile. Here he meets an old schoolfellow, Richard Wise, the attorney's managing clerk. He falls in love with the attorney's daughter Constance, although he is aware that Richard Wise has a strong attachment towards her. Things are in this state in Old Colburn's house when Lady Diver Kidd pays a professional visit to the attorney touching the purchase of Betchley Manor, of which he has the sale. Edward Armitage, who passes under the name of. John Smith, dreads his discovery by his old affi•snced ; but as his father has died and he is the heir to Betchley Manor, it is necessary he should put in an appearance. The awkwardness of having to explain the circumstances of his supi osed suicide to Lady Kidd, the embarrassment of revealing his right name to the attorney's daughter, and the predicament in which he is placed by the death of Sir Peter Armitage leaving him the heir to an estate for which another claimant arises, who stoutly maintains the death of Edward Armitage may be easily imagined. Ile is extricated, however, eventually from all the humiliating difficulties of his position by the friendly intervention of the ever-ready and sagacious Richard Wise. Lady Kidd, who regrets the return to life of her admirer, chiefly because she loses the bargain of Betchley Manor, on which she had set her heart, reconciles herself with a husband in the person of the unsuccessful claimant. Edward Armitage marries Constance Colburn, and the good-tempered Richard Wise is left to console himself with the happiness he has secured for his friend. The acting of the piece was perfect in every respect. Mrs. Stirling, as the fast go-a-head widow, ever anxious to turn her capital and increase her percentage, a lady familiar with the " Course of the Exchange" and the " Racing Calendar," although not a loveable personage, yet withal a very interesting one, was one of the great supporters of the play. She went through the piece with a spirit and exhilaration only equalled by that of the inimitable Charles Mathews, who, by the way, seems to grow younger every day. As Richard Wise he was as lively and effervescent as champagne, and good temper and self-abnegation personified. Mr. Addison, as the hearty Old Attorney, was another prefect representation ; and Mr. 11. Wigan, as the Irish claimant to the Betchley property, came out remarkably well in a new line of business. Mr. Neville we have seen better fitted with a part than Edward Armitage alias Smith, but he did his best with it, and if it was not as interesting as those which usually fall to his lot, the fault was not his own. Miss Louisa Moore, as Constance Colburn, completed a cast which it would be very difficult to improve. The piece has been very carefully put upon the stage, and from the favour with which it was received it wilt hold its place and prove an attraction to the 01inpic. •