Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1884-09-06 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THEATRICAL NOTES.  MANCHESTER THEATRES. "FEDOItA" AT THE PRINCES After long delay "Fedora," Victorien Sardou'e . latest play, was produced in Manchester, on Mon. , day evening last. A very large house pronounce] amsettheaiastioally,favourableperdict upon Rat the Prince's Theatre, Manchester.- Playgoers ate not fortunate in having new ploys promptly submitted to their criticism, and in the ease of "Fedora" they have some ground for complaint that a really etrong and important work should have been to long in reaching our board.. "Fedora" is nag ice. [leash!, a great play. It is as strong in human passion as anything the great French dramatist has produced. The character of Fedora is a powerfully artistio conception, and the varied impulses of a woman when swayed by the two greet pa. eions of love and revenge, are drawn with a skillet and delicate hand. The aher ohanier ere are oleo complete studies. No, even the least iinoortant is sketched in outline, but a living in tividuality is given to all, with the result that the play is one of the most powerful of recent produotious. Mr. Santee is always most careful in the elaborates of Ma plots, and in 'Fedor." he bas attained a very high standard of success. His materials are simple and easily uuderetood, and the action of the play is followed without the elightest difficulty, but his method of treatment in must sebile an I cunning. 'I he plot deals alm.t exclusively with Russian Society, in which Nitulion is largely mine] up. But the principal idea of the play is that Fedora seeks to revenge toe murder of her former lover by inducing his murderer to fall in love with her arid cools., the crime, that the may denounce him and secure his punish neut. The auspected murderer in Loris Ipanoff, and Fedora, in attracting his love, fines that she herself has been smitten by the tender pass on. When !pear amfeases having committed the murder, and before she hes time Wheal. more, she remenbe,s her task of vesg.uue, and denounces him to the secret pollee The subsequent explanation proves that her Is e'er lover was untrue, and on that account and for no political reaSon he met with hie death at the hande of Ipanoff. This to Fedora is r sufficient exculpation, but she has denounced the rune she loves, and her remorse for the fatal OwllBo,l of her rash impulse loads her on to suicide. Toe tut scene is of a most painful olmacter, tart 0.9 it Was presented on Monday night it seemed to se almost too brute,. Some allowance must of course be made for the fury of Ipanoff when he makes the discovery that his enemy is hie own wife, but hie aedimee might be spared some of the violence whioh premalee the death of Palma. The leading obaracter was in the toads of Mi. Laura Villiers, who entered fully into the spirit of the role. It commands in a minor key, and premeds from grief to revenge, and, naturally,.trom revenge .0 remorse, In all the various phases Moo Villiers grasped her work with a strong hand, and presented an artiatio picture of e brave woman whore heart had been turned to ttcel by cruel eliminate... She tone to the heights of tragedy in the first and last note, and fully deserved the enthuidastic call which she received. A capital company supported her in the other characters. Mr Cheri. Cartwright no Loris !Imhoff, at first created an impression which was not favourable, but this he overcame in the third act, and in the fourth he sher.l the ovation with Mi. Villiers. Mr. Denison, was a satiefactory Jean de Sides, and in tho other characters efficient service was rendered by Messrs. Aimeedale, Francis, Fiuglay, and Girardot, and Misses North, Sant., and Cohort... It is worthy of mention that Moe Villiers' wardrobe calmed the liveliest excitement amongst the ladies, but it is equally satisfactory to note thrt the display of dreams was not allowed to interfere with the pro. gram of the play. "THE WOMAN AND THE LAW" AT THE _ _ _