"SOME TALK OF ALEXANDER."
If my memory serves me faithfully, the above heading is a quotation from the first verse of "The British Grenadiers," and is peculiarly applicable just now to the Lessee of the St. James's Theatre, Mr. George Alexander, who has got a decided success in the original Comedy, written by Mr. R. C. Carton, entitled Liberty Hall, an excellent and a catching name, that perhaps might have been better bestowed on a larger picture. To play with "reserved force" until the passionate moment arrives, is all that Mr. Alexander has to do; but this he does admirably, never under-acting, never over-acting, always as natural as a quiet gentleman, of a peculiarly romantic turn of mind, yet with a keen but chastened appreciation of a practical joke, kept all to himself for five months, should be.
Had he been compelled by circumstances to sustain the alias, and to continue playing the part of a Burchell in Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield for one month longer, could he have done it? However, as the piece has "caught on," it may be that Mr. Alexander will have to play the part of Mr. Burchell alias Owen for even longer than half a year; and, as he selected the piece, and as he plays this part excellently, it is mainly Owin' to Alexander that the piece is payin.' Mr. Ben Webster is good as the somewhat gentlemanly-caddish mixture called The Hon. Gould Harringay. Mr. Nutcombe Gould, as a Family Solicitor, deeply interests everybody in the First Act; "and then," like Macbeth's "poor player,"—which Mr. N. G. isn't, far from it,—"is heard no more." Perhaps, during the Pantomime season, he might re-appear at the finish with a slight addition to his head-gear, as intimated in this little sketch of him, when he could observe confidentially to the audience, "Here we are again!" But this is only a hint, to the practical use of which, Mr. Gould, by the kind permission of Mr. Alexander, is heartily welcome.
Capital is Miss Fanny Coleman as the housekeeper and maid-of-all-work; and, in the small part of Todman's shop-boy, Master Richard Saker shows that, as Mr. Wardle said of Mr. Tupman, when he brought down the birds with his eyes shut, he is "an older hand at this than we thought for." If he works at his profession, he will show himself "a wise-Saker." Mr. Holles and Miss Ailsa Craig, in two very small but strongly-marked character-parts, add to the general efficiency of an exceptionally complete cast. Miss Maude Millett makes the indiscreet Amy Chilworth a very sweet person, but it is Miss Marion Terry who has in her hands the one strong dramatic situation at the end of the Third Act. It is a situation which, no matter what might have been the author's conception of it, depends for its effect solely and only on the actress; and Miss Marion Terry, as she sits, rises to the occasion. It is long since Mr. Righton has had such a part as that of Todman, the quaint little old-fashioned bookshop-keeper, and to this quite Dickensian character, the actor does thorough justice; as also does Mr. H. Vincent to the somewhat highly coloured blusterous part of Briginshaw. Mr. Alexander commences the new year well.
"Prosit!" chirps The Critic off the Hearth.