Miss Rehan as Julia.
"The Third Page in her Life."
The Duke discovers the rope-ladder
under Valentine's cloak.
"The Rope Trick exposed."
Ere these lines can appear, the Two Gentlemen of Verona and their two Ladies will have vanished from Daly's Theatre like the baseless fabric of a dream, leaving, however, a very pleasant recollection of the play in the minds of all who saw it—and a great many did, for Shakspeare's Two Gents is a dramatic curiosity. Prettily put on the stage as it was, with good music, picturesque costumes and clever acting, it will dwell in our memories as an exceptionally attractive revival.
Mr. George Clarke, the "stern parient," appeared as something between a Doge and a Duke, and equally good as either, you bet; that is, "'lowing," as Uncle Remus has it, that either Doge or Duke has passed the greater part of his life in the United States. Mr. Frank Worthing (nice seasidey name on a hot night in town) a gentlemanly-villainous Proteus, and Mr. John Craig an equally gentlemanly-virtuous Valentine. So "Gents both" are disposed of. Mr. James Lewis, as Launce, playing "the lead" to his dog, put into the part new humour in place of the old which has evaporated by fluxion of time. Launce's sly dog, very original; part considerably curtailed.
I see that a descendant of Tyrone Power appears as "Mine Host." I did not gather from his costume that he was "a host in himself," but thought he was a Venetian Judge or retired Doge; the latter surmise receiving some confirmation from the fact that, while the singing was going on, he, being somnolent, "doge'd" (as Mrs. Gamp would say) in his chair. Sleeping or waking his was a dignified performance. Miss Elliot a graceful Sylvia, who, as a Milanese brunette, is artistically contrasted with Miss Ada Rehan, of Florentine fairness, as Julia. All that is wanting to this sketchy character Miss Rehan fills in, and makes the design a finished picture. Improbable that Proteus should never recognize Julia when disguised as a boy until she herself reveals her identity. However, it was a very early work of William's: mere child's play.
* * * * *
The most Clement of critics, our learned and ever amiable Scotus of the Daily Telegraph, speaking with authority from his column last Saturday, recalls to us how many English actors and actresses have successfully played in French on the Parisian stage, and adds to the list the name of Marie Halton, who, excellent both in singing and acting as La Cigale at the Lyric, will soon appear at a new theatre in Paris, where she is to "create" French rôles—which, Mlle. Marie, is a very pleasant way of making your bread. But if we have in this actress an English Chaumont, why does not some such astute manager as Mr. Edwardes, the Universal Theatre Provider, induce Halton to Stay on—here, not only for her own "benefit," but for that of the Light Opera-loving public.