Thomas (Clerk),. Mr. McCraw. John (Servant). Mr. V. de Maire, Laura Valen. Madame Reitrop. Signora Majeroni, After the remarkably good impression created by Signor and Signora Majeroni in their recent performance of Feder, curiosity was naturally aroused, when they were announced to take part ina piece of a totally different character, to see what effect the change would have as regards the principal performers. It was evident that the artist who could win applause with equal facility in a farcical comedy such as Our Ttalian Cousin and in a drama of the Fedora type, must possess no small amount of versatility of talent; and that they do possess such a quality was emphatically shown by the principal performers at the Lyceum on Tuesday evening. Our Italian Cousin, which is described as a farcical comedy in three acts, by Signor Vittorio Bersezio, cannot be said to have any dis. tinctive features of design which place it above the level of stage compositions of this kind. The whole story, as usual, has its basis in misunderstandings which amon; ordinarily sensible people in teal life would very readily be put right; but one does not quarrel with tiis in a comedy if only the dialogue be bright, the fun spontaneous, and the final ¢claircissement well led up to. In the latter respect the piece in question is somewhat wanting; for though the first act provides the necessary development and the second is full of opportunities for effective playing, the interest is not quite so well tiaintained id the third. "Che main idea of the piece is simply as follows: Two couples, one married, the other about to be, are set by the ears by a letter written by some mischief-making young men to the hero, Our Italian Cousin", a simple youth who has an unhappy knack of doing or saying the wrong thing at the wrong moment. The letter purports to be from a mysterious innamorata who is desperately enamoured of Our Italian Cousin" and must meet him at a masquerade. The.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.