playgoers have never before been privileged to witness, at the local theatre, such a magnificent piece of acting as Mrs, Brough's impersonation of Paula Tauqueray. Some inay object that the exceeding force of the tragic pnssayes, by giving an impression of almost. terrible strength and passion, rather weaken the sympathy which the softer phases of the character might win for the unhappy heroine, whose vehemence- makes her appear well able to protect herself; but, even supposing such an objection to be well founded, and it can only be a matter of individual opinion, the fact remains that Mrs Brough is an actress. of extraordinary gifts, and that her conception of the réle'is ove which will appeal to any' thoughtful spectator. As to the play itself, there is room for much controversy. "There can be no question concerning its quality from a dramatic or literary point of view, for it is admire ably written by a master in the stage craft. But the subject, or perhaps we should say the problem, for it is a pro. slam play," is so repulsive and abnormal) that we doubt if any good end, whether of amusement or instruction, is served by sucha presentation of human frailty. We understand the intended lesson of the play to be the injustice of insisting on a standard of morality for women higher than that demanded from men, and the cruelty of the punishment invariably awarded to a woman who has lived her life in defiance of the conventions and society. If this be the moral of The Second Mrs. Tangueray, we think the play fails in its object, for the heroine is not a mere woman with a past" for whom redemption is possible, but she is neurotic toa degree bordering on madness, and the case is, therefore, altogether abnormal and exceptional. That such a woman should fail to settle down to her new existence, happy in the devotion of the man who has rescued her, and content to be simply and peacefully at rest, is not to be expected, and the result of the experiment could never be in doubt. The true note of the character is struck immediately the curtain rises on the second act. Restlessness, jealousy, irritation blazing up fiercely into temper on the least imaginary provocation, mark the woman whose mind is unhinged and the strength of whose passions may at any time impel her to some frantic deed under the promptings of her undisciplined emotions. 'The dictates of ordinary prudence have' no hold on her, as witness her vulgar rudeness to. Mrs. Cortelyon on her first call..A sane woman, would be alive to the importance of. creating a good impression on an occasion of such moment to her, and would keep cher pride and any resentment she might feel-at: the suspicion of patronage under sufficient control to save her politeness. But Pau'a Tunqueray_ is mad. She has allowed her passions full liberty, and has lost all command of her feelings.. Even her husband's love and patience cannot soothe her jealousy at his natural partiality for.his daughter. Occasional gleams of a better nature reveal themselves, as when we see her disgust at herself forstenling Ellean's letters to her father, and her brave determination to restore them and confess. And her heroic determination to prevent Ellean's betrothal to Ardale by telling the truth, at all costs, to her husband concerning her former relations with original purity of soul which has been the fiance is a grand indication of the
80 befouled and degraded. To suppose, as appears to be intended, that Paula's suicide is an act of glorious self-sacrifice is mere sentimentalism. It is the inevitable result of her insanity worked up to desperation by the difficulty of her position.
The saddest; and perhaps..in. some way the truest, feature of the play is the fact that it is Paula's. better nature which leads to her ruin. Her past is ever in her mind, making her morbidly sensitive and impelling her to frequent confessions and allusions. To a selfish and callous nature an easy road out of her difficulties is presented. She has only to hold her tongue about Ardale and save the situation. But her impulse to do what she conceives the right thing is as strong and undisciplined as her former inclination to evil, and the jealous yearning for, the love of Ellean has ssu stirred her womanly.instincts,; that all prudence, all self-seeking, and all fear of the consequences are thrust aside without moment's hesitation. Melancholia is upon her in its cutest form, and she puts anend to a life which might have been tolerable had she been more wicked. We are afraid that the moral of. the story is that when one has sinned the only relief is to be found in not attaching too much importance to it. A moral which is hardly to be commended.
Tt is to be hoped that. Shanghai is at last awake to the fact, that, in the. visit of the Brough Comedy Company, we have an opportunity of seeing the latest plays performed with quite: unusual skill... The acting of Mr. and Mrs. Brough would make them famous anywhere, and they are admirably supported by well-chosen and most competent company. The. scenery isnot, as is generally the case with the travelling companies who. visit us, a makeshift hash of the cloths lying at the Lyceum, but has all been specially painted for the different plays. It is all good and some of it. is magnificent. We hope that the scanty houses which on one or two occasions have so inadequately. rewarded the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Brough uro now a thing of the past, and that the Support given to the Company during their star amongst us will prove that Shanghai heartily appreciates a really good thing and is ever ready to encourage genuine talent whenever it appears.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.