A tender love-scene had no sooner passed between His Sacred Majesty and
his betrothed wife, than he was to be seen in earnest conversation with
his friend and brother-in-arms, the noble Theodore. In the character of
this gallant soldier, Mary was universally allowed to show a masculine
vigour and a warlike deportment scarcely to be expected from an actress,
however talented. I can well remember how the pride of wearing a hat of
unequivocally modern aspect, and flourishing a naked sword, much bigger
than myself, made the moment of my appearance as Theodore one of the
proudest of my life! In a drama of this nature, virtue was of course
triumphant, vice and ingratitude defeated. A terrible scene ensued, in
which Osman appeared on the stage flying before an unseen enemy, a
victim to remorse, disappointed love and ambition, and commenced, before
the audience, to commit that suicide which was supposed to be completed
behind the scenes, whither he had repaired to change his dress. Here was
our sister Caroline, who, not sharing to the full our dramatic
enthusiasm, had refused to appear on the stage, but nevertheless “had
kindly consented” (after the fashion of Mr Sims Reeves) to take the part
of the “Insurrection,” in which character she was much admired in her
spasmodic performance on the kettledrum.
The last scene was the Celebration of the Nuptials of King Cavendish and
the lovely Irene, their hands being joined by a religious functionary of
a most venerable aspect, a snow-white beard descending to his girdle,
but of somewhat equivocal denomination. If any fault should be found
with an inexperienced though talented author, in respect of calling the
minister who performed the marriage ceremony a high priest, and dressing
him in Judaical rather than Christian vestments, she would offer as an
excuse the observation which a lady, famous for her lisp, once made when
speaking of the late Lord Lytton: “We mutht make allowantheth for the
ecthentrithiteh of geniuth.”
So fell the curtain on three first appearances, amidst the deafening and
enthusiastic applause of an audience composed of very different
ingredients; for the Admiral was there and his family, the clergyman and
doctor with their wives, the Officer in Command of the garrison, and
many other members of the highest importance and standing in the
dockyard, as well as minor officials, warders, boat’s crew, and domestic
servants, etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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