Gray Lady of Penarvon

     Full cast.  List of scenes.

     Includes a synopsis of the plot. “Last night a new play, entitled the Grey Lady of Penarvon, adapted from the French by Tom Taylor, was given here for the first time.  It had a very decided success.

      …Out of these simple elements the French author and the English adaptor have constructed a play of intense interest and the highest merit. We have seldom seen a point better made – a more effective coup de theatre, than the discovery of the mysterious hand that poisons the cup at the close of the third act.  The whole story is wrought out with the same peculiar force, and the play was excellently acted.  Mrs. Wallack, as the Grey Lady of Penarvon, was perfect in make up and in the spirit of the part.  Mrs. Walcot, Miss Clifton and Miss Germon all had good parts, and rendered them with much more than the average success.  Miss Germon made her first appearance on this occasion, and promises to become a valuable addition to the company.  Mr. Hanley deserves special commendation for the manner in which the play has been put upon the stage.  The scenery was of the same rich and appropriate character that characterizes that of all new presentations at this establishment.  The Grey Lady of Penarvon will be repeated to-night.”

     “A sensation drama of unusual interest, called the ‘Gray Lady of Penarvon,’ was produced at the Winter Garden last night.  It is an adaptation by Mr. Tom Taylor of an exceedingly effective French piece called ‘L’Aieul.’  The situations are of the most singular and striking character, and the dialogue is unusually good.  We are speaking, of course, of the French piece, but it is reasonable to suppose that an expert and cultivated dramatist like Mr. Taylor will not mar these conspicuous merits.  The ‘Gray Lady of Penarvon’ has been eminently successful in England.  Mr. Stuart anticipates that it will enjoy a career here.  He has produced it in the most careful manner, and with a cast of unusual strength.  The performance commences at 7:45 o’clock.”

     Includes excerpt of review from NYH 05/16/65, p. 5.

     “The innocent portion of the theatrical community may perhaps be surprised to learn that the ‘season’ at the Winter Garden closed last evening.  The regular dramatic amusements of the year at that pleasant house of entertainment came abruptly to an end.  The curtain fell, last night, definitively, upon the series of attractions which Mr. Stuart had provided for the current term of his management.  The performances were suspended, and the establishment was given over to the annual suspension—for a greater or less period—of all business.  We hasten to add, however, that in this instance the period is decidedly less than any which has hitherto fallen within our observation.  The Winter Garden closed, it is true, last evening; but it will nevertheless open again to-night, for a new ‘season’ – probably for what is technically known as the ‘Summer season.’  To all excepting those most nearly concerned, the hiatus will therefore be imperceptible; and to render it still less violent, the same performances, unchanged in every particular, as those with which what we must designate as the last ‘season’ will be continued.  The recent season terminated with ‘The Grey Lady of Penarvon,’ and that same piece will be enterprisingly revived, with all the original effects of scenery, music, etc., and even with the original cast of characters.  In fact, the performance to-night will be in no respect different from what it would have been if the lapse of an interval between ‘seasons’ had not taken place at all.  Ah, well! We have become too much accustomed to the fact of these theatrical ‘early-closing’ movements to be much affected thereby; but to the motives of them we can never make ourselves sufficiently accustomed to let them pass without some sign of reproach and indignation.  And we have this to say, with sincere regret, that perhaps the last management we should have suspected of willingness to adopt a practice which no argument can authorize and which no special pleading can justify, is the management of the Winter Garden.”

     Includes a detailed synopsis of the plot.  “‘The Grey Lady of Penarvon,’ a singularly thrilling drama, was produced at the Winter Garden on the 15th inst.  It is in four acts, and was originally produced at the Ambigu Comique, Paris, Oct. 17th, 1863.  It was then known as ‘L’Aieule’ (‘The Grandmother’), and was written by MM. Dennery and Charles Edmond.  In 1864, it was translated and adapted to the English stage by Tom Taylor, and produced at the Olympic Theatre, London, Nov. 2d; it was then called ‘The Hidden Hand.’  Its origin may be traced to Bulwer Lytton’s romance of ‘Lucretia.’  The scene of the play is laid in Wales, during the reign of James the Second, and the story opens at Penarvon Castle  . . . This piece has been placed upon the stage with great care, the scenery being new and beautiful.  Each act occupies one set scene. The great sensation occurs at the close of the third act, where the hidden hand is discovered coming through the curtains and administering the poison.  This is decidedly a sensational one, and at the fall of the curtain the audience was very enthusiastic, when the curtain was rang up on the scene.  What little acting there is in the piece was cleverly done.  Mrs. J. W. Wallack’s Lady Gryffdd was a very clever rendition of that difficult role.  Mr. Barton Hill appeared as Madoc Goch, an old Welsh shepherd, but the character was of no use whatever to the play, and it therefore afforded Mr. Hill no opportunity to display his talents.  Miss Ada Clifton played Lady Penarvon exceedingly and received what she duly merited, a fair share of applause.  Miss Effie Germon as Enid, sang and acted with spirit and vivacity.  We knew she had much of the comic element within her, but were agreeably surprised to find her playing a serious part with so much effect.  As the youthful Muriel, Mrs. C. Walcot looked charming.  She is a careful, painstaking actress, and is becoming quite a favorite at this establishment.  Mr. Hanley played Lord Penarvon with great judgment and care.”