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By his very skilful adaptation of one of the works of M. Scribe, en- titled Perils dans la Demeure, Mr. Tom Taylor has displayed a higher degree of talent than is shown by many in the composition of original works. The personages have all become thoroughly English under his handling, so that we have excellent types of the hard-working statesman, the middle-aged lady of high society, the young lounger of the Govern- ment office Vest-end the old beau of the Regency, that are now so conspicu- ous in the world. As for the plot, it may be told in a couple of lines. An ambitious member of Parliament having somewhat ne- glected his wife, a young gentleman attempts to make good all defi- ciencies, but mischief is prevented by the zeal and tact of the young gentleman's mother. This very simple tale leads to no startling situa- tions, but it affords scope for a full development of character, and for good sound literary dialogue, tending to that best of all morals, that passion is to be sacrificed before the altar of duty. Mr. Tom Taylor has gone to his task like a scholar and a man of the world, and has performed It admirably. The piece, which is called The House and the Home, was produced on Monday. at the Adelphi, when Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan reappeared. Perfect naturalness of acting was probably never carried further than by these two artists as the legislative husband and the executive mother—one easy and calm till his jealousy was aroused, and then dignified amid his obvious suffering ; the other a model of a large-hearted, fashionably- trained lady, experienced, and acute enough to advise, but not too old to have lost the power of fascination. On these two personages the piece depends; but the old beau, played by Mr. Selby, and perfectly made up after the fashion of thirty years back, is a choice bit of characteristic delineation.
On Monday next, if announcements be correct, a new farce, entitled Retained for the Deem-a, will be produced at the Olympic, with Mr. F. Robson as the principal character.
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