The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-12-04 00:00:00

Of the NV W Royal Theatt a )

'The Porter's Knot" beloarto the seriosomie school,
and is one in which the late Mr. Robson showed his
verratility mid great histrionic) poorer'. Ills but little
handled by amateurs. Hut once previously in this
neighbourhood have ore knout it attempted by amateun,
baring the Yeomanry week in May, 1f166. the We,.
mouth Amateur Dramatic Society eased upon and very
creditably produced it. The principal part was under-
taken by ODO not unknown to us, • literary (cry. little
hair)) back, and who invested it with • small amount
of that feeling which steal porter, risen to opulence nod
then dashed to the bottom of the ladder spin by •
spendthrift son, would be supposed to exhibit. The
plot of the drama may be ttin. succinctly told. Samson
Burr (Mr. N, IL Lorain), the principal character, has
amassed, by his vocation as a porter, • considerable sum
of wooer, in lee, sufficient to keep bias for the re-
mainder of his days in comfort. This haa been mama-
plighted, as Samson, in reference to himself and wife,
remarks, "We did pinch and we did 'grew. Ay' many's
tin long week we never tasted butcher's mat, haw one
old to the othea—datoplittge is all very well in their
way, sir, wises you have thaw sow and then
fee a ti-eat, sod with as apple Weide, bet
detadiag dam demean& with no gooiest all, it's rather
deli work believe ma.° -The old mu Is not ashamed to
re Ws, is hie use and retirement, it is by means of
the • Riot that be has been resisted to make his
mil, sew Alimentos VIOL J. T. Stephens) • Phrtdotnli,
eareoelog to Senses "Phyelento extraordinary to
the Boyd famile." The Potter's Knot is a rode lures'
Is by must the maryllg alms, to save their shoulders
*Pim TYYlog heavywslght.. Is is somewhat similar
to • hone other, the tile part passing arousd the fore-
head while the thither peit falls on the hath of the
nook and Auden, hirable a ossofortable MA for any
lead. Frequenters to tho London markets—Covent
Crude* Earriagdoa, and the Borough, mast have been
witnegese of the happy oostrivues. and the toss over
the head which a porter gives on secerritig a job. It is,
however, during business Imam worn in its proper pima,
het at times it will playfully be carried in the hand.
Tikes mho have lived in the country, and many who
.thadela the great metropolis, are in happy limonite* as
laarliat is a ,liorter's knot," and this brid explanatian
may, therefore, not be out of plus. Residing with Samson
sack Mrs. Ben is Alias(Mi.sßemis Walters), the orphan
child el a-ehromeed brother of Seams Barr, sod for the
ompoon of the drama, Augustuo is in love with bor.
While In the hospitals in Loudon Aogustim has made the
acquaintanes of • fast man shout town, one Stephen '
, SvAit,r (Ur. A. H. Good), and living with prodigality the
twee:coed their allowance. Seettet le a thoughtless scope-
Mrlittle Guise who pays the piper a* that be can
up appeal auto ; and in this Inatome° Seams Burr
eventually has tender for the recklessues of his son
, and Mr. Scatter. Mosey is raised by dills which Mr.
Smoothly Smirk (Mr. E. 0. Chodry) diluent,. and not
being met, be falls hack spots the father for E2OOO, the
amount stated to be lest. Old Bsuisoo, inaocent
fad London life, oannot understand it. He sap,
tefernag to hit sou, "I paid all his fees, and his lodging
sad his board, null bought hie books. Thee !allowed
bin tea 'Within • week pocket money—what is the
world did be want more mosey for r The smooth bill
diatiosinter Charities the arrest of the see. ?Mod 72421,
honest to the Gore is touched, plumbse to pay the
amount —"I'll pay Oran ovary drop of
(rota my vans somer than allow this decree' to mo-
*Um," epos cuddles that Mrs. Barr (Miss Lawful is
not made acquainted with the fans of the wee. Capt.
Oakum (Mr. O. Tooker), the captain of the Melhosnest,
about to mod for Australia, visits M2lllOO Burr, sad
joina the petty at diaper. It is decided between the
Ceptain sod Samson that Augusta. shall go out with
him abroad. and Samson, sitar strewing a parallel
ease, acknowledges that he has speculated
and lost all, nod must return to the Porter's
Knot, not that Aerates has ruined him. This reduces
Samson to his original position, sod In the mead an
we bod him sot in his velveteen coat, bud figured vest,
drab breathe', white Backings, white must, and black
hat, of the days of hatd woo oorapte coat, bat In a
porter's white frock and hedge, round bowler hat, straps,
and with a badge showing that be is • duly licensed
porter. Scatter having exhausted the whole of his
friends, is also obliged to do something to ret • living,
and he now appears in the garb of a railway police
tospector--out with brass button', blue trousers,
appropriate sod bushy beard. Alice endeavours to help
Mr. and Mrs. Burr by giving lassoes in music- Suwon
aid Scatter at last meet in Ow strut, but the old man
freely forgives him for aiding in his (Mr. Bores) ruin,
and SA soon as be departs, Bra Burr brings the old porter
his dinner, which, sitting side by side on the bench, the
old porter eats. The auk 20200 is one of the most
affecting, unwell u effective portions of the wilds drama. ,
The colloquy between the aged ample relative to their ,
wild son is touohir.g, and when aln. Barr calls the
son " • dear boy," the old man, with • dash of humour,
by way of rejoinder remarks, "If he had been a
little cheaper it would have been no objection."
Augustus goes out In the "Balboni.," the crew '
of which, no her return to Ragland with a valuable
carge, experience great dames end die off, until the
whole are deed save Captain Oakum sod Aagastas, and
even the captain had base bulb/ tho fall of a mast.
For • whole month the voted was knocking about,
Augustus doing the beet he could with her until the
was picked up off the English meat, and brought safely
into port by Jack Binnacle, • pilot (Mr. H. E. Houn.
sal). Augustin realm home, and the interview with
his parent& is over, when is rushee flatter, and puts •
letter lido the bands of Autumns, not as ha (Sutter)
observed, Ives creditor, bat front the owners of the
ship, who, is return for his endeavour, which led to the
ship being saved, had taken hire into partnership.
8 01200 thinks that it will be better thee "Physician
extraordinary," and saggeds s speedy nobs, which had
been Aelayed, between Augustus and Aliee. Scatter
offers to Rive away the bride, and being, as be mid, more
and to borrowing than giving, Sutter Woke It will be
qa to • west. Samson expresses his intention, to wear
toohords for MVO lust time "The Porter's Keel."

Linn. Loggia interpreted the eloserlingly arduous
part of Samson Burr with great sum, the pathetic
panacea being especially well rendered and the feeble
old man, broken down by grief, yet determined to work
so as to pay off his eireqouraco a 00.4 debts. wee pot-
trap ed in a masterly manner, and hew., loudly cheered.
Mu Levis. is not • strain, to a Brirportandience, she
having on former maniocs appeared here as an waren
with great sothess. Her impersonation of Mrs.
Burr was clever and lady-like. and the audience
totalled their appreciation, by frequent plaudits.
Min Bennie Walters gave a very praiseworthy rem.
dining of Alin. her &apothem's sad style of acting
being most pleasing • it was her Ora appearthoe in
Ibis town, and the li'sa won for bevel( golden opinions.
Ur. J. T. Stephen. and kfr. A H. Good filled their
parts vary cred.thbly, and Kr. E. C. Gandry sad Mr.
C. Tucker in their minor charsotersztod with ears
lull Th twit. e remaining parta were tly taken.
At the close of the drama the performances win
loudly sheered, and the certain Ind to be draws ay
spin for them to renive the sheen of the audiences.
Capt. Edwards then oanie forward.and sang beautifully
the song. "Stay with roe my darling," and was very
loudly cheered and encored. in canarynacre of which be
nog 'rat Death of Nelson" most powerfully sad
exquisitely.
- - - - .

The afier-piece was the laughable farm of "Poor
PiMuddy," with the following east :
Pillicoddy ... ... ... ... H. Fa Houses&
Outdo 011euttle ... ... ... F. W. Good.
Mrs. Pillicoddy ... ... _Mir Bemis Walters.
K. C. Gunda.ne.
That mobile faros author, Mr. J. M. Morton,
.has
esooveded in producing is the farce of "Poor Pith.
middy" a very latuhter provoking entertainment. It
I. rather longer than the ordinary run of faros& Mr.
Pillicoddy, a nurseryman (Mr. B. IL Hosnerli), takes.
am a Dewed wife, the widow of a late Capt. Fitapstria
Scuttle. who wee drowned at sea in the chops of the
almond ,• Mrs. Fitzpatrick 011 cuttle, of sours', becomes
Mn. Pilliooddy (Mug Beene Walters). Sarah Sleet
(Mae Lavine), servant to Mr. Pillicoddy, questions him,
as there lea doubt shout it, whether it has been coo-
cvely'proved that Mn. Filliooddeir firet husband is
really dead. PSllo°447'B fame are inormaed because he
tiol had dreamt about Capt. O'Seattle the priWicias ht ;
Pelliaoddy thiright "be tame to his bedside • all
over with seaweed and hernial. with Neptune's toll.
fork in one hand and hie marriage eiertifibahi the
other, demandiog his (Capt Scuttles) wife." then Mr..
Pillicody. Mrs. O'Soutth (Mr. IL C. °nutty). the
wile of the living Capt. trieraid Orient of the
Liesly Polly (Mr. F. W. Good), visit. Mrs.
and tall* her that her hushaad le ebertil elt=
to arrive home, and she is not at.. All
with him, she having iotercepted a hitter frees him I.
OW of MN mats friends, to which wee added a p.a. ;
"I fot to mentioe that I have butught Jenny to
llegliM with me. Now tricy dear To,, you must take
shame of her for the preeest, as my wife must be kept
entirely is the dart." This, ooaplod with Ids refusal to
lake her on the voyage whim she requested him, is quite
tali
leafriti;int for Mrs. Menttle and ebb decides to absent
from her home. fia Mrs. PlSS:eddy, all are
ignorant of Mn. Seattle In the home. Curt
Scuttle, who is in pursuit, ha caught a sight other
going into Kr. Pilliooddy% rushee Is to claim his wife,
and sash is in a state of bewilderment Si lie the lady
to whom be is rehiring, and PillieciddY has his fears
that Mts. Pillicoddy's lint husband has really
"turned up." His opinion receives strength,
and in an interriew with Mr. Pilbooddy who does
not know that Mn. Scuttle is in the hones,
the captain desires to see hie wife, and Pau.
eoddy chimes is with "My wife."
and the stage being darkened, there Illawl
ladierous matcher,. Mr. Pilliooddy seising Mrs. Scuttle,
thinking it wee Mrs. Pilliooddy, while the Captain
clutches Sarah, mistaking her for Mrs. Pillicoddy. Mrs.
Scuttle at length desires the Captain to expiate the
meaning of ONO P.S. to the intercepted letter. He tella
her that the Jenny retinal to Is as elegant
ilmaillim monkey. Mr. Pidiooddy in the meantime has
been attempting to pawn hiameU with poppy heeds,
believing that MS. PaiioOddi WOO about to be torn from
him as the lawful wife of Capt. &Scuttle. The lattor
disavows any such Intention; he is Fitzgerald, not his
mooed amain Fitapatrisk O'Souttle. Mr. Pillitioddy is
roused from his drat/Ousel to he &Nara that he has
nothing to fear from Capt. 0'84.144.
Mr. EL S. Housman repruseated Pilikoddy in a
meaner whine would have been creditable to a pro.
tendons!, sed be provoked the frequent laughter of the
' saii..... 116.1 Lavine es Sarah Blunt wee Intensely
'.lausiug, and Mies Bemis Whiten made a *harming 1
.41 sevraliiii Kn. .Plthe,4l7. Mr. 1,, Wa Geed ass I