The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-10

consents to marry him provided be will do her
the service she requires. "Redburn,n no sever,
is on the watch, aud he Is about TO have "Ned' /
again arrested when be himself is taken into
custody on long series of swindling charges.
Five years pass by, and we find "Ruthn and
'Ned" happily married and engaged In sheep
farming in Australia. "Mr. Danvillen has
confessed himself the murderer of Johnson
and thus 'Ned'sn innocence is establish
One day, however they are astonished by see
ing "Redburnn take refuge In their house from
q number of pursuers who bad detected him In
some thieving operations "Ned,n forgetful OF
the injuries he had received from the villain,
offers him q pistol 10 defend himself and the
ungrateful wretch turns the weapon on his pre-
server. Before he can pull the trigger, however,
he is shot by the rifle OF one of his pursuers,
and, as they rush in, 1t is found that "Redburnn
| came to his end by the hand of the party by the
name of 'Johnson," who explains that when
he fell into the water he was rescued by ship
| bound for Australia, and that he had reformed
| and become useful member OF society.
The Lancashire Lass is not the most merito.
rious of Mr.. Byron's plays, but 1t is more likely
| to make money for the author aud manager and
| to please the fancy Of large portion of the
| playgoing public, thah better productions.
Taking it all in all, however, the piece is supe-
| rior to most of the dramas of its class, and Il
| well placed upon the stage aud well acted, IL
| could scarcely fail 10 make hit. II is fairly
| written, and ability has been shown in the
| arrangement Of the scenes so that the curtain
| shall descend upon effective climax 10 each act
and striking situation at the end of the play.
| The feature of the drama, however, and what
raises it above the commonplace, is "the party by
| t1,op nofI oh 10 fo GraN 10
sation part for competent actor, but the other
characters are all of the conventional styles
that have been exhibited so often that the name
and an indication of the line of business is
sufficient intimation to the habitual playgoer
as to what he may expect to see. judging The
Lancashire Lass on its own merits, we would
moi be able to award it any great amount of
| praise, but in comparison with other dramas OF
like character, its superiority entities il to COM
| mendatlon. 1t was received with enthusiasm
| at both theatres last evening, and the probabii-
ties are that it will have long run. Some
judlcious pruning, however, is needed; aud II
the dialogue is literally cut in a number of
places, the play will not be injured materially,
and the performance will pass of smoother and
conclude at a somewhat seasonable hour.
The "I.ancashire Lass" at the Arch.
Mrs. Prev has placed the Lancashire Lass
| upon the stage in good style, although there is
| not as much new scenery as we expected TO
| see, from the announcements that were made
| The effects of good taste and good management
| were evident, however, in the stage appoint
| ments no less than in the efficient manner in
which the various parts were rendered, and in
| the absence of awkward baks and waits, which
are usually SO annoying ON the first night of
| new piece.
| Mr.. Hills personatiou of "the party by the
| name of Johnson" was, in the main, very good.
| This was especially the case in the first two
acts in which he appeared. MIR. Hill's makeup
| was capital, and he brought out the strong
| points of the character in excellent style. Mr..
| HIlls peculiar, half-choked style OF elo-
| cution, however, detracted from the merits
| OF this as it does from many mora of
his presentations. We do not know whether the
| detect which we have named is natural aud
therefore irremediable, or whether it is merely
| bad habit. If the latter, it ought to be cured
as soon as possible. If Mr.. Hill would only
| speak plainly he would be much more &C.
| ceptable actor, and with his undoubted talents
| it is worth while for him to heed the hints
which have been dropped from time to time on
| this point. The drunken scenes in the third
act we're not overdone, but there was too much
of what is at the best an unpleasant exhibition,
| and the performance would be improved If "the
party, by the name of Johnson" allowed
| US to see less of him while under the influence
of the ''rosy.' The third act might be cut
| down to half its present proportions with
advantage, and he still be long enough before
| the audience to secure their sympathes without
| wearying them.
Miss Price played the part of "Kate Gar
stonn very well indeed, but the cast would be
streng thened if she were to take the more
juvenile and pleasing, but scarcely more i'm
! portant role OF "Ruth Kirby,H and Mrs. Drew
were to undertake "Kate Garston" herself.
| Miss Price has scarcely sufficient energy and
| tragic power for such character as "Kate Gar
| stonn while Mrs. Drew could give 1t with all the
| power and intensity that are required to make
| it prominent part in the play. Mrs. Drew her.
| self shows to less advantage as the beautiful
| and tickle, but, after all, true-hearted "Ruth,r
| than she would as the revengeful, halEgypsy
| "Kate.n Both parts were well acted, but the
| change We have suggested would be an improve
| ment. Mr.. Everly makes capable representa-
| tive of the villain "Redourn;" and Mr.. Wallis
always careful and painstaking actor, makes
the most of the small part of "Farmer Kirby"
Mr.. Craig has few opportunities to show his
| comic abilities as 'Spotty," but what he does is
well DONE and he is entitled to credit for not
atterpti TO overact his part or to
I give it more importance than
It is fairly entitled to. Mr.. Hemple as "Jellck,h
| Mr. Mackay as "Mr. Danville," and Mrs. Grease