The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-06

THE LANCASHIRE LAss.-The Academy or
Music was we'll filled on Saturday night the play
being 1.-THE Lancashire Lass" which, without any
novelty ofplot particular brilliancy oil dialogue
is something Of favorite with play-goers. The
blot Is simple in the extreme, and as stale as
it is simple Ruth Kirby, Miss Lille Ell
drldge,) pretty country girl, betrothed to Ned
Clayton, (Mr. James O'Neil) young engineer,
consents to elope with Robert Redburn, tMr. Harry
Wood) pronigate adventurer, being led to make
this step by jealousy, which Is ingeniously 10
mented by Kate Graston, Miss Lizzie Herbert,)
who desires to be revenged on Ned Clayton for
fanced wrong. WheE on the brink OF ruin, Ruth
is saved by the devotion OF Ned Clayton,
and Redburn, completely foiled, returns
to London, where he wins the love OF
Fanny Danville, Miss Laura Alexander)
beauty and an heiress Mr.. Danville Or. Knapp
refuses his consent, and threatens to cut oil
Fanny with a shilling; but Redburn finds an un-
expected ally in "a party by the name OF John-
son." (dr. Samuel Ryan, who. for share IN the
spolls, agrees to secure the consent OF the stern
parent In the nick Of time this "party by the
name OF Johnson" saves Redburn from expulsion
from Mr.. Danville's house, and reminds his "od
pal. Mr.. Danville, that he will prove him guilty
OF forgery and deserion unless he consents 70 the
match. Fanny Danville overhears both the
charge and the confession Of her father, anu ap-
peals for aid to Redburn, who treats her with cut
ting contempt and declines to have any further
connection with so infamous a set. Ned Clayton,
driven to desperation by the loss OF Ruth,
seeks consolation in the bottle, nndlng
worthy companion In "the party by the
name Of Johnson" who, while In state OF
intoxication Is thrown into the river. Redburn
charges Clayton with the crime, and proposes to
Ruth to refrain from giving evidence against tile
accused If she will become his tRedburn'sl wife.
This proposition she rejects with scorn, and fiees
to an old admirer, Jellick (hr. w. H. Burton)
who has the prisoner in charge. Ruth promises
her hand to Jellick if he will connve at the escape
OF CLAYTON. This he consents TO do, but Redburn
makes his appearance as Clayton is about to
make his escape. Clayton closes with Redburn
and gets OF safe, while Ruth holds Redburn in
check until the appearance OF Sergeant Donovan,
Mr. Harris,) who halls Redburn as the wel-known
criminal, slippery Dick" and hauls him oil 10
Jail The last act finds Ruth married to Clayton
in Australia The only blot on their happiness is
the charge OF murder against Clayton. This is
removed by the dying confession OF Mr..
Danville. who acknowledges that he did
the deed. Redburn appears on the scene as 4
furnishing bushranger, and as he is about to shoot
Clayton is killed by one OF his pursuers. who
is the party b. the name of Johnson
The plot, as will be seen, is bold and disjointed
in the extreme, but there are some telling sltua-
tlons and they were made the best OF. Miss
Eldrldge as Ruth played with an energy and dra-
matte force which she had not before shown on
the Charleston stage, and in the lookup scene
excited the audience to active enthusiasm. The
acting OF this lady throughout the play was natu-
raj and unaffected, as we'll as fervent Miss Alex
andsr had but little to do, but she did that little
well. rising in warmth and passion far above the
level Of School" and " Home" In what may
be called "thc courting sccne," Miss Alexander's
by-plav was capital. Mr.. James O'Neil, as Ned
CLAYTON, showed 4 manliness and q rugged clo-
quence worthy OF great praise. His acting was
easy and simple, but forcible and pointed. There
was no piling up the agony, no pathos but every
catching sentiment was cheered TO the echo. Mr.
Wood, as Robert Redburn, did his best with an
unthankful part. 1t is hard to be villain grace
fully. Mr.. Samuel Ryan, as 'the party by the
name OF Johnson" made decided hit. His
makeup was thoroughly original, and his acting
excellent. The humor Of his acting made the au-
dience laugh until their sides ached. All tile less
er parts were well filled.
The scenery was pretty-the "0ld pier at Eyre
mont particularly so, and the spirited playing of
the orchestra filed up pleasantly the Intervals be-
tween the acts.