Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-03
MEMPHIs THEArrR-" SET IN GoLp.9

MEMPHIS THEATER-" SET IN Gold
As we are told, and told truly, Bouci-
cault, Robertson, Brougham and other
well-known playwrights have written
pieces that were inferior to Mr.. Harry
Watkins drama, Set in Gold, OF The
One Bright Spot" which was performed
for Che FIRST time here last night. The
character which the author has given us
such an admirable portraiture Of is that
of an old Irish miser of the peasantry,
vino, while . good provider for his fam
ily, a kind husband and most devoted
father, is parsimonious, close aud hard
about money. His struggles are with his
avarice on the one hand and his love for
his son on the other At one time he is
torn by the loss of his money and the
danger of his son, and then his passion
as miser and his feeling as a father
make dreadful havoc in his mind. He is
not only crazed by fear of beggary, but
is stunned by grief about his boy. First
one and then the other of the two ruling
elements in his character, ayarice and
paternal affection, rack his soul. In
order to delineate shrewd, plain, obsti-
nate old man, governed by two such
powerful influences, more than mediocre
dramatic talent is required from
first to last. There is a constant
demand upon the actors physical
strength and capacity for continuous
realization Of the character. All Of the
demands made upon him by this part
Mr.. Watkins met admirably. He creates
the part, fixes it in the puhlic's mind,
and then gives an original, strongly
drawn and well defined character. with
the leading features of it kept con-
staittly in the foreground, or rather
brought out in bold relief Nothing is
neglected in dress, walk, manner, tone
of voice, and expression which would
serve 10 complete the picture. This
miser is as much flesh and blood char
acter as if he had lived The majority
ofithe misers introduced into the drama
heretofore have been depicted as alb
sorbed entirely by their one idea, with
perhaps revenge or misanthropy thrown
in The combination, therefore, of two
such feelings as avarice and a fathers
love, with the subsequent conflict of the
two, in one character, is not only a very
original, but highly dramatic point,
which indicates very decided talent as
dramatist. Set in Gold is full
Of excellent pieces Of acting. For
instance, where the miser gives
the order to the lawyer for
forty guineas; where he sits down by the
table and picks mechanically and nerv-
ously at the tahle-cloth, although his son
is about being carried off to prison; his
cursing Of Peters; his entrance into the
courtroom; his charging Bartle Flanni-
gan with the crime his son has been tried
for; and, lastly, his delight at The arrest
of the defaulting Peters. The Other
characters Of Set in Gold are all vel
drawn. aud serve tOillustrate the prin
cipal one very advantageously. The
character of Biddy McNulty presents
many sharp, pungent, acrid points, &C
eompanied by a certain mirthfulnes,
and, tenderness Of heart, which is to the
drama what nice salad is to good
dinner-crisp. delicate and appetizing
The quick wit and ready rapartee illas
irate the humorous brightness Of th'
Irish peasant girl zsry k=ppily. Mrs
Watkins threw into the part al thes'
elements, and formed a part Whiei