The Portland daily press., 1872-03-02

L. D. G. THEATRIcALs.-The L. D. C.'s, an
amateur dramatic association of this city, of
superior ability, have for some weeks had in
preparation j. I. Trowbridge's famous domes-
tic drama, 'sNeighbor lockwood 1t is to be
brought out Monday and Tuesday evenings,
March 4th and 5th, at Music Hall. Reserved
seats secured at Stockbridge's music store, Ex-
change street. ~ &
We well remember when it was first brought
out at the Boston Museum, in 1857, where it
made great run, drawing crowded houses for
several weeks, and created marked sensation
1t was regarded as the best play of the kind
ever written, Astounding in humor, plot, pathos,
morals and interest generality rs -ar
The idea of the play is-a fugitive slave girl,
nearly white, from the South, named Camille,
or as she calls herself, Charlotte Woods, on her
way North is overtaken by storm at a town
in Vermont and is cared for by Neighbor jack
wood and carried to his house, where she is
treated with Christian kindness by the Jack
wood family. Grandmother Rigglesty 1.-THE
mother of Mrs Jackwood) a quaint fussy, big
otted old dame, arrives, and soon is the cause of
the stranger-gin going away. Hector Dunbury,
a fine and popular young man, returns home to
this same town from Mobile, where he has been
living for some time. At the mention of his
return Camille starts and appears affected. She
goes to live with Hector's mother, but her iden-
tity is not yet discovered. Squire Greenwich,
the stern old village magistrate, and wife, de-
eide to give Robert, their son, a reception one
evening on his return from Mobile, and invite
Hector and asks him to bring Charlotte Hec-
tor falls in love with her but she in agitation is
compelled to refuse his advances, owing to the
mystery of her life. 1,.ih a tr I'D
AT Roberts reception Charlotte endeavors to
escape from the company and return to Mrs
Dunburys, but meets Robert face to face and
she is compelled to accept his escort and atten-
ton. Robert Greenwich is an artful, unprinci-
pied fellow, and possessing the secret of Char
1otte's life, be serpent-like obtains command
over her Hector, unaware of any cause for
the strange intimacy, becomes jealous and an
and defes him. Soon an officer, Dickson, APP
pears ON the scent after some one, and is in
close intimacy with Robert.
Charlotte is discovered, but the Jackwoods
rescue her and hide her in haystack on the
intervale. A terrible storm comes up and a
great freshet occurs, and the Jackwoods take
boat apparently to go to the rescue of the sheep.
Dickson insists on going and is taken along,
and on arriving at the stack mounts it. The
shed attached to the stack has foated off carry
ing Charlotte with it. The boat goes off and
leaves Dickson alone on the stack Charlotte
is found at last, rescued and taken to Minister
Rukely's house. Her whereabouts are dis
closed by Enos Crumlet, the Yankee loafer, and
she is carried OFT by DICKSON and Robert Green
witch to a counterfeiter's hut Robert is arrest
ed for counterfeiting at the same time Char
lotte is taken by the officers. Squire Greenwich
is the U. S. Commissioner, and it is before him
the fugitive Camille is tried. Hector Danbury
has hurried to New York, where Camille's mas
ter is and has purchased her freedom and ar
rives in Court in season to stay the proceedings
and the slave is free through the good efforts of
the Vermonters. ii
During the play Enos Crumlett, the Yankee
and Grandmother Rigglesty, with her Good
Samaritan handkerchief and bandbox, furnish
fun and sport in abundance, CONFUSING the au-
dience with roars of laughter The leading
characters are to be taken by amateurs of fine
talents, and those who have attended the re-
hearsals consider that "Neighbor Lakewood"
will be the dramatic success Of the season, We
have no doubt but that the L. ID. C.'s will be
greeted with large audiences. We know that
it will be one of the best dramatic treats en-
joyed for many a season.