The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-13
ADJUSTMENTS.
The New Play at tho Academy.

The New Play at tho Academy.
A large audience greeted the production at
the Academy of Music last evening OF the new
nelodrama by Mr.. Harry Watkins entitled
s'His Worst Enemy" and presented ny the
author, his talented family and hls excellent
company. The play, as is almost indicated by
the name, is q temperance drama, anu tne
story is that of an ambitious, cultivated young
man torsaklng an honorable and lucrative
profession to enter the field Of partisan poll
tics, contracting habits Of dissipation, 1olioW-
ing the downward path of the drunkard until
the utmost depths of degradation and wretch
edness had been reached, and then being
saved from drunkard's grave by means OF
the devotion of noble wife and child,
! and the exertions of one warm'heart'
ed and constant friend. Tne plot ls
hackneyed, and the treatment Is not With
out Its faults, but the story is graphlcaily
told, the gradual accumulation OF Interest Is
carefully maintained. and the situations at tne
eliminating points OF the several acts are In
tensely dramatic. The performance last eve
Mug, however, as Is frequently the case upon
the first presentation of drama introducing
number of mechanical effects, was pro-
longed unreasonably on account OF dimcnity
In arranging the various scenes, and IL was
nearly midnight before the audience was dis
missed. The dialogue Of the new play also
appears profuse, and could be judiciously cut;
the .sollloquies were rather frequent, and
there was redundancy Of sentiment, which
would have done credit to Mr.. Joseph Surface,
but seemed misplaced In the mouths OF servant
girls and Bowery roughs.
The cast of the new play is strong one,
and most of the performers deserve COM
mendation. The acting of Mr.. Harry Watkins
as "Horace Mlltonn vas admirable, although
not always pleasant, as for Instance In the
third act, where the horrors OK na1'a.a-posa
are depleted with terribly realistic effects.
Mrs. Rose Watkins again proved herself q
careful and finished artist, and her singing OF
the ssDrunkard's Wife" In the third act would
be worthy of a place In tragic opera. Little
Amy Lee as 'sLilly Milton," the drunksrd's
child, was as charming as ever, and her acting
and singing produced repeated bursts OF ap-
plause. Mr.. W. N. Paul as "flmothy Wiring"
proved himself an accomplished Irish come
dian, and Mr.. n. J. Jordan as "Burd Hawke
was as acceptable thorough villain as could
be desired. Miss Susie Parker as 'Mattie
Mulhony" made most plquant Irish lass, and
displayed rich contralto voice 10 molly
Darling"
On the whole the new play is possessed OF
great merit, and is sure to prove success
with the audiences among whom the Wat
kInses have always been known as favorites.
Its last representation and the last appearance
of the Watkins company In Charleston will be
given al the Academy this evening.
John Wobinson's Big show.
This mammoth show will reach Charleston
on Friday morning, and will parade through
the streets In all its pomp of gorgeously
dressed gymnasts, sylph.llke >equestrlennes
and incomprehensible animals. The sea-lion,
which consumes two hundred and dfty pounds
of Charlesto n.caught fah every day, will also
make his bow to an admirlng public. "Old"
John Robinson is Charlestonian. and, con-
sidering the chronic go.aheaditiveness OF his
native burgh, 1t is notsurprisng that he should
have organized successfully the largest me-
imagery and finest circus company In America.
During the week ending October 26 no less
than s3,73S persons visited the great moral
show. ''Nuf ced."
s'Old" John Robinson makes his grand NATL
nee performances an attractive feature In the
programme. At these e1hibilions-which
begin at o'clock-ladies and children who
wish to examine the rhinoceros, the giraffse.
the ostrlches. the seals, the white deer, the po-
lar bear, the lloness and her cubs, the royal Ben.
gal tiger and his bowling companions at their
lie sure, can do 30 with comfort. The benches
are carpeted In the mornings only, and no
pains are spared to save visitors from annoy
ance and overcrowding. At night, of course,
the huge marques are jammed to suffocation.
Tickets for all the performances are sold al
Holiness book house.
On Friday the young ladies Of the Widows
Home, and the children from the Orphan
house, and those under the care of the Sisters
of Mercy, are Invited to visit the performance
free of charge. This generous act on the part
of the veteran Snowman does credit to his
heart and head, and ought to do good to his
nncket