Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1878-07-27
OLD LAVENDER.

The Harrigan and Hart combina-
ton had promised change Of per-
Torrance on Wednesday night. and
those who witnessed their perform
ance Of The Doyle Brothers and saw
them again in Old Lavender agree
that there was indeed q change, and
such q one as they little expected,
the first play serving merely IS .
means Of introducing q fine variety
business, while Old Lavender is IN
excellent drama requiring ability Of
no mean order for its correct repre-.
sentation. And what was more as
tonishing still was to see Mr.. Har-
rigan, who can play the rollicking
Irishman to perfection do equal jus.
tice to the leading role in this play
which requires an unusual amount
Of pathos for its successful rendition.
George Cogsweli, afterwsrd Old
Lavender ed. Harrigan) a young
man Of refinement and education oc-
cupying the position OF cashier in the
banking house Of his brother has un
fortunately acquired a fondness for
the flowing bowl and convivial com
panions, the discovery of which
threatens him with the loss of his
situation. At this stage of affairs,
after nights carousal, he cashes a
forged check for 5000. Upon be-
ing questioned he acknowledges that
the person for whom he cashed the
check was one whom he met during
his previous nights debauch. when
his brother accuses him Of being q
sharer in the theft and dismisses him
from his emp oy. Ostracised from
society he rapidly descends the scale
until he becomes what in the verna-
cuiar of this coast is termed an "Old
Bum" In this State he becomes the
companion of Dick the Rat (Tony
Hart). a bootblack and wharf. rat,
and others OF that ilk. The Rat, or
rather % Ny Colleague" as Old La
yender terms him, having been be
frienied by Old Lavender IN his DAYS
of affiuence in turn becomes bene
factor, sharing with his old friend the
result OF his lahors. The ludicrous-
ness of the situation may well be i'm
agined when it is stated that Old
Lavender, although sunk to the low
est depth CT degradation, never tor
one moment forgets his early life and
education, being always the acme of
politeness and answering the slang
OF his companions With flights of
rhetoric delivered in the choicest
language. Finally, Old Lavender,
by the aid OF the Rat, assists his
brother in frustrating a robbery of
the bank, and also restores him his
lost wife. A family reunion follows,
and all are happy.
The play is one of the finest char
acter pieces ever put upon the stage,
the notable characters besides old
Lavender being all ably sustained.
Tony Hart plays Dick the Rat as if
it were second nature to him. Smoke,
a negro thief who has an awkward
AocAs ~ Ahuho doS1 ouu BOtS diDnE
whistliDg for fear OF missing them, is
a part well sustained by j. H. Bur
nett, who has learned not to overdo
it; also Mother Crawford, deaf land.
lady, by Miss Annie Yeamens, who
may be remembered by old Pacific
coasters in connection with the Barn.
door Jig in Arrah Ma Pogue. The
balance Of the cast sustain their re-
spective parts well, bringing out all
there is in them.
No good idea Of Its merits can be
formed from q synopsis of the piece.
The audience is interested from be-
ginning to end, being alternately
moved to tears by scenes of tender
pathos and anon convulsed with
laughter by ludicrous and amusing
situations. 1t will be repeated for
the matinee this afternoon.