The New York herald., 1878-11-26
BOOTHS rnnArRE-.'rHAr Lass O Lown1E's"

Liz Miss Georgne Flagg
The first representation of the play Of That Lass
O. Lowrie's dramatzed from the novel Of the same
by the authoress, Mrs. Frances Hodgson
Burnett, and Mr.. Julian Magnus, took place
last night at Booths Theatre before audi
eminently respectable both in quantity and
quality. The recent publication of the piquant
respondcnce between Mrs. Burnett and Mr.. Charles
Reade, of England, who had dramstized this novel
aud sold his version for representation in this
country, together with the known fact that
three other versions have been prepared in England
gave a zcst to the public expectation which. the
whole. was not disappointed. The part Of the
heroine accep.ably performed by Miss Marie
Gordon whose rendering Of That Lass o. Lowries
rose at times to genuine pathos and elected
the hearty approval of the audience. II the other
actors had opportunity for achieving similar
it owing to the concentration of the plot
upon the character Of person. and it may he said
that they all played their parts with commcndablc
spirit
The story presented the stage differs very
considerably from the novel. which has won such
exceptional favor on both sides of the Atlantic, only
its broad lines being preserved intact Rector Barhoni
Of the noyehas become Mr.. Barhoin the mine owner.
been created ..out Of whole cloth. which was
well rendered by Mr. j. J. Spies. Jud. the owner OF
the rat terrier Nib is another character to whom
increased importances assigned in connection with
the attempted assault upon Engineer Derrick and az
represented by Miss Florence Wood. served to re-
most important deviation from the novel
consisted in the character OF Sammy Grad
dock. "Owd sammy" which. ~ represented by
Mr.. William Davidgc. artistic importance
second only 10 the heroine herself The outlines OF
the play are easily presented. In the first act.
which is almost wholly new, Mr.. Barhoni.
mine owner, OF Riggan Lancashire. the
stage. with his engineer Fergus Derrick, accompanied
by his daughter, Miss Anice. and the curate
Paul Grace. Mr.. Barholm and Derrick consult
AZ 70 the means OF preventing the miners from
making TOO free with the beautiful PARK
representative Of the sclash opinionated. moneycd
aristocracy. Meanwhile the curate and Miss Anice
commune together concerning plans for the benet OF
the miners and the curate gives glowing description
OF Joan, That Lass o. Lowre's-a pit-girl. of mag
nihcent physique and possessed OF an Independence
OF character which makes her the despair Of the we'll
intentioned curate The colloquy is interrupted by
hrGns Of r i' wso has Pit Sg
arms the babe which the offspring
who presents herself pickaxe in hand. protects Liz
from the rabble Of her assalsns and carries her 70
OF the pit which well depicted in the back around
OrnittDg the amusing byplxy between Ovid Sammy
tcrest centres in the sornbre hgure Of Dan Louvre
father Of Joan. who hss been detected lighting his
pipe al the Davy lamp in the mine, by means
of a private key, has received stern warning
from Engineer Derrick. and TO take
personal vengeance upon him. while JOAN after Ia
boring in vain 10 turn her father from his purpose
by her warning and her presence and
conflict ensues In which the bully Low
tai appearance Of Miss Anics A' aud Of
LIZ may safely be omitted in this resume. In tho
the third act. which passes at q spot on the cross
roads. Dan Lowr:e with two companions lies In wait
for Engineer Derrick who is warned of his danger
by loon. tho latter declaring herself openly. az
his protector and thereby incurring rough treat
men. from her father. by mischance in tho con-
certcd signals, Dowre's companions attack him in
stead Of Derrick aud blind him with vitrol At the
close of this act Miss Marie Gordon was rapturously
appauded and presented with dozen crowns
Of flowers The fourth act represents the mouth
Of tho Pit whore Engineer Derrick holds con-
sultaton with Mr. Barholm about measures for the
safety Of the mine which conternptuously rejected
and he tenders his his poet JOAN who
has developed into magnificent guardian angel.
s befriendcd by Miss Anicc, who proposes 20 remove
moro appropriate surroundings in distant county.
Just this arrangement hss been concluded an ex-
ploson il heard in the mine. and Joan leaps into
the shaft 10 the who s dearer to her thDn
life, though she has hitherto repclled all attemps ut
friendship or patronage on his part In the second
with her lamp in the debris Of the exploded mine
until she inds Derrick st alive and rescues him
from a terrible death Act NTH passes in Kent.
| whore Joan, after nursing Derrick in his deliriim,
has betsken herself to avert the impending declare
\ ton of love, and where she Is found and won.
with much difficulty by her lover An ,ncongr11ns lsa
| Anicc is here inserted, although foreign 10
the novel. Tho ridiculous timidty Of the
but Is wide departure from the
character Of that person in the earlier part OF the
play. and is too closely modelled upon Master Nodus
in the 'Hunchback" aud the similar scene
in "fhe Mighty Dollar" The interest of
the play centres almost entirely N
achieved cnvable success. II her defamation was
At times too STACEY the strong human interest OF Joan
| carried her triuinphantly through difhcut ordeal
| We predict for this drama success Of no ordinary
| character.
THEATRE coMIocE--''IoRGArRE."