Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-16
THE DRAMA.
A Sparkling COMEDY Last Evening.

A Sparkling COMEDY Last Evening.
The appearance here OF that promising
young comedian, Mr.. N. c. Goodwin, ir.,
and his equally celebrated wife, nee Miss
LILA Weathe, shy, has undoubtedly secured
for them many admirers who hitherto have
known them only by reputation. 1t was
pity that threatening weather should
have interviewed, for although tho audi
ence at Fulton opera house last evening was
of fair proportions, the character OF the
performance was such as to EMIT le it to
crowded house whenever and wherever it
is presented. Unqualified terms of praise
may thus be bestowed upon it, for 1t is
certain that no more delighted audience
has been assembled at Fulton opera
house, as there has been no more delight
full entertainment given there, in a long
while. In Mr.. George r. Sims's comedy of
'The Member Tor Slocum" the same
qualities appear that mark his other
work. He is known by readers Of
London Panch as the sometime editor
Of that famous publication, whilst
more recently his ''Dagonet " bal
lads have attracted marked attention
for their sparkling vivacity, biting but not
acrid satire, and their not unnatural carl
caturing Of prominent traits Of human ma
turo such rs are seized upon and used SO
effectively by the brightest Of our American
newspaper humorists, like Burdette, Of the
Ha,ekeye. So much for the author. and now
for the latest production of his versa
tile pen. "The Member for SlOcum is
unquestiOnably ono of tho brightest little
comedies Of it's class we have had for
long while. II it is complained that the
thinness of tho plot relegates it to the
domain Of farce rather than the moro dig
nified atmosphere of it's elder sister, it
may with some force be answered that the
interest does not wholly depend upon
ludicrous situations, for the dialogue is
crisp, aud an unfailing abundance of sharp
turns and clever little points keep
one constantly OH the attentive.
Oaesimus Epps is the Member for Slo-
cum "a weak, good-natured, easy-goins
young man, fond Of his club, and Of his
wife, too; but there is mother in law in
the case, and one who is strongly
addicted to tho womcn's rights idea, on
which subject she writes speeches Tor him
to deliver in Parliament. 1rethusa Smith
is the strong minded etlitress of the Ama
zOn, and so positive had her notions
and her expression of them become
that, prior to the opening Of the
story, separation had ensued
between her and her husband BIZ Smith,
rather flash young fellow, and intimate
acquaintance Of Epps before tho latter
was married. -Arethusn is determined to
revenge herself upon Epps, whom she
blames for her troubles with her husband.
The play turns upon her projects to full
fill this purpose and there are many anus
ing complications. She gets him into her
room under prcteXts, and while there she
pretentls to be insane, her object being to
prevent him from voting upon measure
pending in the House of Parliament, which
his mother in law has insisted he shall put
through. While he IS still i'm Arethusn's
apartments the latter's husband Blu Smith,
who is Epps's friend and who knows the
latter is involved in some sort OF
scrape with q strong minded female, puts
in an appearance for tho purpose of pay
ing his wife her quarterly allow
ance. Epps concea!s himself and after
.Smith's departure there is another
amusing scene between Arethusn and the
unfortunate member for SlOcum, which
terminates in the pretended suicide Of the
strong minded female. She turns up,
however, to torment him in his own
house, and he has to conceal her in order
W dSoP cISCOSCIy INV.
Smith calls to sec Epps while 1retAnsa is
concealed, and perceiving his friends di-
lemma he agrees to help Epps out, not
knowing, of course, that the woman con-
cealed is 1retAnm. 80 he tells tho
mother law. who has discovered u
woman was in tho house, that il is his
wife. The den0uemcRt comes in lis dis
cOvery that such is indeed the case, and
general reconciliation follows
Around these cOntrctemps, as may be
imagined, many opportunities occur
for display Of humorous sense,
and the company, which is one
of excellent timber. is sinsularly
apt in taking advantage of them.
MIR. Goodwin's impersOnatiOn Of Epps is a
quiet, well-studiel and finished piece Of
character acting, exceedingly funny with
just trace of tho burlcsque. In facial
expression and all the other little side rc-
quircmcnts Of the part he is fully verse,l,
while his strong sense Of the fun Of the
thing made the part extremely amusing
throughout. Mrs. Goodwin produced q
very favorable impression by her acting
of the role Of 1rethasa, u capital and very
mirthful performance that sustained the
high reputation that preceded her. Mr..
Saville's Blu Smith was 4 gentlcmanly
delineatiOn OF the iovial gentleman OF
devil-may-care proclivities whilst Mr..
Herbert imbucd the part Of Gunning
the gardener with the requisite amount OF
stupidity. Miss Emic Weathcrsby was
very interesting as Madeline, the wife Of
Oaesimus, while Miss Jennie Rellerti, as
the strong minded mother in law, scored
a palpable hit, and admirably bore
out the idea of such Il parsonage.
Miss Anna Brevoor, pretty and petite,
made all that was possible ont Of the less
conspicuous role of Fanny, and captivated
her audience by the natural style of her
acting and her winning an.l artless ways
tho same may trurhfully be said Of
Miss Lillian DeGarmo's Betsey Indeed
the company throughout displayed un-
common balance, and when they again
favor us with visit, may we be there
to sec."
The Forty Hours Devotion.
The devotion of the "Quarant Ore" or
Forty Hours commemorative oc the fOrfv