Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-07
ssComFadeas

Comrades, by Brandon Thomas and E. C..
Stephenson, has been produced at the Court
Theater, London. The story of Comrades,
says the London Meas, il simple in its ele-
ments, but il is presented with thoroughly
dramatic sense OF its capabilities in the way
of producing what are known as strong sit
nations. A retired army officer, Sir George
Dexter" has, somewhere on the borders OF
middle age, secured the hand and heart OF
young wife, from whom he has weakly
withheld the fact that she is not the fret
lady who has occupied place in his heart.
A boyiBh love, an early marriage, followed
by an early death, has left him a widower
with a little child, who has been brought up
BY strangers in q distant land, while the
father has been On service in various parts OF
the world. 1t is easy TO conceive that q con-
cealment which at fret may have seemed 3
trifiipg matter, would become 10 time more
serious, particularly as General De1.er"
has a son by his second N arriage, whom his
fond wife naturally expects to succeed TO his
fathers title, and thus a weak man would be
likely to shrink more and more from the OBJ
vious course of straightforward explana-
ton. Thus much at least may be said in
defense Of what on a critical examination
must be pronounce d defect in the founda-
lions of the play, though it seemed practi-
cally 10 be but little felt in the development
of the sorry. Accident at length brings
about a crisis. The two half-brothers meet
and form an attachment, and the elder one,
who is known only as SCspt. Darleigb," being
on a visit at the fathers country house,
becomes by evil chance rival OF his brother
by falling in love with Lady Constance
| Kirkland" The scene in which the elder
brother, represented by Mr.. Charles Coghlan
with degree OF power all the more deeply
felt by reason of the fine moderation OF his
performance, PLAYS a game at chess with
''Lady Constance" in The pleasing person Of
Miss Marion Terry, while both are iusensibly
| led to speak of more tender themes thar
the moves of queens or rocks, is one OF rare
delicacy and touching trulhfulness. II is fol
| lowed quickly by the double discovery thai
| he bears q name which is not that OF his
father, but his dead mother, and that he hal
become an obstacle in the way OF his brother
happiness. Almost necessarily he infers tina
he is illegitimate, and on this ground, though
his lips are closed, he parts with the heart
broken "Lady Constance" Of course in lh,
end "Darleigh's" chivalry, whether mis-
| placed or not, meets with its due reward
As Comrades" he and "Arthur Dexter
whom he now knows TO be his youuge
brother-go on foreign service. "Arthur'
has fsucied himself sggrieved BY the prefer
ence shown TO "Dsrleigh" by "Lady Con
stsnce;" but the friendship between the tw,
is speedily restored when the elder risks hi
own life TO save that Of his youthful rival
4; Thus when they return home to find "Dar
leigh" hailed as "Gen. Dsxter's" son ant
heir the way is made smooth for a happ,
understanding all round. The last act o
the play is weak, but the necessary i'm
preston has already been made, and tn
actors triumph is securely won.