Middletown transcript., 1883-02-02
The Drama.
THE TWO ORPHANS.

Abbey's New York Company played
the " Two Orphans" to a good house at
Middletown Hall on Monday evening.
This play has been presented here several
times within the past three or four years,
but never better, we think, than by this
company. Miss Almond as Henrietta,
and Miss Nellie Pierce as Louise enacted
the parts of the orphans in a very praise
worthy manner, while Miss Howard's
Mother F9'ochGTd was most excellent
personifcation of "pure cussedness. -
Miss Westbrook, though laboring under
the disadvantage of a weak voice, made an
acceptable Marianne and Countess de
Ltnieres Mr.. Edwin Browne was dash
ing Jacques Frochard, Mr.. Clarke Earle
finished and pleasing Pierre, and Mr..
c. M. Guinness an easy CheUGIier Maurice
de Vandrey. One could scarce hope to
find more amusing Picard than Mr.. w.
D. Stone. The audience was much pleased
with the manner in which the play was
presented. The snow storm was about as
good a stage snow storm as one could ex-
pect on our stage, and was even more
attractive than the genuine article of snow
storm, just at this time of year.
HAZEL KIRKE.
On Tuesday evening the same company
presented that delightful drama, "Hazel
Kirke," the name of which, at least, is
familiar to all newspaper readers. Few
modern plays have been more popular
and fewer still more worthy the popular
favor they have gained. It is a play
abounding in strong dramatic "situa-
tions," the deepest pathetic effects and the
freshest and brightest of wit. The COM
pany presented this stirring drama to the
entire satisfaction of the audience. Miss
Westbrook we'll sustained the difficult
part of Hazel, Miss Almond made a
charming and very pleasing Dolly Dattton,
and Miss Pierce piquant and pretty |
Clara. Mr.. G. NJ. Guinness was an ex-
ceedingly clever Pity Green. He could |
hardly have played the part better had it |
been written expressly for him, and the |
continuous ripple of laughter and repeated
applause while he was on the stage showed |
that the audience heartily appreciated his
efforts. Mr.. Guinness does we'll whatever
he attempts, and we venture to say that
he has attempted no part in which he ap-
pears to better advantage than in that Of
Pity Green. His scenes with Dolly were
the most delighting of the play. The
parts of Du1lStGn, arthur CdrringfoTd
and aaron Rodneywere creditabIy played.
The manner in which the gas acted no
doubt detracted much from the pleasure
of the audience. During the last scene
the stage was in semi-darkness about half
the time. This is an annoyance that should
be prevented by the Hall Company. If
The gas machine is out of order it should
be repaired, and if it is inefficient, as we
strongly suspect it to be, it should be re-
moved and a good one put in its place.
Bad light and bad conduct by unman-
lerly persons, both on the floor and in
he gallery, will eventually make our
Hall very undesirable place in which to
eek amusement. On Monday night there
vas much unmannerly conduct, such as
yhistling, loud conversation and unsea-
enable snickering, that must have been
cry annoying to both the performers and I
hose who had come to be, entertained by
he play. The offenders were mainly in
he gallery, but, we are sorry to say, they i
rere not all there. On Tuesday evening
Ir. Guinness found it necessary to come +
efore the curtain, at the end of the first O
ct, and threaten to eject the offenders il
,om the Hall. Those to whom he spoke
new that he meant what he said, too, and
uring the remainder of the play all was
creme. An efficient special officer is
eeded badly at the Hall during entertain
tents, and we suggest again that the Town
appoint one.