Savannah morning news., 1886-06-18
"BLOw FOR BLOW"
The Fords' Second Performance of
the Season.

The FOrdS gave as their second perform
ance of the summer season the English
drama "Blow for Blow" IL is a piece
with prologue and double roles. The
house was well filed down stairs. The
play ran along easily, neither the heavy
parts nor the summer nights air being
oppressive.
BLOW for Blow" has three or four
very good parts. The villain was
enacted by Mr.. Frank Readiek.
John Drummond" was rather an admira-
bic sort OF villain on tne whole. His
chief incentive to plot was to obtain re-
venge. ONLY once did he show a mer-
cenary spirit and then ne was IN his cups.
His revenge did not contemplate stlettOs
or pistols or physical injury to any one,
but what is keener and sharper to a sensi-
tive nature-mental torture. Mr.. Read
fck's "DrummOnd' was crafty,
never torRIving character. He was a
man whom it was not sale to make an
enemy. Impetuous "Lieut. Linden" and
the old and respected attorney, "J0siah
Craddock." found il to he so.
"Lieut. Linden" =" Mr.. Lawrence Hanley.
gained "DUlmmond's" enmity, Fl rst bv
whipping him, and next by marrying
"Craddock's" daughter mildred"
"Drummond" repaid ''Craddock"
deuce upon which the attorney was
transported for i've years. His revenge
in that case came quick. His resentment
against Linden" was nursed for years
before he bad an opportunity to pay the
Lieutenant back blow for blow.
The plot com bined cunning and reck-
lessness. Everything was staked on one
die. and it was cast with the recklessness
OF despair, and yet with cOolness and
81 80
was supposed TO have died while he
was at sea. He married again, this time a
woman OF wealth and family. Six years
after the supposed death Of his first wife,
''Mildred," "DrummOnd" suddenly ap-
pears in the baronets happy home and
Tells him that "Mildred" is alive. A
woman enters at the same moment, and
''Linden" is astOunded, believing her to
he his first wife, "Mildred." Through
the family physician the plot is laid bare.
'Mildred' is really dead, and the sup
posed mildred" is a twin sister, who
was deceived into conspiring against
s'Linden" by the smoOth.tOngued "Drum-
mond."
Mr.. Readck's "Drummond" was well
conceived character and was we'll played.
In the climax Of the second act mis- was a
very strong figure as ne stood face to face
with Linden in the latter's own house
and coolly uttered words that for the time
crushed the powerful baronet.
Miss May Wilkes had the other leading
part In the dual role of Mildred" and
"Ahce Pethrick 3" In the latter charac-
ter she displayed her dramatic ability IN
a lignt altogether different from the part
which she played in Lied Astray," and
was accorded hearty reception.
"Alice" is a woman who has had severe
trials ana has become melancholy. A
81.
love for her dead twin sister "Mildrei."
1t is that which makes her hate
her brother-in-law Linden when
Drumm0nd tells her that Linden"
permitted mildred" to die neglected.
Her anguish at the story was pitiable.
her desire for revenge iercer even than
'Drummonds." Miss Wilkes played her
part in manner that showed very care
ful preparation and study. AT the end of
the second act she was called out, with
Messrs. Readick and Hanley and Miss
jackson.
Mr.. Hanley had genteel part, and he
acted IT in a very genteel style. Easy and
self possessed, and OF good stage pres
ence, he made ali OF the part that there
was ia il.
Occasionally he had moment or two
when the situations were all his own. but
the occasions were few. "Lieut. Linden"
wa wei lslaNtbs
Mr.. Larry DOYLE and Miss Minnie Du-
pree had the comedy of the piece. They
did ALI tney could with the lines, but the
| comedy IS OF the kisd that finds greatest
favor in the tOpmost gallery. There
was no tOpmOst gallery last night,
and the humOr OF the author
was not thoroughly appreciated. Mr..
| Doyle had some funny business that car
ried the part, aud it was that and his
make up that caught the applause rather
than the authors puns. "kitty" is not
calculated to permit Miss Dupree to dis
play her capability. In a different part
she would appear 10 much better adyant-
age. She made Of "Kitty" though pret-
~ little waiting girl that got good deal
OF applause.
Miss Fannie Jackson had a much more
/ important part than on her first appear
aucp on the savannah stage. Her Lady
! Linden" was tender. devoted wife, who
trusted in her husbands honor. At her
I meeting with "Alice Pethrick" she
showed great spirit and strength.
MRS. MOusl4y" was very creditably
/ played by MISS r. Farrar.
/ Mr.. James ". JOhnsen az "Dr. Grace"
: WAS very good. The family physician.
/ he was the family's friend. aud hastened
the unraveiing OF tho mystery that sur
I rounded "Drummond.v
I Sir. Horace Nintor had not many limos
/ hut In ine brlef time that ho was on he
/ Was the centre ct the play.
] other paris were "hcnward," Mr. W m
/ Dalton; Bladder" Mr.. VIM. Fleming, and
sergeant" Mr. W. A. Mccarthy.