Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-09
THE FoRDs' OPENING NIGHT.
The Inauguration OF Their Eighth
Summer Season.

Summer Season.
Savanuah's leading amateur dramatic
association, "The Fords," opened its
eighth annual season last night with the
comedy drama Lied Astray." The house
was very well filled and the audience
gave the several players kind welcomes
as they came upon the stage.
There is much in the story of Lied
Astray" that is common to scores of
other plays. Count Rudolph Chan
doce" has been the Romeo OF
Partisan private life for years.
Finally be concludes to settle down and
he marries. "ArmOnde," his second wife,
but fond of him. The Count flirts good
deal, and one of the objects of his atten-
ton is suzanne 0Hara," ostensibly a
lady travelling with her brother, a
MAJOR" UnclOaked, the couple are adj
venturers, the "MajOr'' being a brilliant
card sharp. Another of the characters is
a sentimental poet, who is afflicted with
melancholy because he cannot find his
ideal in wOmanhOOd. The sonnet writer,
"Laspar," is invited to the
Counts home aud there meets the
Counts wife "Armande" She
feels her husbands neglect keenly,
and lie tempted to encourage "Laspar" in
his attentions. A proposal to elope, how
ever, is rejected by her and she orders her
w0uld-be lover away. In an unfortunate
moment the Count catches his wife and
"Laspar" in II position in which he thinks
his honor has been compromised. A duel
follows and the Count ls SHOT, but not
fatally. The reconciliation comes in the
sixth act, and in the same act the Counts
daughter is betrOtned to his nephew,
''HectOr Placide."
The production of the piece was highly
creditaDle to the association. 1t ran
along smoothly, the lines were effectively
rendered, and the clInaxes were gener-
ally strongly given. They were sufficiently
powerful at all events To evoke applause
enough to induce the leading characters
to appear before the curtain at the end of
every act. There was a profuson of
flowers, all the ladies receiving bouquets.
One explanation OF the plays success was
the presence OF five professionals in the
company.
Mr.. Horace VintOn, who represented
the''Count," is a man of fine stage appear
ance. who played the jOVal, sporting gen
tieman of rank in an easy and as natural
a manner as an imitation can we'll be.
Mr.. VintOn has a good voice, and was
called out several times.
Mr.. Lawrence Hanley, who took the
part Of the Counts nephew, is well known
TO Savannah audiences. He has improved
during the last seasOn-is cleVerer in
many respects. His part was u light
one, aud had to furnish most of the
comedy. His acting was the best he has
done here.
Mr.. Frank Nj. Readick, the poet, did
bis part very creditably. Mr.. Joseph
Doyle as "BarOn de Maund," had an
amusing dialect and whiskers, and his
was one OF the best Of the minor parts.
Mr.. Larry Doyle's "Maior O'Hara" was
very good.
Mr.. George S. McAlpiu and Mr.. II. r.
Esttll had short parts as "La FOntaine"
and Robert" spectiyey.
The leading lady was Miss May Wilkes.
! Her "Armonde" bOrdered Al moments on
the highly dramatic. Ii was slightly
mysterious At times, but that was appa-
rently the piay-writer's taulI.
! MISS Minnie du Pree, the sOubrette,
4 made a hit as IN athilde." Tho only fault
seemed to be that she made the character
so young that "Mathilde" always seemed
/ a ViVaciOus, rOlllcklng, sweet-taced AID
sweet-voiced child rather than young
/ woman.
Miss 4. Farrar played the "Countess,"
aud FOR an amateur did we'll.
Miss Fannie Jackson, tue adventures
of the story, was seldom on the stage, and
/ had very few lines.
Considered as a company, the cast Of
Led Astray" is much stronger than
many companies which did the Southern
/ circuit last season.
The same bill will be repeated this
afternoon and again tonight.