Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-29
: COMEDY AND MEL0DRAMA.
Old Lavender and A Dark Secret-Other
PLAY. and PLAYERS,

Old Lavender and A Park Secret-Other
Play. and Players.
While it cannot be said that Edward
Harrigan has written his best play in "Oid
Lavender" it must be allowed that he has
never fitted himself with better character
than he portrays in the title-role. The piece is
made up of old ideas so far as plotis concerned,
but the treatment is unique. Two brothers
one drunken, good-natured, careless Fellow,
honest and upright, the other an unnaturally
stern banker. A forged check; the drunken
brother suspected; driven from his situation In
the bank: sinks lower and lower; lives but TO
prove his innocence; does prove it at last; real
forger punished and the unjustly accused
brother restored to his old position in society.
This Is the plot in nutshell. and every one
knows how it will develop, because it
can 60 only one way. The plot Mr.. Harrigan
may have picked up here, there, every
where. But the pictures OF lowly life in New
York, the delicate touches of humor. the cut
ting out from the black material OF the slums,
the weI-detined character hits, are all his own.
In "Old Lavender" as in every other play OF
Harrigan's, we see real people on the stage,
and we wonder how they ever found their way
from the streets to the environment of a
theater. 1t is this remarkable faculty of bring
ing the people of the cutters into his plays
naturally and easily. that has made Edward
Harrigau's fame and he deserves every leaf Of
helaurel crown he wears.
AS George CooDsueH, afterward Old Lav-
ender, the drunken brother, Mr.. Harrigan
does some of his best work. Always quiet, his
representation commands attention that
many more obtrusive character would fail TO
do. The evidences of careful study are to be
noted in every movement, every grimace, every
accent He does not make the mistake of
burlesquing intoxication, but he is never quite
sober, and surely the ability to portray a man
in a state of inebriety that never becomes OBJ
streperous argues an artist as surely as If he
were using his talents in = higher class of work.
1t is impossible to describe Harrigan; you must
The musical features of "old Law
ender'' are excellent. several male
choruses being effectively introduced,
besides solos There are selections by
all the male characters In evening dress and
song and dance by half dozen IN burnt cork
that deserve particular commendatlon. Then
Harrlgan sings his ballad. "Poverty's Tears
Ebb and Flow" in taking manner that ex-
plains why he has been SO successful with 1t.
The supporting company is all that is needed.
Joseph Sparks does Smoke. q negro, IN the
broadly humorous style that always character
Harrigan's dry, quaint fun. John Sparks is a
typical stage Irishman. and John Decker, as
bootblack, does careful work.
Miss Laura Booth plays Laura Coggs'DeH. an
erring Wife, effectively, and Miss Hattie Moore,
as Mother Crawford, a deaf old woman with
preposterous cockney accent, is amusing.
The stage effects-notably the sounds of a
ferrybOat coming into dock-are maryelously
faithful. and the rapturous applause with
which the swish of the water. the creaking OF
the pulley and the rattliug OF the chain on the
drum and the iron ratchet of the cogwheel as
the gang-plank is raised or lowered. was re-
ceived last night. showed that the many Pitts
burgers who visit New York occasionally
recognized and enjoyed the familiar noises.
Mr.. Harrigan will play Old Lavender all the
week, and there is every indication that he
will duplicate the large Monday night audience
at every performance.