The herald., 1896-08-30

Chauncey Olcott will present his ro
mantle Irish play. MaVourneen. at the
Los Angeles theater Tuesday and Sat
urday evenings of next week Through
all the constant changes in the public
taste for things theatrical, nothing seems
to retain its hold upon public favor as
strongly as Irish drama. The delight
fully quaint humor, the peculiarities of
speech and the brightness of Hibernian
wit make this class of drama unap-
proachable as a standard form of amuse-
ment. Many brilliant lights have shed
the lustre of their genius on Irish drama
and it would indeed be loss to the an
nails of the American stage were we to
blot out the fame of such men as Ty-
rome Power John Drew, Collins, Hud-
son, Brougham and Boucicault. Their
day an d their schools have both passed
away, and in their place we have more
Gashing style of comedian, and really
higher form of the Irish drama. Chlef
among the eXponents of this latter type
of the Irish drama is Chauncey Olcott
who has lately come to the front and is
rapidly winning fame and money. His
neat. manly figure. magnificent tenor
voice and graceful acting would alone
insure him success, but with these points
in his favor he also combines Keen
analysis of character, and his imperson-
alton of the romantic young Irlshman
may be classed among the most finished
bits of character work ever presented
to an American audience.
Mavourneen. the play which Mr.. OIL
colt will present here, is the piece that
was selected for his debut as an Irish
star, and is one of the best plays in his
repertoire today. 1t is a story OF nome
life in the Emerald Isle over hundred
years ago, without the slightest tinge
of exaggeration ar caricature. Terence
Dwyer, country lad of Inishan-
non, in the county of Cork, falls
in love with Lady May Terrell, who is
visiting his home in company with his
brother, John Dwyer and the latter's
wife, the Lady Caroline. Lady May re-
turns the young mans passion but they
find an insurmountable barrier in the
objections of Lady Caroline. who has
in view match between Lady May and
Major Marchmont of the British army.
Taking hint from Lady Caroline,
Marchmont has band of ruffians
carry off the Lady May to force her into
marriage. but she is rescued by her
rustic lover Some months later the
mother of the Dryers dies and Terence
brings the news up to Dublin. Lady
Caroline is giving a ball in honor of the
Sd1e return OIL ner nuSDdnu from Amer
lea. The stately minuet is danced at
the end of which, contrary to the orders
of the hostess, Terence breaks the news
to his brother. Lady Caroline, indignant
that her entertainment should be ended
in such a manner. insults young Dwyer.
who leaves the house, vowng that he
will never set foot in it again until he
comes welcome guest.
The third act of the play opens on a
scene in old Dublin In the year 1884
The carriage containing Ladies Caroline
and May breaks down in the vicinity of
Daly's club house, whittier the ladies
repair in the hope of finding John Dwy-
er and assistance. Terence, disguised
as a beggar. appears on the scene and
sings a song to Lady May, in which he
tells his own story to her, and finding
that she is still true to him. determines
to rescue her from the prosecutions of
Marchmont. He discovers conclusive
evidence that Marchmont was the lead
ing spirit in the abduction of Lady Nav
and also finds the wife and children
whom Marchmont had basely deserted
The day for the wedding of Lady May
to Marchmont has been arranged and
as the guests assemble in the grand
salon of the Dwyer mansion, awaiting
the groom, Terence, attired in the uni
form of a colonel in the American army.
enters and arraigns Marchmont. A