The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-23
"FISHERMAN'S LUCK.
A Splendid Amateur Performance
Here Last Night.


| The FIRST performance OF "Fisherman'S
Luck" here was given last night at the
Academy of MUSE. by local talent. 1t
| will be presented again tonight
| The purpose of these presentations is
! to raise money for the Ministering Circle
of Kings Daughters-,a worthy charity.
| Hence the attraction drew a good house
| last night and should do the same again
| tonight
'Fisherman's Luck" is a mclodrama-
| built on the same ground plan and gen.
| eral style Of architecture as Shore
| Acres" SO well and so pleasantly re-
meinbered by theatre-goers in Raleigh.
| 1t proved one of the most brilliant
! amateur performances of the season.
Though it should be considered as
| whole rather than in detail it is inn
possible not to speak first of little Patsy
| Smith. and her wonderful performance
| of the Part Of Nellie. Too much credit
/ cannot he given her. Nothing better
| IN child acting has ever been seen mere
| She fairly dominated every scene in
! which she appeared and in the third act
! when she died, there was hardly a dry
| eve in the ouse--so perfect, so pathetic
was the scene.
| Mr.. Frank Sherin's impersonation OF
Tom Manly" the fisherman. was fine
| from all points Of view. 1t could hardly
| have been improved upon.
| Mr. Richard Busbee, as 'James Ham
mcnd," made good william. and the
| character of Rose Prescott, the girl
| whom both "Tom Manly" and James
| Hammond loved 50 desperately. was
most admirably portrayed by Miss Min
ME Fitch Tucker. Her Interpretation of
| the part was all that could have been
asked dramatically.
Dr. REM was an excellent Uncle
| Dayie." NotWithSt andinG the fact that
| he was always in the way of lovers that
! might happen To be about, he was, for
! all that, Il philosopher. No matter what
/ happened he reminded you that il was
something you've got to get used 90
While YOU smiled at Uncle Davies"
dry wit. YOU laughed at Early Hughes
sharp sayings and queer antics in the
clownish part Of ST. Kidder. 1t was
eXccllently done. for Mr.. Hughes is a
| born comedian. His every appearance
was greeted with applause and he was
| so ridicul0rsly funny YOU couldn't Get
| your face straight again till he left the
| stage.
| Sis sweetheart was Ruth Tom
Manly's sister. This part was taken by
| Miss Daisy Moring. and was acted with
| power and yivacity. Her mother. Mrs.
| Manly was Miss Flora Creech, who
| acted her part in splendid manner.
| Other characters iii the play were VIM.
| Royal a William Farrcn' AMI Ben
| Hardy as REV. George MedhurSt" Both
! did thcir parts we'll
! The story told is of 4 poor fisher lad
| who loved above his station in life But
soon he finds thar his love is returned.
| Another, howeyer-and he's the heavy
villian-loves the girl. too and here the
plot thickens.
This girl. 50 much loved. w,s in in
! fancy stolen from her home by the faith
er Of the heavy william. And here tne
| plot gets thicker; for she doesn't know
who her father is. ana he doesn't recoG-
nizo her, though they see each other al
most daily.
| Then there's another lost child-thc
! child Of the villian--though of course
| the william is not aware CT that for
when she catches him robbing the fisher
! MAN, who picked her up out Of the sea.
she threatens 10 tell. To prevent this
| the villain pitches her into the sea-
Here the plot gets murky, it's so thick.
| As was TO be expected, there was an
| awful storm raging while these terrible
| crimes of robbery and child murder were
being committed. Of course the fisher
man arrived just in time TO save the
child from watery grave. But natUr-
| ally he was unable. at this stage OF
| proceedings. to find any clue to who was
! the guilty man.
! The plot is now 50 thick you can't
| stir it,
| The child although saved from drawning
! falls sick from the exposure and dies.
! Just ut the moment of death letter is
| landed the fisherman. 1t purports to
GENE from his sweetheart and fills him
| "all is over. that she loves another
| The letter * a forgery. written by tho
| william. but the fisherman doesn't stand
| back on a small thing like that. lie goes
crazy. has brain fever and doesn't come
| 10 his serses sufficiently to have an
interview with the girl until st year
! later
/ Then all is cleared MP. the william comes
to justice. all the lost children find their
lost PARENTS and vice versa; the homes
that were sold OUT under mortgage are
bought back. and there are two mar
riaGes at one gime--and they lived hap
| PLY together forever afterwards.
Certainly ii can't he complained that
there was nothing happening during the
time of the play
Between the acts there were good spe.
clalties. as follows:
Between Acts 1 and . Solo by Mr.. !.
Early Hughes.
Between Acts . and 3. Solo by Miss
Daisy T. Moring
Between Acts 3 and 4, Solo by Miss
Minnie Fitch Tucker.
Al Of these were deservedly cncorcd.