Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1900-03-16
IESWEET LAVENDER"
A Beautiful Play Presented In Pre-
fessiona1 Manner.


fessiona1 Manner.
Last Friday night the local dramatic
club of which Mr.. B. w. johnson is the
i organizer and manager and Mr.. G. L.
Paul, stage director, presented to large
and appreciative audience that delight
ful English melodrama, ''Sweet Layen-
der" The club is very fortunate in its
selection of plays. Both "Sweet Laven-
der" and the farce-com edy, "My Friend
From india" presented few months
since, are strictly high class as well as
popular plays.
"sweet Lavender" is the story of the
love OF the adopted son, and the un-
recognized, illegitimate daughter of a
London banker, Clement Hale and
'Sweet" Lavender Holt. The father
bitterly opposes his adopted sons pro-
posed morganatic marriage, until the
softening influences of sickness and
| threatened poverty revive his affection
for the discarded sweetheart of his youth
whom he recognizes in Lavenders
mother and learning from her Lavender's
| identity he cheerfully consents to the
union of his adopted son and his. newly
found daughter.
Miss frankie Cauthorn, in the title
role, was charming ingenue and Mr..
Alex Rennie, as the lover, sustained
most creditably part so often impossi-
BILE for amateurs. Mrs. B. w. John
sons Interpretation of the leading female
role, Lavender's mother, was nearly per-
feet and her skillful execution of the
difficult work called for in this part adds
to her reputation as strong and re-
sourceful actress.
The principal male character is Dick
Phenyl, the devoted and self-sacrifcing
friend of Mrs. Holt, Lavender and Gle
ment. Dick Phenyl is a barrister of the
Inner Temple, broken down, shiftless,
dissolute and prey to human weakness,
but withal full of human sympathy and
noble in his self-abnegation and his
honorable nature. In this part, which is
the heart of the play, and which many
OF our greatest actors, including Charles
King and Henry Miller, have not deemed
unworthy their effort, Mr.. George Paul
showed high order of talent, eAipsing
all former efforts before Corvallis
audiences. Mr.. Paurs conception of
~ ,t~;o oh
his nobility of soul ever struggling with,
and shining luminous above, his human
weakness and vice, was scholarly and
strong, and his mastery execution out OF
sees fit to enter the theatrical profession
a bright future certainly awaits him.
Mr.. Woodson, as the benevolent ply
sician, Mr.. Harry Holgate, in the double
role of hair-dresssr and counselor-at-law,
and Mr.. B. W. Johnson as the banker
and polished man OF the world, all took
their parts well and showed considerable
talent.
The mirth- provoking scenes between
the aristecratic Mrs. Gilfllian, her low
able daughter and the obstreperous
American, Mr. Braeme, formed a pleas
ing side light to the drama. Miss Lin
sille took the part of the daughter and
society belle most gracefully, her scenes
with Clement Hale deserving special
mention. Miss Hamilton, as the aristo-
cratic society womandid not have great !
but her careful systematic /
reading of her lines, her fine perception
and skillful rendition of her part indi-
cate resources that have not been drawn
upon before Corvallis audiences. Miss
Hamilton's friends desire to see her in
more difficult and important roles.
Mr.. Scoggings in the part of Mr..
Braeme was possibly too explosive, but
if this was an error in conception of
the rart it was certainly an error in the |
right direction, and he is entitled to
great credit for the manner in which he
lost his identity in, and sustained |
throughout, the part OF the ubiquitous
and redoubtable American.
The best thing that can be said of the
performance as whole is that it was
not the least "amateurish;" indeed it
was far superior to most of the produc-
tions of travelling companies witnessed
here. The work of this company is
highly appreciated by Corvallis theatre
goers and another production is eagerly
anticipated. X