Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1902-03-07 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

IIE PLAT AT THE ATHEN/LICII. ' Mr. Wilkinson has done an excellent stroke of : business in booking Mr. and Mrs. W. Giffard's company, who are this wcek appearing at the Athenaeum in "No Cross no Crown." The play is by Mr. Barry Williams, and to those who have witnessed such delightful compositions as "The Black Bishop" or "The Red ! Coat." which are by the memo author, it needs ! no further recommendation. The ilay is an intensely pathetic one, and teaches a moral of love, self-sacrifice and devotion, showing, as its title implies, that th,re is no crown without first its cross. Thu opening scene presents a picture of domestic peace, happiness and love; a family of three—father, mother and daughter —whose whole happiness is found in each other's society. Across this picture a shadow falls, and then the whole scene changes, and the home of joy iS turned into one of sorrow and even misery. A murder is comniitted, suspicion falls upon. the father of the house, and the wife in order to save him confesses that she herself iS guilty of the crime. She is imprisoned but escapes. and subsequently news reaches her husband that she is dead. He again marries, but his second wife is as cruel. heartless and ERWOloßnly as his first was devoted and loving. And hone is where the pathetic element is introduced. The heroine of the piece is not dead, end her heart yearns for a sight of her husband and child. She returns, only to find that she ie debarred from their society, but eventually gains admittance to the house in the capacity of a governess to her own child. How she tries to 'wise the temptation to disclose her relationship to the child, how she proves unequal to the unnatural task, and how eventually she is restored to the position she rightly owns and is rewarded for her self-sacrifice and devotion, are all details of the play which must he ...en to be fully appreciated. It is a story which must appeal to all, and which cannot fail to pleases It has its humorous element, too, whilst quite apart from the story and moral unfolded, the play possesses an historical interest of its own, in no far as it relates to the days of George the 111. and the costumes are of that period. They are gorge-0114 and interesting, and make, really excellent play additionally attractive. As Sir Francis Luttrell, one of the principal chararters, Mr. W. Giffard is really good. Unfortunately Mrs. (NWd was unable to support him in the part of Lady Margaret Luttrell during the early nart of the week, owing to on attack of influence, hut an excellent •aibetitute was Sound in Mita Francis Bruce. whose sympathetic conception of the dual role of Lady Margaret and Mistreess Faith has quite veined the hearts of the audience. Miss Betty Rochester gives a pathetic interpretation of the part of Doris Luttrell, and Mr. George Child. Mr. Robertson Tombs. and Miss Rosa Faith are alci rood in the other principal pail-. As supplying the humorotie element. Mc. Stanley Arthur and Miss Victoria Rochester also deserve a. word of praise. The piece 5 .plendidly mounted, and throughout is presented in a manner worthy of empmendation.—Tonight is, to be set apart D. is comnlimentaly benefit to Mrs. William flitlard, when the new and original play. "The World's Desire,' will be presented.