Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1905-10-13 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

THE ATHENYXM.—" The Naval Detective," a suerensful musical play in three acts, is this week delighting patrons of the Atheneum. The book is from the pen of Mr. Fred Kirke, anther of such excellent plays as "Our Sailor Lad" and "in Old Madrid." In the pis...ductile" which is this week being presented in Lancaster Mr. Kirke has put some of his best work. Realising that the music hall is beemning is rcry serious Counter attraction to the theatre he has attempted in the "Naval Detective" to protium a play in which the essential features of the drama and the music hall are successfully combined. There is a fine drumatie plot, and at the same time there. is a very liberal sprinkling of descriptive song, and' &Ince, and fun and frolic. Briefly, the OA may be described than. The father of Phyllis Leslie, the heroine, is murdezed during the Boer war, a number of very valuable diamonds are stolen from him, and his daughter is left pennilte. Phyllis is beloved by Lientenant Jack Beresford,who, suspecting that Dr. Schreiner, a Boer patriot who is, also in love with Phyllis, is the murderer, disguises himself and not cnly succeeds in winning back the diamonds, but‘traces the murder to his rival. As a result there is a happy ending, and the curtain falls on the betrothal of "The Naval Detective" and Phyllis, who in the course of the play has also adopted a number of successful disguises. Mr. Fred J. Kirke an Jack Beresferd gives a very manly representation of a manly part. Hie winderful versatility is given full play in the tharacteis of the lieutenant, the clergyman, and the Irishman, whilst as a , t, nor vocalist and a comedian he makes; an undoubted hit. He is ably supported by Mite: Louie Fonntaine, as Phyllis: and Mr. Robert Purdie as Dr. Schreiner; whilst other prin. I cipal characters are capably peurtrayed by Mr. Mark Practice, Mr. Fred Laceby, Mite Madge Western, and Mies Lily Seymour There are any number of excellent speciali. tins, and the scenery in connection with the production is splendid.  Webber—Permanent Enlargements. LANCASTER CHESS et.n3.-At the weekly meeting of the dub, held at the Central Cafe on Monday evening, Mr. Win. , Milli ngton, who lies just retired front the post of secretary, a position which he has held for the pant seven yews, was presented with . a .et of Staunton eliessmen in a handsome box with an engraved inscription. Mr. Macdonald I resided, and there were also present Messrs. Bell, Gregsen, Reddrop, Forsyth, Troughton, Keir, Warwick, Hall, Owen, Hinlofei. etc. Mr. Keir, in making the presentation, said he felt in a somewhat embarrassing position in being called upon, without notice, to perform thin pleasant duty. The gift had Seen willingly subscribed for by many members a the club, who felt that Mr Millington's retirement from the position of secretary ought not to be permitted to pass without some recognition of Isis valuable services, and it carried with it the good wishes of 1:11. He trosted Mr. Millington would value it, not for its intrinsic worth, but for Or. smirit in which it was given, 86 a souvzmir of his long official conroetion with the Hun, and wns glad to know that Mr. Millington would still remain a member Of l the committee. Mr. R. Gregson supported. Mr. Millington, who was heartily received, thanked the members for their b .autiful I prssent. and said that what little he had done for the Hub had been to him a great pleaniwe. This came as a great surprise to I him, an on entering the room he had not the slightest idea that anything of the kind was to take place. He hoped the club would have a successful season—lt was decided to invite reprenentatives elf the various teams who wish to enter for the League trophy to attend a meeting on Monday next.