Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1902-04-11 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

VARIETIES.—The enormous imccese of Eilison'a animated photographs at the Palace. during Easter week, induced the management to continue the engagement for a second week. The wisdom of this has been 'ully demonstrated by the crowded houses that have patronised the show again, during the iast few nights. A complete change of films woo made, with the exception of local view,. These letter proved as attractive Ru env, the crowds leaving the Football Field, employees miming away Ircm. the Shipyard, and the congregation leaving the Parish Church, being enthusiastically received. Among other popular views of gencral interest were the launch and sights on voyage of Santos Dumont's airship, thrilling tire brigade scenes, His Imperial Majesty The Emperor of Germany inspecting his troops at Potsdam, Lord Rosebery at Chesterfield, et, They are as good a lot of pictures as has ever been shown in the town. The variety programme, too, has been exceptionally entertaining. That inimitable comedian, Many Florene, wa- quite at his bsst, his great success. " only know," being persistently encored. The audience seemed never to tire of his characterisation of humour. A pleasing turn was provided by -Robins and Collier, duettists and dancer, who, if we are not gtvetlY mistaken, are the same two that were appearing at Morecambe Winter Gardens recently. Besides being very pretty and clever dancers, they are adapts in acrobatics, and their exhibitions were regarded with much admiration. The tunny figures introduced by Prof. Will Patten, a ventriloquist of no mean abilities, provoked roars M laughter, while Sid March, a first-rate comic, and Miss Nellie Gertine, with a pleasing baritone voice, completed an enjoyable programme. well worthy of the best traditions of the Palace.  TILE Arunsarr.—This week Mr. F. H. De Quinces and his Wrong company occupy the iAaids, and are engaged in presenting the new spectacular and historical drama enHl,e "Tie Days of Cromwell." It is an intereatiag production, and introduces in apparently a realistic manner, the character., of the period of the great dictator, all helping to recall to our minds the grim struggle between the Roundheads and the Royalists. The costume,: are effective and appropriate, and in the course of the play we -i.e the Royalist i- his cavalier attire of lace and velvet, the Roundhead grimly clad in armour plate and sober colours, and even the Puritan maiden, with her nuaint demeanour, her flow of Biblical phraseology, and her peculiar notions of courtship. The piece itself opens with a prologue. in which the principal characters are Sir Wilfred Avondale, his granddaughter Rabe. Ironhand, his body-servant, and Sir Marsden Mardyke, a scoundrel. The latter has learned that Avondale is immensely rich, and by a ruse, ingenicifis yet dastardly, he obtains a deed of trusteeship of the estate. by which he is also appointed guardian of Roby. Subsequently he foully murders Sir I Wilfred as the first step in the direction of appropriating his money to himself. The rest • ct the play belongs to a period 12 years later, and deals principally with the mission of lion. hand to avenge his old master and to recover his fortune for Ruby; and the interesting love I affair between Ruby and Rowland Clifford, a 1 Royalist. There is an agreeable vein of humour , running through the drama, and though in , many parts it savours strongly of sensationali•m. it never gets really heavy. The scenery is pretty and suitable and the torture chamber scene is a remarkably fine. though gruesome one. The characters are all in capable hands and the company ions exceedingly well-balanced one. Mr. F. De Ware,- is splendid as Tronhand and a• Sir Marsden Afardyke. the villain, Mr. Fred Morgan sustains an almost loathsome role with credit. The female charaster., are capably impersonated by Miss Dora Paley, Miss Stile Seraya. Miss Violet Lytton, and Miss Ada trnott. and other, deserving of mention Cr. Mr. Edward Avinal, as Oliver Cromwell: n .  M;-. Jame, Fitzgerald. a'a-M;tldali.elq'...oun7and Mr. Reginald Spier; and Mr. Archie Herbert. hoer and °idler of an inn, re,peetirely.