The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1906-05-25 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

PRODIGAL PARSON."  Intensely interesting is the new and revised version of that great Inunan play, " The Prodigal Parson," which is being presented at the II tolderseeld Theatre Royal this week, by Messrs. Alfred Northway and W. V. Garrod's company. It is the usual story or thejast suffering at the handa of the unjust, and everything working all right in the end. but its eon. caption is rather oat of the ordinary and the interest ' is maintained through cut, though at one or two points the incidents are rather overdrawn. The Rev. Tom Godley, vicar of (irasleigh, and his wile, Fern Godley, are in the happiest or circumstances, until Enoch .laggins, the victims churchwarden and a lawyer, conspires to thwart their happiness. Being a lawyer he has beeome possessed or the haormation that Fern Galley tuts been left a fortune, lint instead of acquainting her of the Net, lie endeavoura to gain her affection. To attain his obi's% lie calls in the amdstanee of Ben Jaggins, his brother, who is also jtoed by his confederate, Ned Kettlepin Thee manage, after a time, to convince the vicar that his wire has been carrying on flirtations with other per. sous, which is confirmed when he sees her in the arms of Ben Jaggins iwlto had caught her as she fainted owing to hia forced attentions to her). Ile is driven to despair, awl makes his wife an outcast, while he also leads a life of misery. Meanwhile Ins wire leaves England for Germ may, in company with Gretchen Van CrallA (afterwards fits. Phil Drive), who hal been staying at the vicarage. In the churchyard at Grasleigh, Ben Jaggins murders Ids confederate, who threatens to expose their scheming awl the vicar, being found near the body, is suspected of the crime. At the instance of Phil Drive, the handyman at the vicarage, however, he makes his escape on a cycle. Subsequent scenes are laid in Hamburg. There Fern Godley has become engaged to sing in the Bier Gatlin in order to sustain herself and her blind child. The .Jaggins again track bier and harass hut- as before Toni Godley, who has had to flee the country,--a coroner's jury having returned a verdict of wilful murder against him _appears on the scene, and is eventually found out by his daughter, who enteis his room just in time to preveut him committing suicide The daughter has previously found a pocket book, lost by Enoeh Jaggins, disclosing the secret of Fern Godley's fortune, and man, wife, and -held, thus brought together again after ten yeara of misery, start life over again at the Grange, Aucaster. Godley, however, has to shield his identity, until at last his opportunity comes to ' clear his name to the world, and bring justice to the proper quarters. The vicar has a manly, clever, and resourceful representative in Mr. Garrod, in coin. treason with whom Mr- Northway a. Enoeh Jaggins is scarcely so strong Miss Bertha Kingston as Fern Godley plays her part with gre# natural power and effect, and Mr. Frank Dallas is a capital Den Jagging Mr. Phil Drive has an able representative in Mr. I Dawsone, who, together with Mrs. May I Gmyce aa Gretchen Van emus and Mrs Drive, introduce a vast amount of humour to the piece. I The other characters are in capable limits, an t one can do worse than see "The Prodigal Parson " this week end. It is a play which cannot fail to appeal , to all who witness its portrayal.