THE HOLLOW AY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

Evening Star, Issue 12165, 8 April 1904, Page 7

THE HOLLOW AY DRAMATIC COMPANY.

' The Shadows of a Great City' fell across the vision of a lot of people at the Princess's Theatre last night. In OcLober, 1891, this drama was played at the Princess's by Grattan Riggs's company, with Miss Maud Appleton and Messrs A. Boothman and R. Lunan in the principal parts. The same company produced it again in June of the following year, and not long ago a version of it was staged at th; Alhambra Theatre. The drama is in plot-idea, no newer than most. But it contains a good many details and much "business" that have the savor of freshness. The story may be briefly told. George Benson (.Mr Godfrey Cass), who-is described in the programme as "cruel and remorseless," is the villain, in league with a pawnbroker nsmed Abe Nathan (Mr John Hesford), nnd between them they plot against Jlellen Standish (Miss Ida Greshan;), the villain's cousin, whose father they rob of some valuable jewels. Tom Cooper (Mr Vivian Edwards) is thei sailor hero, and he arrives in time to meet the villain at the pawnbroker's, and tell them of his intention of finding Hellcn and her child, who are now destitute and disowned by Hellen's father. The stolen diamonds are secreted in the sailor's wallet, and the theft is fostered on him. Jim Fan-on (Mr C. R. Stanford), a good-for-nothing fellow, is a witness to the deception. Cooper is convicted and sent to prison on Bla-ckwill's Island, where Farren also spends a good deal ->f time against his will. In the hospital adjoining the prison Bellen and her child are cared for, and when we nest see her Hellen is dying. Her father is dead, and Benson wants to get rid of the child. To this end Nathan bribes the gaol warders,' and gives Farren tools to aid him in escape, promising him a large reward if he kidnaps the child and leaves it on Hell-gate Hock. Cooper is deluded into helping Fan-en until he discovers the villainy of the plot. Thereupon he throws Farren into the sea and saves the child Nellie. We meet the pair fifteen years afterwards, and this time Mirs Beatrice Holloway is cast as the twenty-year-old Nellie, They are living with' Biddy Hoonan (Mr John P. O'Neill), a quaint old Irish body, who promised Nellie's mother that she would protect the child. Nellie and the hero are in iove with one another, of course, and just as they have openlv avowed the fact all the bad people arrive with a heap of trouble for the virtuous ones. The plot develops up to the fourth act, in which the inevitable denouement happens. Virtue is vindicated and vice is sent to it 3 own place amid a fusillade of applause. The rolo of villain in the average dramais not, as a rule, an enviable one. Tradition seems to make it essential for the bad man's wickedners to he shown in every look and gesture. He must laugh a very hollow "Ha! ha!" every now and then, and strike exaggerated attitudes. There is even a particular sort of overcoat that seems to be recognised by some as the peculiar garb of (he stage villain It may be said initially that Mr Cass avoids the stereotyped methods in these matters as much as his part will allow him. There was a suggestion of an excess of agitation in the first scene, but as he warmed to his work he settled down into an easy and natural representation of the part. H's work was really creditable. Mr \i\ian Edwards looked 'the part of the simple-minded hero, lut he was peHinps, a trifle too boyish in his acting His lovemaking seemed a little mors comic than was intended, and his paroxysms of anguish in certain scenes were not "very heroic. Miss Holloway looked daintv and acted prettily as Nellie: in fact, sue filled all the requirements of the part. Mr John P. O'Neill deserves thi highest praise for his conception of the character of Bicdy Roonan. Looked at from any ordinary viewpoint, his work was admirable. To begin with, his make-up was as near perfection as might be. His brogue?—"Begorra, 'twas foine," and his jokes were' all the funnier for being thoroughly clean Women's parts taken by men are frequently .either silly or coarse ; that of Biddy Roonan was neither. Mr Stanford's Farren was one of the most carefully-sus-tained characters of all. It might have been very flat and flavorless; but it was made quaint and lifelike. Mr Hesford acted the. part of Abe Nathan satisfactorily; Mr Harry Hodson made an imposing Detective Ackwright; and the other parts were well looked aftar.

Judged by reasonable standards, 'The Shadows of a Great City,' as played by Mr Holloway's company, is well up the scale of melodrama. It will be repeated to-night and to-morrow night.