THE LANCASHIRE LASS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 294, 14 December 1893, Page 2

THE LANCASHIRE LASS.

The Kennedy Dramatic Company gave a performance yesterday evening at the Theatre Royal of Mr H. J. Byron's drama " The Lancashire Lias," a Blight sketoh of the plot of which we gate yesterday. The play is somewhat loosely constructed, with absolutely no regard to the unitieß, but a great deal of the dialogue is very amusing and it is full of telling situations. The pieoe was very well put on the stage, espeoially considering the limited accommodation afforded by the Theatre; Mr Kennedy doubled the parts of " A party by the name of Johnson" and " Sergeant Donovon," and in both had great opportunities of Bhowing his power as a comio actor. In addition in the former, when the outcast ex-conviot remembers his better days aud seeks revenge, Mr Kennedy showed much force of acting of a different sorkt Mr R. D. Campbell shone in the part of Spotty , being lively and amusing throughout. The partß of Slippery Dick by W- E. Jermyn, Ned Clayton by Mr Frank Norton, Mr Jelliok by Mr W. J. Coulter, Geoffery Danville by Mr Henry Saville, and Mr Kirby by Mr William Sedger were effectively performed, as were the minor male parts. Miss Lily Hill played Ruth Kirby, the Lancashire Las 3, carefully and efficiently, and Miss Lina Robinson qb Kate Garston, and Miss Annie Brandt as Fanny Danvill acquitted themselves well, The performance was cordially received by the audience, and the principal performers were twice called before the curtain. This evening the season of the Company will be closed with the temperance drams, " Ten Nights in a Bar-Room. " The Thames Advertiser referring to this play saya that the plot of the drama turns upon the insatiable thirst for intoxicating liquor, and the quarrels, misery, and wickedness brought about by its abuse. In Aot I. the audience is introduced to Simon Slade's hotel, the Sickle and Sheaf. The proprietor explains to Mr Romaine that he has recently taken ifc over, and expects to m-»ke 10,000 a year clear profit out of ifc, Mr Romaine enquues as to what Simon Slade'a previous occupation had been, and he was told that he had been formerly a miller and was known as " Dusty coat." Asked whether the trade of miller did not pay, Slade said be had made 1000 dollars in the year, but this was not a a fast enough mode of making ! money for him. Mr Romaine expresses yu qpinion that the trade of hotel keeper is not a respestable one f and that the tempti*** tions to the young family of Slade, aro too great to ensure their pea*,e of mind. Slade laughs ut the notion advanc*d, bufc his wife, with true woman's instinct, recognises the danger ,of their new surroundings, and trembles for the Bafety of her son. Ia this act, Joe Morgan, an habi'.ual drunkaid, with the last sixpence he possesses in the world, is introduced, and maudlin drunkard though he has become, he tells Slade some uipleasants truths, liis little , daughter Mary comes to the hotel in Bearoh of him, and coaxes him to go home. In this act also Willie Hammond (a judge's son) and his evil genius (Harvey (ireen)are introduced, and the curtain falls upon a violent between them caused through Green's making disparging , remarks on Morgan, which Hammond ■ resents. In Act II Morgan Ls still on the down giade, and exasperates Slade, by refusing to quit his public house when ordered. Slade hurls a glass at his head, but misses it and goes through the open door, and cuts little Mary Morgan's head open— she being outside the door waiting for her disreputable tulher. She is badly huit, aud iv a ■*-*üb-->e<jueut act t k

tlie.-s. Previous to her death, she ex tiacts a promise from her father to abstain from taking liquor again, and he keeps it afterwards, and becomes not only reformed, but an influential roan in Edarville. In act ■1 Simple and Willie Hammond enter the hotel, having both been "on the spree." Hammond plays cuds with Harvey Green, while Sample, at the invitation of Slade, indulges in liquor to euoh an extent that he falls inonpable on the floor. In the meantime Hammond is accused of cheating by llaivoy Green, and a quarrel in which Hammond is shot dead in cold blood by Harvey Green. The reports cf the revolver awvknns Simple, who upon learning of the murder, staggers ii pursuit and eventually cnptures Greer, whom he takea to the gaol. In the. last act, the final state of Siade and his son is presented. The barroom bears evidence of tin result of dissipated management and its propri-lor and and bis son are become degraded and miserable drunkards. The death of Slade, caused by hia son in a terrible quarrel, is followed by the presentation of the once notorious Joe Morgan,— -ow reformed, and Mayor of Gedarville, and Sample Switchel, who has alao embraced the Temperance cause, after realising the debasing influence to which be has been so loDg a slave.