“JO.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 6845, 30 March 1883, Page 2

“JO.”

In adapting to the stage one o£ Charles Dickens’ novels, with all its complexity of incidents and construction, and making one of the character* (a subordinate if well-marked one) the central figure of the drama, Mr Burnett has successfully accomplished a most difficult task. Necessarily but few of the characters and scenes familiar to the readers of the novel can be presented in an adaptation of this kind, and to have attempted more would have destroyed the effect of what there is and lessened the interest of it. Taking the street Arab, Jo, for the central figure, the interest of the piece is confined to the episode of Lady Dedlock and the results of her unhappy love. The characters of Sir Leicester Dedlock, Lady Dedlock, Mr Tulkinghorn, Mr Guppy, Mr Snagsby, Horteuse, and Mr Chadband forming the subordinate figures in the incidents produced, while the character of Inspector Bucket lends additional interest to them. The first scene is the inquest on the law-writer, the second is the reception of Esther by Guppy, the third Lady Dedlock at home when she hears from the lawyer of the death of the unknown, the fourth her ladyship disguised, seeking for Jo to show her certain places connected with the deceased, and the fifth her arrival at the said places, and her parting with the Arab. This last scene, with Jo at the gate of the graveyard, finishes the first act. In the second division of the p'ay wo find the family lawyer raking up evidence against the wife of his client, the opening scene being lightened by the introduction of Mr and Mrs Snagsby and Mr Chadband, Soon afterwards, poor “Jo” has paiuful experience of moving on. This act ends with the confession of Lady Dedlock to Esther, and the murder of Tulkinghorn by the French lady's-maid. The third act contains the revelation of truth to Sir Leicester by Bucket, the arrest of the lady’s-maid, and the delivery of the news of Lady Dedlock’s death. The rest of the piece is devoted to the progress of “ Jo,’ 1 carrying him towards the end of his troubles, and ending in a most pathetic death-scene in the neighborhood of “ Tom Allalone'e.” The enthusiastic reception Miss Lee has always received for the wonderful creation of this character cannot be summed up iu a few words, and the most remarkable proof of its success is t'i ■ fact that she has played this character ov.r 0000 times. As already announced, “Jo” will be produced to-morrow at the Theatre Royal.