Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

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at the Adelphi - it had a simplicity which the critic could
accept:
This theatre is the real cradle of this I:ind
of amusement, and lilr Pettitt has rushed boldly
and bravely at his work. To fino v/riting or
delicacy of phrasing he has made no pretence,
but he slashe-: his sentiments and high-flown
dialogue about right fearlessly.
(7 January 1882)
This the critic can enjoy, but in August Drury Lane presented
Pluck; a Story of 050,000 by Augustus Harris and Henry Pettitt:
nothing that mechanist's or scene-paint er*s
art can manage has been unat temp ted; the
cupper of horrors (in seven courses) ic full
and complete., ^ut what of the play and the
characters? Do they interest? Are they real?
Hot a bit of it. In the mad hunger after "effect"
the authors. ..have crushed all semblance of
humanity out of their pu pets.
(12 Au^st 1882)
The incidents of Pluck include a double train crash, an interrupted
wedding-breakfast (with the arvest of the bridegroom),
the installation of the corpse of a murdered banker in a Chatwood
safe and the appearance of all the characters (with excerfcion
of the bnnkor) outside the Criterion Restaurant during a
snowstorm. Durin~ the aone snowetorn a lone-loot child is
encountered by its father in the middle of Piccadilly Circus
at dead of night. The villain dies with no .ittle eclat during
a fire .vhich destroys a three-storey slum. George Awaictus
oala, in The Illustrated London Rev/a, found the :lay little more
than a succession of sensation scenes, and thought that the
public uuct by nor; bo v/oary of such exhibitions - he adduced
the cool firat-ni-ht reception in curort of this. (12 ra.^ust
1882). ".hat no t?« asked Verity Pair, '"Jhrll we drone tise the
r'.eluge or the Apocalypse?".
As i ? in answer to this cry of unarym;/- reviewers, ?lio
Silver Kin/; was produced by llson Barrett at the Princess's
in "ovonbor. This dranaticed neither Deluge not Apocalypeo
and was frankly loyal to its ^elourcuncitic origins; itc r>lot
deals with the -vrongful conviction anc' dispoececsion of the
hero, his escape froia the IDA?, and Ms oventuo.1 return to
material iaic spiritu;;.! tvell-boiug. The Dlay uses "otock"
char .cterc - Jc'.il:oo f a faithful old servant, Helly Denver, the