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

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Scott responded to the "genuine humour and wholesome manly
sentiment" in the play - it was thoroughly "English" and
Pinero appeared to have lost the cynicism which Scott disliked.
Formerly he had been compared, like Robert son, to Thackeray t
now he was likened to Dickens, Scott reported that the firstnight
audience were much movedt
. the laughter that pealed around the house
was only occasionally checked by those fits
of sudden coughing that denote suppressed
emotion.
(Illustrated London News. 21 March 1888)
He doei not attempt to differentiate between suppressed
emotion and the effects of March winds,
Sweet Lasrender (Terry's Theatre, 21 March 1888) has not
been treated kindly by posterity. By 26 November 1890 it had
completed a total of seven hundred and thirty-seven performances
at Terry's, and by 5 November 1891, six hundred and ninetyseven
performances had been given in the provinces . To I/ax
Beerbohm, in 1899, it seemed a link with Tom Robert son "with
some, at least, of the modern improvements", while to a more
recent critic it is no more th in "an ably concocted v/eepie with
no noticeable claims to sense" . The plot is indeed sentimental,
and its reminders that wealth and virtue arc not synonymous
is typical of Robertson, Clement Halo and Dick Phenyl share
rooms in the Temple, where they are cared for by Ruth Holt,
housekeeper and launderess. She has a daughter, called Lavender,
and is to all appearances a rccpectrble widow, Dick is an
alcoholic and is the subject of Clement's attempts to cure him;
Clement, for his part, is in love with Swcot Lavender, whom he
is tutor-ing. But Clement is the adopted con of a rich banker,
i/edc'Lirburn, who wishes him to marry hie niece, ".linnie Gilfillian.
A young and brash American, Horace Bream, arrives with the nev.s
that . rs Gilfillian and Minnie have returned to London from the
Continent, and Clement, witl-i come reluctance, prepares to GO
and meet them at their hotel, hile he is dressing, Dick decides
that Lavender ought to be sent t-j the country, and prepares to
sell his books to pay for her journey. Presently, Clement
emerges f orn his room, fines Lavender in the sitting-room, and
declares his love, which she requites, "rs Gilfillian and ,:innio
arrive, and Clement's declaration is discovered, -.fter euLimon-