Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 1 October 1888, page 10


THEATRE ROYAL. V

"HANDS ACROSS THE SEA." There

was an overflowing house at this theatre on Saturday night to witness the first performance of an entirely new and original drama in five acts, by Mr. Henry Pettitt, entitled "Hands Across the Sea." New it certainly is, but original it just as certainly is not, for every situation, every incident, and every character have been derived from other plays But these appropriations have been so ingeniously combined and arranged, transposed and modified, that the result is a piece of dramatic mosaic even more effective and successful than the same writer's Harbour Lights." If dead and living authors could appear in person to establish their claims to the ideas which Mr, Pettitt has borrowed so freely and blended to skilfully, it would require a very large room to hold them all. But this dramatist would probably plead in excuse that originality, in this kind of writing, has become well nigh impossible, and that there is nothing left for the modern playwright but to copy the example of Moliere, and exclaim, Je pi today more here on jl the motive. The public does not stop to inquire from whence the materials of the drama are [drawn which interests and amuses it. It is shameful to have its attention engaged and sustained, and its sympathies excited by a clever piece of handiwork , it likes to witness the act-drop fall upon a strong situation or an exciting incident; it is pleased with an opportunity of seeing villainy denounced, and a good man and woman emerge triumphantly from undeserved trials and sufferings, and, above all, it approves of the worthy people in a drama receiving the biggest plums when the solid pudding" comes to be distributed at the close of the piece. Neither does it object to a I it as claptrap on the subject of the manifold attractions and advantages of Australia, and the true qualities of its population. And all these conditions are filled in " Hands Across the Sea," while the running up of the Union Jack on board a Finnish steamer for the protection of a British seaman, who is in danger of being arrested as a readmite by the officers of a French sloop of war, touches a patriotic chord in the hearts of most of the

audience At

the outset of the drama most of the personages are brought upon the name, which opens at Nettlefold Farm, in Devonshire, the abode of Mr. bttllwood, his son Robert, his stepdaughter Lucy, and his ward Lilian Mel-lara 'Hit-latter is the daughter of one Dick Melford, who, having failed in business many years before-, emigrated to Australia, where he did so well that he is enabled to make handsome remittances to Stallwood, who says nothing about them to Lilian, but affords them in increasing the size of his form His buff, John Dudley, is in love with the daughter of the absentee, and he is Team bassett, a country gentleman, who is the low comedian of the piece. But Stillvvood intends her for his own son, especially when he learns from a stranger who introduces himself as " King, of Australia," that the vessel, in which Melford had taken his passage for England, has gone down the sen King has brought letters for Lilian and tor Dudley, and as the latter learns for the first time that some shores he holds in a Ball

in rat mine are worth 120,000, he is enabled to

[ marry Lilian, with the approbation of her

father, who turns out to be no other than

King, of Australia. Bullied and exasperated, young Stillvvood, who is embarrassed by debts contracted at a gambling house in Pins, vows to be revenged upon his successhis rival, and this is where the trouble begins It finds us full development in the second and third acts six months later, when the scene is shifted to the French capital, where Dudley, who has married Lilian in the interval, Robert Sttllwootl, Haast It, and Lucy are brought together again. Count Paul de Renal, a professional gambler and one, at young StilLw nod's uUL'^cstinn,endeavours to compromise the reputation of Lilian, and boasts of it at a gambling house, where he is knocked down by her husband Upon leaving the gamblinghouse the count is robbed and murdered by H beet Sttllwootl, aided and assisted by Jean de Lessar, the sister and confederate of Madame Vollerie, the keeper of the saloon. Dudley comes out of the place immediately afterwards, is accused of the murder by the real assassin, and is arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. He escapes from the prison on the eyes of his execution, is pursuit), and is about to be shot by a platoon of soldiers, when his wife arrives with a reprieve, and the third act closes with a striking tableau The fourth passes on board a steamer, which is within 24 hours of the coast of New South Wales. Dudley, who had been transported to New Caledonia, has been picked up from a boot, the sole survivor of a party of convicts who had escaped from thence His wife is on board the steamer, so are Robert Still-wood, Bassett, and Lucy Although disguised us a sailor, he is recognised by all of these, and while the captain refuses to sur-rend' r the fugitive to the French officers who claim him, Stillvvood resolves to denounce him as an eiiictVassiion us the vessel reaches Sydney. The last act takes place in view of our beautiful harbour," and is mainly occupied with the unravelling of the complicated web of evil woven by the son of the Devonshire farmer Dudley's innocence is proved, and the guilt of Robert Stillwood is established , Bassett marries Lucy, and old Mellon! is present to bless the re union of his airtight. with the husband of her choice What more could be desired?

Of the test generally, it may be sold that it is as good as it the dramatist had written the piece spot rally for the company Mr Charles Worner, who met with on enthusiastic reception, has a strong part of John Dudley, and he plays it with a virgin, tin impressive earnestness, and a broad grasp of all its salient characteristics, which contributed in a very important degree to the pronounced success which the drama achieved. As the light hearted farm bailiff in the first act ; as the courageous vindicator of his wife's Blainless reputation, in the second ; as the prisoner doomed to death, ant) combating this evil destiny, in the third ; as the fugitive convict, a prey to conflicting emotions, in the fourth and nH the lion extricated from his toils in the filth, Mr Women carand the audience entirely with him, and obtained a hearty call at the end of each act, it compliment deservedly extended to the other leading characters. Miss Ada Ward, who also rect lived a cordial welcome, gave such an mr of reality to the part of the gambling-house keeper, and caused attendant out in such clear relief, that one could not lit lp wiHtung there had been more for her to do in the piece. Miss Morris seems to have a vested interest in emotional ports, but she is apt to press, at them as being all alone pattern, and is melon. 4 to become stage, and artificial in situations which re-units one t melt of nature" to make them truly pathetic Miss , Emma Chambers, always bright, intelligent, and piquante, is especially so in the diameter of Lucy Nettlefold, it. which she imported an agreeable variety and a constant vivacity. She and Mr. 1 lion supply the comedy of the piece His Tom Hassett is a delightful piece of acting like total! misconception of the fact that Lucy is in love with him and that Lilian is not, and the equally diverting suit eiileiiUui which arise between Dudley and himself, when Tom returns from a trip to Australia in the full belief that he is going to marry Lilian, and sustained by the discovery that she is now Mrs Dudley, were admirable in their way, and provoked room of loughton Mr. Flemming's aptitude for ports in which cool malignity and sullen, silent vindictiveness are required was illustrated with good effect In blistered Stallwood, and received its emphatic approbation in Irc'quciit groans from the young gentlemen in the gallery. Alike compliment was paid to Mr H li. Vincent lot ins Jean de Lassie-a point upon which he has evidently bestowed great pains, and with results as flaitsloetory to the audience as they are creditable to himself. Equally good and still better as regards the French intent, and more particularly the "r's was the Count truth in Mr. Coles's cleverly designed and nicely finish a portrait of the wicked noblemen of the stage. Mr. Jones asking of Australia, and Mr- Clitherow of

Farmer Sellwood, must not be passed over without a word of apple! praise; and) even much subordinate parts of Captain Loud and Iliriun Hickory were raised into prominence by their careful presenting m at the bonds of Mr. K H Russell and Mr. H. Leston respect of Mr

Gordon has painted two beautiful scenes for the drama, viz, Nettlefold Farmaner Sydney Harbour, and was called for to receive the plaudits of the audience for the utter. "Hands Across the Sea" will be repeated every evening until further notice, and can scarcely hill to enjoy a lengthened run