Eva Moore (1870-1955)

"The Duke of Killikrankie"
by Captain Robert Marshall
Produced at the Criterion Theatre, London, 20th January, 1904.

In describing his play, which was produced last night at the Criterion Theatre, as "a farcical romance," Captain Robert Marshall has saved the playgoer much trouble in classification. The dominating note of the piece is whimsical humour, varied with sentiment, a blend of "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "Sweet lavender." Though the plot is never very strong, the writing is light and bright, and last night it kept the audience in a ripple of laughter from start to finish.

The young Duke of Killicrankie, having done everything from raising a regiment to winning the fifth prize in the "Times" competition, has fallen in love with Lady Henrietta Addison, and decides to abduct her when she refuses to marry him. This he does with the assistance of Mr. Pitt-Wellby, M.P., and by the modern methods of a bogus telegram and tipping a guard to put her in the wrong carriage. A chaperone is provided in the person of Mrs. Mulholland, the lady with whom Pitt-Wellby is in love. Both ladies are taken to an old castle in the Highlands, where much quarrelling ensues. But a week's captivity tells its tale, and the ladies, who have in the meantime become the heroines of the London Press, succumb to the natural fate of woman - marriage by capture.

In the last act some fun is made out of the enterprise of a special correspondent, who enters the castle disguised as a postman. The jokes are quite topical, and the hardworked "Encyclopaedia Britcannica" provides a laugh an act. Miss Eva Moore quite surpassed herself as the fascinating, but by no means harmless, Lady Henrietta Addison, and Miss Marie Adlington was equally good as the chaperone.

The Daily Mail (London) - 21st January, 1904