Blood and Thunder

In this comedy the author employs the characters of Mr and Mrs Vincent Crummles and the Infant Phenomenon from Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby. He includes Nicholas himself, under his stage name of "Mr Johnson". It is shortly after their disastrous American tour, and the scene is the dressing-room of a small provincial theatre where they are playing. Nicholas, no longer connected with the theatrical profession, visits them, and old memre of their friendship are revived. "Mr Johnson" introduces a member of the audience with whom he has been sitting. This is Mr Fawcett, manager of Drury Lane Theatre, who is on the look-out for fresh talent. The Crummles' hopes rise high, but are dashed by Mr Fawcett's brutally candid comments on their acting. Then the Infant Phenomenon enters. Miss Crummles is in a rebellious mood, being in love with Mr Belville, one of their actors, to the disgust of her parents. She appears dressed, not as the "phenomenon" but as herself, and Mr Fawcett is charmed. He commands her to call on him at Drury Lane the following week. The Crummles realize that their day is over. Gracefully - if with rather grandoloquent sentiment - they hand the torch to the younger generation.