Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-09
THE STAGE.
The American Comedy ''seIf'-Mr.
John E. Owens as John Unit.

The American Comedy "SeAl'-MF.
John E. Owens as John Unit.
Some years ago there lived in Cincinnati
an eccentric millionaire; man whose soul
was wrapped up IN one ide2-that OF
making money. This was the end and
aim of his existence. For this only he
lived and breathed. He scarcely took time
| to sleep and eat. lis meals were brought
| into his store, and placed on his hottest
temple, his iron safe, from which place the
miser snapped up his food with the quick
ness, CreedineSs and cunning Of an old
raven. No scheme was too large for him,
none too small. He would listen patiently
to speculative propositions, but If they did
| no promise To yield cent per cent, his IN
variable answer was: IL won't pay, sir,
wont plyr' This phrase became by
word in the city.
Mrs. Sidney +. Bateman having made a
study Of this eccentric character, conceived
the idea of presenting him on the stage as
the central figure OF purely American
comedy. She wrote the comedy Of "Self,
and the National Theatre of Cincinnati was
/ crowded to see what could be made OF cd
| John Bates. Although the manners and
/ the savings of the original old man were
! faithfully copied, the resemblance stopped
short at this point. The one was miser,
the other a kindly, wam-hearted, eccentric
old bachelor. with a crusty manner, keen,
sharp. full of worldly wisdom, but the very
/ soul of integrity. The creation OF the au-
thoress was most enjoyable old man, and
the audience were not at all. surprised 10
| hear Mr.. Bates, who was present IN the
dress circle on the opening night, exclalm,
/ as he rose I'D in his seat, "Nnt bit Ike
me. sir, not a Bit As this exclamation
was brought out at the moment John Unit
was giving away part Of his money, the
! audience enjoyed the joke and admitted
| the force Of the criticism.
The community at large, however, are
much indebted to the old miser Of Cincln-
natl for having suggested the antiLhesls OF
/ the character, for without him the dra-
matte John Unit would have never existed.
Mr.. Owens, in giving us this new and
| original picture, has again testified TO the
| extraordinary versatility Of his genius.
| The John Unit does not in the least re-
/ semble any other old man in the actors
| repertoire, nor does he in the tainteSt de
! gree pusume to resemble the man John +.
| Owens. Take some Of the old men that
| Mr.. Owens produces with such wonderful
/ artistic power, Scion sShingle, Spruggins,
| Caleb Plummer, etc, neither in look,
! voice or gesture is there the slightest
| family relation. There is nothing that
| could lead the most careful observer to de-
! lect an affinity between creations so totally
! dissimilar. This is one Of the strongest
| evidences Of great genius. How thought
| full. how infinitely Obs6rvant Of details,
how comprehensive in its grasp must be
l the genius which, for continuous hours,
! can sustain this illusion of the stage and
| never for one moment drop the mask.
The comedy itself is well conceived, and
| the characters, in the most part, are purely
/ American; not the less so that the females
! in dress, manners and conversation endeay-
| or TO forget the land of their birth and WOT-
| shin that far off paradise of their country
men-Paris. The efforts made by the fash
| ionabIe Mrs. Aoex, and the elegant Mrs.
| Radius, to forget their humble origin, are
rendered abortive through the bluntueSs Of
that terrible old man Unit, who knew that
the mother Of one kept "small, cheap
clearinghouse" and the grandfather OF
The other was "a worthy old wood sawyer"
The sterling qualities Of old Unit, however,
appear when he comes to the rescue Of
ms former partner, ruined through the
| extravaganza of bis wife, and the prOdigal-
itv of their son. 1t is here that the old re-
tired merchant stands with the tirmness
/ and steadinass Of q rock among the waver-
ing elements that surround him-the one
man of principle among the weak and
vacillating creatures Of impulse. In tins
situation the simple force Of honesty and
integrity conveys a lesson, and a. lasting
one, and the mingled mirth and pathOs Of
this scene are worth all the tears that were
/ ever shed over the maudlin sentiment and
heart breaking poetry Of the modern
French drama. II is play with healthy,
Sound moral, and is a simple household
story most pleasantly told. JOHN Unit is
not the least Of Mr.. Owens triumphs, and
in its individually is perhaps his most per-
| feet creation.