The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-15
AM UsEM ENTs.
A Memorable Performance-sick CLARA Msr-
ris In "Conscience" at tho Brooklyn Thea
tre-Openins the season-Prices Reduced.


The opening OF the Brooklyn Theatre on
Monday evening last was made noticeable by a
redu ation Of prices throughout the entire house.
and the appearance Of Miss Clara Morris In the
play OF Cons cience." originally written and
fitted to her by Maanus and Lancaster Of this
city, Brooklyn IL curious place. Thousands
~ people crowd to hear BeecAer, Talmage,
Storrs, Bell, aud Dur,ea, year In and year
out, because the entertainment IL good
and the cost nothing; but no theatH-
cal enterprtse, save season or 40 OF
the departed Conway, and the variety bust
meas, has ever met a liberal response from the
Brooklyn public. As ruie, young people pre-
fer to come to New York for their fun. and al
though Col. Sim produces the same artists at
the Brooklyn Park az at the New York Olympic,
and Shook Palmer offer stars aud plays as well
across tho river as In the metropolis, the close
OF the season brings q eigh Of relief. This wear
matters are different The Brooklyn Theatre.
one OF the handsomest and most comfortable In
the world, and decidedly the beat III this land OF
no ventIla ion, was literally filled every night
last week. so that no seats were TO be had at the
rising OF the curtain, and crowds stood In the
CORRIDORS and about the circle.
There are several strong parts In Con
science" and every act sustains the interest,
but naturally the attrac ion was Miss Morrie's
In erurctation OF Constance, character emo
tional to be sure, but requiring atrengh and
force such az onlv u trained genius could supply.
Miss Morris Is seriously III. and IL was infully
npp1rent on Friday evening. that nothing but a
strong will ana determination IT, do her duty
sustained her Her rise was rapid. her progress
b 8 been fast, hut unless common sense anu a
much needed rest come to her rescue, the pub
lie cannot expect much further entertainment
ut her hands.
The play deals with a murder for which an in
noccnt man IA suspected and tired. His M
anced seeks to brine the Judge ny an Offer ~
home OF his love and Is there discovered by the
Judge, VINO Is about to hand him back q the
grasp Of the law, when somuambnlism comes to
the rescue and reveals In sleep-walhing cletk
the c)nscience-stficken assassin. In the first
two acts Constance i a petted girl, fond OF nor
father. fond of her lover. ana the detight OF n
happy home. rhe murder Of her father, from
whom she had parted but moment, and tn,
discovery OF the dead body In his plrlor, raise
her TO womnnhood The peril Of her lover,
about whom coil OF circumstantial evidence
ing. and, "a a suffering martyr lighting against
fate. she moves on to the end.
Comparisons are not necessarily odioH. Miss
Kate CiaxtO Ia younger and Dmelier than Miss
Morris. and has certain peculiarities Of manner
which enabled her To- picture the ersy portion of
the play, by the simple Ortwork Of ber own ma
ture. Miss Morris does II quite As well. out II Is
art. not nature. In the later scenes OF terror.
apDrehensiJn aud desp .ir Miss Csxtpn was un-
| equal and nnsatisfactory. Miss Morris found
| herself at home the moment ascTeam announced
inc killing Of her father; From that point emo
t. ~ relied down her creeks, her lip quivcred.
| her whole figure shook with grief or anger or
love, ana her audience sal ran nxed with inter-
est In what was not altogether mimic scene.
| The several scenes to which critical attention
may be called with benefit are thCse over the
| BODY OF her father. the interview with her lover
| In prison. the oner OF her hand to the Judge,
| and the detection Of the assassin. Fraii and hi
| a. the lady was on this occasion. she filled the
stage and dominated the audience. In many
| spects her Constance surp ,sses her Camille, aud
Is vastly greater chan her Attire. Tier faciie uss
Of the anectionite Papa" was marked b. a
hundred infections. which found their way
| 10 the heart OF every papa In the house.
and brought the people to point OF
| unhealthy excitement. Twas especially pleased
with the moderation OF her passion. / feared
an explosion which might dishgure the picture,
| bus her griefs intensity Was admirably mani
| Tested. ana the cur ain ruug ~ again and
| a.ain on the sad but charming scene.
| Given lover In trouble, the accessories OF
stone walls, turnkey, and prison cot, and
| enOrded her and she forthwith made the prison
scene memorable. She Grief Just enough
swooned only to the verge of faintiug. empr ICED
| her lover with passionate fervor. aud only mar
| red great scene once-wheD. after bidding her
| lover to remain at the table as not to attract
the suspicion Of the JaiIrr, she totters to the
| door and assaults the ears of the Official by
groaninT out IN stentorian tones, - Farewell.
between the Judge. admirably personated by
| Mr.. Parselle. and Constance ensues scene which
| may oe made pathetic. ridiculous or vulgar, ac-
| cording TO the art of the actor. Nothing desir-
| sble was left unfinished by these artlsts. Young
| people on the stage might well profit by the
sturdy dignity blended with tender constdera-
tion OF the Judge, and the beautiful passion
| sacrifice OF the woman. There no ABSURD
makeup in Miss Morriss tear-stained cheek.
OF her face. From herself she tries TO
hide ner love for the accused, hoping also To de-
| ceiye the Judge. she approaches,sthRgers In her
trouble. begs his assistance, appeals TO him to
| save the youth for the nonor Of hts family name,
| aud modestly tenders him her hand. In an In
stNut the cOol-headed Judge sees the point,
grasps the situation, and waves benind the bri
hut, loving the woman he drops the judge, AS
sumes the friend aud talks to her like father.
The audience Was captured. The success was
one OF that kind about which there is no doubt.
| In the last act consultation with the family
doctor leads up to the report that the connden-
tial clerk, between whom and Constance there
WIS ill-fee Ing aud di-trust was sleep. walker.
On the evening OF her fathers urder. Constance
had been rude to the clOrk, but for some ,easop.
a. he was retiring for the night, she called hlm
Eustdce, asked his pardon aud gave him her
h ,nd. Just as the clock struck u. and the ureeze
| brought INTO the room tAe midnight chant ~
pertinent. Inc room was arranged ON that
night The hour o. IL was at hand Eustdce
rose to retire. Then comes the scene.
Rising SLOWLY, and concealing artfuily Inc
intense repugndnce Of her soul. the young girl
him her hand. ihe inimlthDle art, the exquisite
business. the HrectiOnats yearning for revenge,
doscr9.d. Eustdoe took the preferred hand
A. lie did so tue midnight hOur was stIdck. aud
again tue solemn chant was waited from the
chapel. Success seemed certain, and at this
moment Morris looked Ike creature OF the up
per air
EuStdc. jumped from the sublime to the
rioIcglous, bumped his shoulders up over his
mead and leaped from the door like a sick
maniac.
Presently the door opened, and Eustdc, IN
shirt ana trousers, app ears, enters-in sleep
approaches tue fathers CHAIR, appeals to him
for al d, seems to meet with refus !, turns to 20
returns, and raising his knife, springs to plunge
IL IN the old mans heart. or course that tells
MT unly tho story OF his guilt. but also Of the
lovers innocence. The ending Ia very weak, the
situation uninterestinH, and the dialogue tame
IL seems a pity to spoil 30 rood play by such
an In rtistiu nulsh, but II would be a grOsseI
pity to permit sucn "A Performance as that OF
Miss NOrriss constance to pass unhordlded. II
| r. \ triumph Of art over nature, and OF genius
| and viii over physical weakness which IL well
| nigh incredible.
| II would he unfair TO compare Mr. Murdock's
EioStGcs with that OF MIR. Charles X. Thorne. Jr
The one IL fair, the other grand. Mr.. Murd ock'-
dress is couspicuously bad, his reading ex ell
lent his manner tolerable lad he played Cyril-
anu dressed the would have done far better
Nj. Steyenson's CWU Was precisely what IL was
hero aud In Chicago, good. Mr.. Parselle Is
always excellent Dlghtty and grace are nature
win MIN, ana lac does his work like master
Nj. Phillips played the father As II he were one
| Dr. hOrddLIf, StOddaTts part, was assigned q
| Mr. Ntd Lamb, who Of course made 1t comlcA
| from Nr-t to last | have only one fault o hnC
with Lamb. He dwRys plays 20 the gallery som,
| OF MS business was much better than StOdddrt 5
lie was less prufdrs and quite AS satisfactory
| Mrs. Fdrrens IIhnhI was quiet tit If old
fashioned maldcnhOod. hch drew the laugh D
tue tear. aS occasion demanded.
-AltOgrther II was a menOr bic performance
aud tho management deserve public praise TO
gising II at time when prices ale reduced, al
though expenses are continued high IL II tim
that BROOKLYN mad supported nr.t-Clts3 thea