The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-24
CLOUDS At rHB PAnx THEATRE.
A New A.sricsn Play which Actually has .
PIot-Good and had Acting.

Piot-Good and had Actins.
Well, have been to see the latest candi-
date for favor, the new American comedy Of
Clouds" produced by william Stuart and
Hart Jackson, at the long closed Park Theatre.
| For several reasons l believe II worthy OF no
ticc. II is by a reputable American author. II
actually has a plot. II IL we'll cast and well
played. and Its portrayal marks the re6pening
| Of the theatre whore Col. Sellers made his hit,
the Hon. Brrd,ceu Stotc sprana into popularity,
and Oakley Hall came and saw and
quered.
The Chicago Tribune wisely remarks that
New York critics are honest, but their stand
ard OF criticism Ia too high" 1t Ia doubt
| less too high for the authors OF to day, but
| would the dramatlsts OF Britain or the play
| rights OF France, the solid old authors OF
| Germany think the standard too biRh2 IL IL
fortunate for Mr.. Fred Marsden, the author OF
Clouds" that he Is In the hands OF actors who
| are content to be judged by their works and
| that he has no intention OF making a cOmbina-
| ton starring company, for the advertising OF
which public controversy Is necessary.
| We start, then, with the simple assertion that
the new play Is a very creditablc addition to our
very sle nder stock OF acting American plays.
The interior OF dramatic authors brain must
| be quaint, odd place. In fact, our average
| dramatists are ~ like as two peas Tnev
|
same point They proceed along the same
| route. and naturally come out at the same exit
| The stern father, a dead mother, n wilful
| daughter, a rebelous son, a funny IN an In black
tights, naughty heiress, a poor artist, villain
| Gus adventurer-these are the persons invari-
| ably used, aud with an old nursc, a Chinaman,
| or detective make up the cast.
| Is II not SOP Let the reader who goes TO the
theatre answer. But above all let the unhappy
| ..-k.
only to reject them, put In his reply, on honor.
| This, then, being all arranged, we have to re-
gard Mr.. Marsdens effort like all the rest, and
to see whether he has utilized his forces better
| or worse than his fellows.
| Mr.. Stuarts company is strong in women and
very fair In men. In fact, when remember
that for long time even the opening OF the
| theatre was predetermined, the engagement OF
| so many excellent artists was a matter doubt
ful OF achievement and an evidence OF manage
rial tact Miss Rose Wood, the leading lady OF
the company, plays a sympathetic part In
CLOUDS" She is not one OF the emotional.
Clara Morris school, but rather OF the abrupt
| Matilda Heron type, with many admirable
qualities and several defects which would be
apt to hinder her advancement In any but char
| acter parts. Her breathing 10 forced and sug-
i eestivs OF asthma. and her delivery Is sadly
| marred by a tendency to drlwl. In spite
| of that. she Is charming actress, and
in the role OF stella Gordon has made a hit.
| Being young and pretty Miss Wood Of course
| DISCUSSES herself under a blonde wig and enacts
the roughish role OF a deceived Wife indign ant
| housekesper. and successful detective with
great elln. She Ia provided 10y partial author
with several bits OF sentiment, number OF
bursts Of frenzy. three or four rhetorical oppor-
tunitles, anl any quantity Of sensational situa-
Il pns, all OF which she improves. she has the
that direction administers rebu<e. ar deserved
a. II Is marked, to other members OF the COM
Mr.. Marsden deals pleasantly with women. He
| permits them to act and speak like human crea-
lures. He invests them with the traits and
chardct aristcs familiar o. them In ordinary lite,
and rarely puts far-fetched phrases In their
mouths. Twas more specially pleased with three
| femaie roles the betrayed wife, PLAYED by Miss
RDse w bod the ingenious sister and eweet-
heart. by Miss Annie + imondson, and the
| soldly sombre village madam. by Mrs Biker.
| In the lrst, MIR. harsden evinces knowledge OF
feminine nature. never saw the man, but he
quick to respond to tn. cry Of distress and the
petition OF the Door Among the many aspiring
would not have Welded to the temptation to
make the deserted wife and mother rant.
Rant on the stage 10 az repuisive as cant In the
St.lld Gordon does not gush over her husband
when hts rasoality IA laid bare she does not roll
her. eyes, fling her arms high In air, nor shrek
wrecked ner life. On the contrary. she behaves
like true-nearted, loving woman, determined
sake OF her enid, and not her own.
Miss EdmonsoD comes To US with an excellent
| u
| and good taste In dress. Her role IL pleasing.
She deals with a stern father, a bad brother, a
suspects to be an intriguer, and others IN society
In every scene she won not only the sympathy
but the appreciation OF her audience, and be-
lieye Will become a favorite with the public.
Why do writers insist on dressing old maids
skirts, and lace mitsf Did any one ever
see an old maid OF the Miss Prim
Old maids, pr -, are not necessarily heartless.
In these days OF discussion, when, kisses are a
ones sweetheart is subject for editorial gossip,
Is II more than fair TO say that there may be such
creature as a good old maid, with clear head,
kind heart. ~ open hand, and an occasion a
cup OF the milk Of human kindness7 But
wnere Ia she on the stagef
| OF course-I saw OF course because the old
maid Is become one OF the stock character parts
In all modern pla' there is an old maid in
Clouds" and very admirably she's played, too,
nv that sterling artist, Mrs. AleIina Fisher
Baker, who in other days was "a fair As her
pretty daughter, now at Waliacks, and always
favorite at the South and West.
The other feminine roles are not well PLAYED.
The adventures woman who uasses herself
OF a. the daughter OF her former master. and in
srAtia es herself 10 the family where tue entire
action pssses-s a well conceived, admirably
drawn character, and might be made the hinge
OF the entire play, " properly represented. IL is
| intrusted To IA LADY whose costumes are superb,
whose Jewels are valuable, and who has certain
| charms OF person, but as she utterly fails to
comprehend or paint the part 1t is not well cast
whore the assignments ara generally so good, II
seems pity to LEOPARD a number OF excel
| there are several.
| The male parts are also mainly well cast.
| Mr.. Cyril Seare Ii a conscientious young actor,
| Of whom II Ia a pleasure to write epcouragingly.
; lie Is rs monotonous as "a sand beach, but he
looks and dresses well. reads inteiligently,
and is always letter perfect He needs less
backbo and more elasticity. His char
acter Is that OF jolly young New York
boy, VINO mas a wife and son up tho Hudson,
without his fathers Knowledge, and, under
threat OF disinheritance, forsakes hts wife.
promises to marry the adventures, supposing
her to be the lady she represents herself to be,
and when she In exposed returns To his wife, IL
made happy Ms the curtain rolls down, and takes
his fathers hand, with check 10 It, Ike a little
| man. There Is ample scope and verge enough In
| the part. hut MIR. Seare doesn't avail himself OF
| them. The ORD VINO can and won't, must. Just
| so with the actor who can and doesn't think II
Mr.. Searle were to be severely handled In a
| friendly wdy-hogged, for instance, by his low
Ing father-he would come from the fire aud
| furnace OF afliiction a nrstr actor and be
| competent to any duty In his line.
T when VIC go TO see a comedy, we long for the
| point where laugh may now aud then come In.
| Clouds are not necessarily In mourning all the
| time and even the darkest has Its silver lining.
! so here. MIR. Padgett pl lys the part OF ardscal
/ | IA low comedy scoundrel, who, clad In sombre
| suit Of seedy, shining black goes through scene
| after scene apparently lueubriOus but really
n l..ll.. 4 .NrafN Ia. halo