The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-26
Am US I'm EETS.
Morri-'s Multon-Tbe Reign OF Fnshion-Tbe
RAIN Of sympntby The KeIne Of EInotion.

~ DeRReO an place h1OnR tnt odlrN tHis
OF minor Western theatre, about twenty years
ago, has achieved another triumph, and made
In the cant phrase OF the profession, an "im-
mense success" in tho melodramatic role Of
Miss Mutton. In the realm OF tragedy Clara Nor
ris was a stranger. and very few people cared to
take her In. In comedy pure and simple. che
seemed out OF place. and her friends yearned to
lead her to more congenial scenes. but In melo-
drama or In what Is now known as the emotion
al school, she Is head pupil, wearing a. many
medals as she has parts In her tear-compelllDg
reDcrtoire. Although great physical sufferer.
tied up In arnca, bathed in aDodyDer, braced
up by salts, and swathed IN the comforting sp-
parel OF the sick, Miss Morris accepted a tempt
ing offer from Shook & Palmer, and has just I'm
ished the first Of her ten weeks engagement.
The week was devoted to the recital Of a new
play. from the facIle pen Of a brace OF French
men, cilled "Miss Mutton" a sensational
drama, with curious history.
1t was written years ago, and like vast ma
jority Of plays II failed two years since 1t was
rewritten. From three-act plav II was recon-
structed into a Hve-act play. Shook Il Palmer
had II translated by Mr.. Cazauran, and have pro-
duced II precisely "a II wa, written In French,
with one exception, which occurred to MIR. Pal
mer necessary to Its perfect harmony with
American ideas, and very important domestic
situation. In lite present shape, the single situa-
ton excepted, II became the rage In Paris.
II ia. by odds, the strongest one-part play
/ have seen In years. With sturdy
health Miss Morris c,n md thousands
In II as starring piece, and yet ONE
part IA u II, strange to saw, strong people
are needed IN several of lts roles Us story Ia un:
fortunately not novel. II desls with a wIonged
husband. q pcnitent maternal soul, a Jealous
second wife. and the grieviDg hearts Of mother
less children. ! believe 10000 coples OF Mrs;
Woods story Of East Lynne have been solj and
hundred thousand
Lucille Western [ Ike the stage ana rouse the
echoes IL would he hazardous 10 guess. To
al these the story OF the unhappy girl who
left her husband aud two children. tepenteo, re-
turned to- nni hated rival IN her place, ana az
ter n series OF impossible DISCUSSES aud harrow
Inc tempt ,tions reveals herself TO one ana all
and dies happy" ia teatiully ism,ll'r. -
only /; begins a. the point where the penitent
wife enters the home OF her husband Ms tue
govern as II her own children from which stage
her heart becomes target Tor The indirect lash
ing of husbands to que, the uncoD- ciOus
tauntings Of her successful rival. the continuous
lacerations OF her unsuspectinS children, and
the demon suggestions OF her je 'lous, hery
nature.
We all know Clara Morris.
sac has gre 4 grav ewes chockfull q soul.
Mind you. cont sSearto the SOU. take 1t as
ind IL. aud nDd IT IN her eyes. she cries at
will. She can tell a funny story with tears roll
ing down her cheeks. she can dance break
easily ma the other Her face In repose h picture
of placidity. She will never charm by her smile !;
but she can melt by her voice. and she can
her stare. Like the milkmaid IN the song,
my face IL my fortune, SIR" she said
and she told the truth. Well, a. wrote, we all
know Clara Morris. aud presume no critic will
dispute her position at he mead Of English
Speaking actre sses 10 this class OF PLAYS. Mies
Mutton" - the best OF this class OF PLAYS.
should now make her best Impression and sue
cess IN her new part.
In the nrst act she consult. with a Grabbed
Doctor tMr. stoddird, 10 part wiicn i Identical
nis sister an old maid Mrs. wilkins whose
sweet face contrasts with her ugly mug In
Erochdrd so ABSOLUTELY IS TO compel round upon
round OF pleas Irable recognItiunl, IN reference
to the suggested position as Roverness In the
family " a noted French lawyer (Mr O'Nei).
The mention OF her proposed employers name
reveals to her that It is her own old home she is
going to. and she refuses. In the course OF the
act the old maid, who uretends TO hate children.
gives a Christmas party to a score OF poor boys
aud girls. and the sight OF their happy faces de-
ciies Nus Mutton to accept the situation for the
sake OF being near herown little ones. That chill
dren's party alone would give n send on to anv
Uiece, and REQ, EN- The worst act OF " Sandy Bar"
The sight OF the little chaps dancing. eating.
grabbing, pulling the string Tor wooden jump
ing Jack, and having jolly good times In earnest,
started the dry pumps In many head and
brought into active requisition the mOtichotr
q many powdered dame. As for Matilda
Oazine and waved her handkerchief ike a crazy
woman, and settled down to the pleasure bite
and nose In this act Miss Morris displayed a
head of superb gray hair, much regulated feel
| Y
too short skirt de lined to down.
From this time on IL WIS cry. cry. cry. When
the curtain disclosed the motherless children
Qljou Heron - tue daughter, and Mattel Leon
ms tue bow with their venerable tutor tNr. John
larseuel last asleep. ike second lhiers, IN
his easyN a conversation ensued IN wni ch
the clever boy, tho sohcitous girl and the
tendeT-hearted tutor participate -sooer. minor
anu cuundeutisl on that most sensitive 81
topics. a dead mothers love on earth. and IT ce
In netven--it was "cries all round" Mr-
Sheridan Shoo. forgot the mouse and the people
auHf Rad IN hpfn he All IA Her m
lived again IN bJOu, AMI alternated between
waves Of emotion and waves OF handkerchief
From the Utmost end Of DE Peystsrs mas II organ
tear after tear was pushed. The "nOys whp
fringe the corridors spaces, ana know all the
clined 10 sag, ana Joined the noble army OF
weepers GU how dism lly happy we all were
not alone for a bfef season, bot for Hh time
the manager included, anu led to believe.
After IA litlle Mas Mutton enters OF course she
IL SUSPECTED bY the tutor to wuoin. in hood Of
passionate petition, she reveals herself. In this
scene MIR. Parselle came to the front. Always
stuoy for the critic, he never furgets his
part. His appearance, costume, atutude, and
hearing we're In complete ccord with text
and situation. MISS Morris threw herself
into the inner meaning Of toe position. The
words are trlte, tue sentences commonplace,
nut the situation IL immense-dnd position Is
everything. deluded woman, suDpanted
wife. heaft-Ofoken parent longing with unut-
terable desire TO hold her bables To her heart
WE'LL II any body has better or stronger STU
| At.On In his conceUtiOn, he mad be ter write a
play aud make MS little fortune on the spot.
just In time to spoil the cry, the stcpmother,
| the new vile Hlss sara JeWetO came ~ dressed
| al ,Oprqtely for IA drive. The Contr 81 between
tue Two women ID marked. Miss Morris IS all
| feeling apparently mean. for. In ellity. /
| dOabt II -he feels any more than II good Tor ner
| he It'll, real emotion beng unwlso AT umcsl,
| Miss Jewett all rock. The one hllei the stage,
| the other ghded In ana out Of what was LETT ;
| tue one dressed simpy, the other outrohlug
| the famous Queen of Sheba; the one win a
VOICE like the mellow note of "A cello the others
! thin aud sharp. There they stood face 10 lace,
| the mother and ner successor. It's a grand
situation. To make the etepmotheI's role IN
| sympathy win the audience would be AN i'm
| possibility Every heart euufaced Mss Mutton.
| and turned with AN odd dislike from cOutem
| woman who was tue favored rival Of the heroine
| OF the play. there was nothing noticeable IN
| the scene, hut Imagination WIS, Of necessity,
| active ana In haste Tor wnAt was to come.
IL came In the h tndsOme lcfsUn OF the law
| yer husband (Mr. James O'Nell, whose Pteirc |
| praised hlgnlY because II merit ed praise }, vino
| at once recognized his wife. Now an ordinary
| man would nave settled that little IN tier then
| anu there. Bat men la PLAYS are extraordinary.
| so tins very much married person simply said
| My God - or something equivalent, and WI h
| "A couTtly bow passed out 81 the room, with
| head I'm danger OF being screwed N rs ne turn
| ed It toward the giil he left behind h,,n. Scene
| aiIerscene follows, all tending to stir IA fellow
| up from the very bottom Of his n lture. III we
| you ever had a row with YOUR sweetheart OF
| course you ave. Go there snd cry about T..
| Have YOU ever INDUCED IN scenes AZ homer OF
course you have. Go there and weep again.
| Have YOU ever lost chiidf ! hope NOT, but II
you have, GO there and see how quick YOUR tears
| won't lei YOU see. Have you, gu, woman, ev.
| felt the venom Of jealousy tuin your juice OF
l II ! a.