The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-08
An US EN- ENTS.
Two sensa usus-Two Good Pinys-Two Great
Casts-Tbe "Orphnns" at Union square,
and Forbidden Fruit" Mt Walisck's.

Palmer's Union Square Theatre, and the produc-
ton OF Boucicaut's new play. Forbidden
Fruit" by MIR. walck.
"A six of the more important roles in the
"Orphans" were intrusted to new hands. the
critical attention Of the audience, to whom the
play WIS familiar, conspicuously chal-
lenged. In other times the Orphans" PLAYED
to immense business, and was so admirably cast
that the trends OF Shook & Palmer regar led
such marked departure from Che original dis
trbution with interest not unlnixod with APP
prehension. AS whole the performance was
smooth and attractive. The old members Of
the company-Claxton, wilkins, ana rhorne-
who have made their parts familiar In every
household, were as good IA ever. and the ro-
cent additions. In the main, were excellent. IL
would be absurd however, to class Mr.. Robin
sons Jacques with that Of Mckee RnNn's. The
one is large, bulky, bland, and digninci, Lord
Rochester on and OF the stage the other a dare
devil on aud OF the stage. Jacques IL an OUT
law, william bounded by justice. living by his
wits, and they shdrpsned 10y vicious practice.
MIR. Robinson doesn't look the chnicter. NOR
does he play II. A better reader,a closer student
than he probably does not belong to any ORA
matte company In this country, hut no Is no
more suited to this rollicking role than Charlotte
Cushman would have been to that OF Louise
The cripple Pierre, a beautiful character part,
.
new to New York and but recently from Cili-
fornia. Mr. James O'Nen. Tho Original inter
prefer OF the rjle was Mr. Mlckay, and til, ten
der eauty Of his persona ion will never I've for
gotten 10y those who saw aud enjoyed 1t. To
test Mr.. O'Nei In such part was n rid from
which he might well we shrunk lie has faults.
many OF them, but In this instance he rose above
their Influence, ana gave mos, enjoyable Illus
tration Of his ability and fitness for the ddty as
signed him. Mr.. ONeil has a line presence,
which he unfortunately remembers, 50 tn It his
Pierre becomes one OF the sweetest thingl III
life, almost a realization OF iove'5 young dr. am.
without violating any requirement or neglect.
log any point, he moved quietly AMI at times
effectively through his part, unwlsely reservng
his strength for the exciting scenes Of the last
| act. 1p the storm Of words aud the CLASH o I
weapons with his rufiany brother, O'Neil, made
bis nrst appeal to the gallery, and won their
hearts at once In certain lines OF his art i'm
| agine this gentleman would be thoroughly good
in Pierre he Ia better than any actor, can
think Of, could be, unless 1t be Macksy.
And in relation TO that how true Il Is that nrst
! Impressions prejudice our subsequent Judgment
/ | remember thinking that Mack, ~ ranted over
much and whined more than most cripples,
born and bred Us he, would. Both men made
| the mistake Of refining Pitrrc's personal appear
auce. He old FrochdfdS son, cripple a. lie
was and his deformity was not born with him.
but was the result Of a quarrel between him and
his elder brother.
On the whole ONell's Pierre must be praised.
| fused to thiak Stewart RDbson's squeak made
Picard was mistaken. Picard made Robson's
squeak endurable. MIR. Burroughs plays
| the frolicsome valet, and the lines draw tie
laugh now as then. Indeed Mr.. burroughs,
without Robsons offensive mannerisms. appa-
10 49, st..s 4. 49,
rdlets in the service Of French noolemen, as a
rule, do not act as II they were the masters. lie
has, too, nice sense OF humor which permits
him to make his points clearly, and to cut his
hits distinctly. In this respect the new cast Is
great Improvement on its predecessor.
For several years, Ave or six at least. have OBJ
served Miss Sara Jewett's grad ual advancement,
with pleasure. She has many advantages of
person and bearing, which IN graceful society
roles enable her to appear 10 great advantage.
The only mistake I ever knew her TO make
was her unfortunate venture In q" Romeo ana
Juliet" which. like Miss Morriss Lady Macbeth,
and Miss Caxton's Constance WAS severe hut a
wholesome lesson to her. | do not recall at
| this moment, a woman In any OF com
panes, OF equal experience, who could more
perfectly or gracefully picture an uncmotiona
statuesque character, where the higher, better
| phases OF social existence are called into play.
Cast Ia such role would he The frat to con-
graduate her. In Henrtctte cannot congratu-
late her. As compared with her predecessors,
Miss Kitty blanchard here, and Miss Maud uar-
| rson In B-ooklyn aud Chicago, sho Il weak and
Ineffective. She looks picture and acts a
statue. Miss Bl ,nchsrd had no conception Of
the possibilities of the part, but she had certain
! physical essentials, which aided her greatly.
SO had Miss Rose Massey. Miss Harrison brought
not only youth and beauty-lke the others-to
the picture, but she gave It warmth OF tone
and depth Of color and breadth OF grasp, to
which Miss Jewett's formal precision /. but
childs play Mr.. Palmer has been most fortu-
nate In securing the services OF Miss Jewelt for
the Union Square, and doubtless before the sea-
son closes she will renew the triumphs Of her
| other fields.
To my mind the part OF the" Orphans" is Mme.
| Frochdrd, as PLAYED by Mrs. Marie wilkins
| widow Of the late lamented Sarjednt at the Bar
Of Britain. In private life Mrs. wilkins Ia a
comely woman; as Frochdrd she is the most
| extraordinary old bag. She walks the boards a
| cOnqueror from first to last. Applause accom-
| panies her like an attendant slave. Such AN old
| woman couldn't be supplied by any other man
ager in the land aud II England has her match,
| England will be careful not to let her emigrate.
| 1t would be like painting the lily TO more than
refer TO the vigorous Cherdli,r Of Charles r..
| Ihorne, Jr. Always up to the mhrK frank IN bear
Ing, manly in utterance, perfect in reading. have
| but one fault to find. In tue last act. when he
tells Jacques, "Down with your weapon, or III
| spit YOU like cur" he guys the whole scene, and
gives Bowery twang to the sentence when
makes the gallery howl, and every one else
| squirm. With that exception. Mr.. Thornes Chez
| di,tr IS unqucstionably the finest stage picture
| Of the kind ever seen In this city.
OF Miss Claxton's Louise one wearies in writ
| ing, because there IL a monotonyi in praise which
| is titesome, She studied ana perfected her part,
and exhiuIts II now IN its rounded condition.
| She was received with enthusiasm, and called
! out once or twice. Miss Nernon's prison scene
! ia the most touching and charming of the many
exquisite bits in this marvellous play Attended
by the good old Doctor and for that particular
part Tom Morris was originally designed fore
ordained and elected the weeping prisoners.
and tins injured M1rihnne the sweet faced
Sister Gtnfriere tells her little lie, with an ala
baster face and uplted bands, while the admir-
ING audience applaud or cry, according to their
| mood
one word for tie music and another for the
setting and | am done. The conductor now.