The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-04
ADJUSTMENTS.
sour Boariina House" in the Park Tbentre,
and What Happens Thcre-Roa.t beef,
Roast Lamb, Pigeon Pie, and Hash.

| that underlio our American plays In tho
| "Gilded Age" there is one strong character, ad-
mirably fitted to ono peculiar individual He
| and 1t mako the piece success. In the Mighty
Dollar" there are two such parts, ntted abso-
| lutcly TO the only two actors who could by any
possibility impersonato them. They mako tho
play go. In tho Sandy Bar" nzzlo there was
one strong part. but II bore relation TO any OF
tho others. and being very unhappily cast.
| aided the early disaster which killed the play
and ruined its owners. Mr.. Grover was fortu-
| nato in his idea. because 1t didn't necessitate
| any one strong actor; because 1t happily pre-
sents phase Of American life which Is common
to the experience OF more than one-h half tho res-
idents OF every city. and because also 1t is en-
tirely novel. never having been limited at or
touched in dramatic representation.
| Very much can DO done by clever man after
| he gets an idea.
| ] don't think Mr. Grover has done all that n
practlsed writer might have donc. There are
many incongruities and infcictics in treat
ment. and there Is an abruptness OF change
| which seems harsh to minds acutely critical.
But tho author is. for all that entitled 10 three
distinct credits: Ho supplied grand idea; he
| developed II into an entertainment; he crowds
the theatre every night with men and women
who know good thing when they soc 1t.
So much has boon written OF tho play itself
that l will but paragraph its outline. Mrs. Col
vile keeps Our Boarding House." where con-
grcgato number of decided characters. Among
them are Mr. Eligible n nirt; Mrs. Eligible. n
jealous noncntity; Mrs Dohunple the incarna-
ton Of heightened morality; Waiter her son.
who has money and brains. Col NJ I. Elerator,
an eccentric grain spectators Prof GdiVpod q
| crack Drained inventor; DR.. Sh0Wer. a patent
ffedicinc man; M. Dcrier n rich young swell ::
Joseph fioreni. an adycnturcr: Mrs. Coiciie. the
| landlady; Aiuie. her daughter: Bedirice Nan
| Iwih an Interesting young widow who touches
| niur'' florence. her lttlc daughter, and Bctty.
! tho maid.
haven't boarded much myself: but Il must
! be- iun, should imagine. These people and
| othefs like thcm abound here. there. and every
| Where. Intrigue. jealousy. gossip. scandal, and
stairs. and in my lady's chamber. FlirtAtions
| IN inc parlor, ditto on the pia2sAs. Amaranths.
soclaolesi balls. sleigh rides. and surprise par
stew, and griddlcs for breakfast. Roast beef.
mrnips. white POTATOES, apple pic. and tea for
may cost more on Fifth avenue than 1t does in
| Thirteenth street hut it's all tho same in the
END. Our Boarding House" man has simply
taken the odds and ends OF his varied oxpe-
rience' ana having hashed them into presentablc
| guise, pcppercd them with his individual
! humor, and entrusted them 10 a connecticut cast
10 nand The dish TO the public
Heretofore the Park Theatre has not been
! conspicuous Tor liberal management. Its scenes
were never OF g high order. Its mountings
We're veneery. Mr.. Abbey has changed ali that.
".
| Livery set Is a gem-not of great value ALWAYS
but the rule is good. the bad is exceptional. Of
| we 9ast II would be simply absurd 10 speak I'M
| kindly. eacc nj the names will show that tho
| hgst resources Of the Union square Theatre and
oil me profession at large have been laid under
,"nriouton. the nsuh being strength. charac-
| tr, anu peculiar fitness. The three men who
maze W. hats of tle piece are.-and IN this
are respectively, .Joseph Foreui. toL w. r. Tis.
! .a'or' and Az. Derttr. Others do we'll. hut of
10 tc dSneH NJ sncr pYs f $5p iss,e
! ish ncarnation. Fioreitt is "a piedmonicse -roun-
! or, VINO performed mock marriage tween
his brother and Bco'rice. The LrntHcr is dead
and f0rdn follows Beanice from place 10 place
undermining her character and INCREASINGLY
AGAINST Bedrice. and an endeavor 10 have her
ter, hc is foiled 10y the constant love OF JdVsr.
anu punished 10y the Interference Of the regula-
tion dete i've. MIR. Shcridan's make up is most
artistic. lie looks the villain but bears himself
Ike gentleman. In scenes with the andlady
ana otasrs ne ls as bland and courteous rs in
Inc h2nors OF the play belong decidedly 10 Mr..
sheridan. don't know any other actor who
could play the part ~ he does
crane II genius. This play is full Of LAUGH.
IL gives a low comedian two chances H. can
IT, aJareeT or q buiioon as he eases, The
Mmptilon 10 builoonery Is tremendous always.
ana there are very few actors who can res Isl IL
4trneraly Mr.. Crane keeps within the limits.
compels. laughter and hilariiy. As the over
Snngulne Spectator. he reminds me OF COL sell
itTs. character which he in no wise resembles
in spitr OF the suggestion. Crane has one trc-
mendous scene with Robson. In pursuance OF a
scheme made 10y Udrernnd the FiiOI Irs tho two
oddities ElNator md GitHpod-arr hr1nrht Ia
the fcrg" OF a duel. which develops buster hrag
swasgrr and cowardlce in Eerator. and after
whlrk.y. courage. reeklcsSncss and squeak
ia GWWod stripped Of coat and collar Robson
looks Ike an onaciatcl shrimp, while Crane,
hes an elcphantne lobster. The one chnsos
IN" other through the house with dOube-Lar-
relied gun. paus ing-oacll in turn-to spout and
ss E n, a,uHdien.e uni, ihe dinner bell rings.
Whrn ih'y ,lAll INTO each others arms and J.
l1nrn 10 table toy ther. Ia these seenes Cranes
ii approaches the Burtonlan standard Of eNag-
g"ratei humor more nearly than any Of our
molern comedians. In subsequent scene he
makes love 10 Beatrice. comparing her 10 "A SIT.
tlng hen and To rotten makcrel. ana in various
ini"iflties. hurl"squing even his own farci-il
ideas. The introdu ton Of specinl speeches for
is he case at this point, but the Whole spccch is
ana not IN a@orIance with Col ErrdiOr's be-
ha ayi, Io els,eT9erc This is Mr.. Cranes 1rst
and the management is 10 be CONGRATULATED on
thrupulsiiion. The part is inferior Ia lohsou's,
IN" artists which Is revealed at every perform
an'e and at every rcca
a young man hy the name Of Little PLAYS M.
It''rr' liNdy duwly swell. whose empty nol-
a. ,&IuisIe costume pretty whisscr speedy
hehl ana heart OF Bearice This Kind of char
actnr Is rs old rs the hills, and Is very rarely
WEI pon,lrhyci. sapheqds are quite as common
TASK a. be rs ariisticaly asinine in mimic lif,
as IN the daily routine. commend Mr.. Little.
nonhy snob TO the careful n-idrrut On Of an
young gentlemen who have moe bullion than
drawn.
This world, ne Is well known. ia fillod with no.
e9ss ~, ana She Is the mother Of inventors. To
Mr., Robson Is assigned the eccentric pnrt Of Il
mild ana crazy inventor. II suits him He looks
mld, AND ne Is certainly crazy. His make NJ is
not good. As though he were soured 10y soile-
ihlns, this fayorite comedian" avoids being
iunny. ana confines himself TO Il simple recital
81 the comlcnl sentences written 10y the author.
lie even avoids his squeak. the great lever Of his
lame. In the duel scene with Crane Robson IL
excessively, amusing. by the. potent aid of
brandy he develops from timid. shrinking in
vrnl"r INTO brngging. daring tomhoy lie
strikes attitudes. sei1as u dounlc-harrrcd gun.
and chasos his antagonist from room 10 room,
snapping the uneapped ninpc with theamuslnI
relish OF IN iniurnted hHli-brecd. When Mr..
Robson ms the one comedy part Of II play.
ana Is sufficiently at homo TO indulge In his
Tour gestures, one squeak ana n mouth
ful of lisp, he is certain TO make hit; but he
must decline parts hereafter when Crane il en-
Eagged0o9r. else eood,,,9y t. Robson. Mr., Carroll
able work 70 do. and does It neatly. II an I'M
gracious r0is at best SO + that II the DoNor.
Yer UdhKgpic, the favored lover / can't say
EN N.a Is 4Hl