The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-24
.I1fUSE1TRN1S.
open,ur Of The Madison square Theatre.

Mr.. Steele Mackaye produced his play OF
" Won at Last" in his now theatre in Twenty
fourth street. last evening" and for its perform
ance. himself. and his new enterprise gener-
ally was accorded n warm and hearty greeting
The nature OF Mr.. Mackayes new venture
Is generally understood II Ia known that
he hopes to be able 90 establish n company Of
artists hero on the system that obtains in n
well-known instance in Paris; that he believes
that only by a participancy in the profits. and a
consequent fuller sense OF responsibility and
increased incentive to artistic attainment, can
IN ideal company DO maintained; that ho
would give n more substantial recognition
to the authors OF tho plays he uses and that. in
fact. he wishes to combine n high degree Of
wsthoicism with the greatest available amount
Of commercial sagacl'y and elevated business
principles. Theoretically. success is newt
able; practically. the scheme H. very interest
ing; has large number OF well wishers. emf
neniy deserves their solicitude. and Is alto
Nevertheless. 1t is pleasant thing to be able
to say TINT the beginning that was made last
evening WIS far from being inauspicous. The
audience wns IA numerous ms WAS consistent
with the sizs Of the theatre. and was
largely composed OF persons who do
not q little in the way OF making, public
duccd upon tho audience 10y the play, by the
manner Of its presentation and the good taste
SHOWN III inc hrrhnEomehl OF the huge' Dl Nlle
quality ot the music, and by the social and
artistic atmosphere that prevailed. was dis
tinrtly favorable.
This does not imply 10y any means that Mr..
MackHyo has already attained his purpose. IL
indicates that his first step is in the right di-
rection. and that he deserves that encour.
agement from the public which is essential
To his final success He offers at pres
ent good play on a very small stage
| In very small and unpretentiOus theatre.
| II is we'll acted; II is artslcally treated IN
every respect, and II Is something that inielll-
| gent and cultivated people can sit down
| 70 comfortably and can enjoy. This is NJ
hopes, by reason q his ability ener-
his task. TO 20 through a grateful process OF
| evolution. and arrive at the attainment Of his
| ideal. He has great deal 10 do.
-, re Pny Is Ianmiliar from It's successful rqn
| Mackaye takes the part that wns assumed
| by. the late Mr.; Montague. and Miss Ga
acter in which She was then so well
| received. Mr.. Mackayc is a little too expert
| mental. Although Miss Agnes Lorng is tho
| best and most promising debutante shat has
| hardly wise To- intrust her with tho difficult
| part OF Grace Fleming. particularly when even
the best work that he could expect
| Of her would not be consistent with
| the standard that he had declared. Thi.
| does not necessarily imply any forgrtfulness
| Of Mr. Mackcy'S own acting, which was
| done before. Miss Loring Is bright. cultivated
| and intelligent; she has evidently studied will
| great diligence and excellent tuition. ant
She will become, an artist. ,,Sne is not equa
| 10 the part OF Grace Fleming, and she
| will not be for some time: and ioi
| Mr. Mackaye's purposes 1t requires that in thi,
| instance the character should be specially wei
played. For the others BE- had Mr. Gouldock
| VINO WAS very fine and Miss Laura Le Claire
and otherwise generally fair distribution o
| parts.