Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-13


From that most cartnn aud eracf Newspaper,
THE PHILADELPHIA LEDGER.
Every Word Deserves Careful Reld,ng.
II this play could run for a hundred nights
instead OF closing this week, iJ would StIli not
exhaust popular interest, for every one who
has once seen it must want TO go gain. II has
taken the town by surprise, and that. too. In
the midst or election excitement; such a fresh
and dramatic story, based on a matter that all
are familiar with. yet that for the first tine
seems to come home TO the audience with all it's
trngrc capabilities. The popular idea OF tue
OF manners and dress, is very far indeed from
al that Is presented in THE Hundred Wives"
Nor need any one fear 10 be introduced into the
American barem at salt Lake, or be treated 10
any moralizing sermons or situations. in them
selves demoraliZing and disgusting. on the con-
trary. the plot OF this Mormon story Is worked
out with hand at once delicate and skillful
The believer and the DANTE. Mormon Apostle
and DESTROYING Angel arc given Just that touch
OF fanatic devotion and o: suaint phraseoloyv
as brings cut the livery this creed has adopted
TO serve the devil In, ami the opening taolelGx
OF the DANTE VOW IN the Mormon Tabernacle
is the real Keynote TO the story. The skill, too
with which the Chinaman is made 10 foil a
Mormon plot is very noticeable. especially
pattern, not above some tricks OF his uriba-yet
turning his secretive qualities 10 good ana
ioyal effect as the plot taickens Here are the
two nesrest problems that thu American people
nave TO deal with, the CaineSe and the Mormon,
NEST ingeniously worked OUT. and although
ire audience In the Hundred Wives" is In
troad ripple OF laughter from beginning to
end, there IS an undercurrent OF appeal con
sfantly that this q live story. and here is
matter that must presently be settled in one or
another way. The entirely novel hamor and
style CT acting OF MI. De Wolf Hopper and
Miss AGA Gilman have been already noticed.
Both are such natural and such new
presentations, aud both have such unusual phys
ical advantages for the comic situation that
the matrimonial argument Is Irresistible when
ever the cminuttye wife takes her tall. strap
ping miner In hand. Mrs. Sophronia. with her
answering attachment 10 the Mormon creed.
and her uBdisSufSed horror OF tt when the
reality is played off upon her by her own
eafnestness and her husbands joke. Is alto
gether delightful. MIR. Hopper Is one OF the
TALLY American humor. cool and quiet. which
is so much oftener met In private life than
recognized on the stage. Mrs. George Drew
barrymore fills tie difficult part OF Elsie
entirely unstagey child for the little Bessie OF
the piece. Elder BeZum. Mr.. Fitzgerald IS a
success fn every way: the villain not overdone
and the sanctimoniouS character never dropped
through all The unmasktpg OF the plot. IL Is
worth the price OF admission alone 10 see Mr..
Roles Dickson; chiefly 10 Il, for the lines OF
the part are very few but better idea is given
OF what Mormonism is pledged to by this new
type OF nctseless bravo and fanatic than by vol
umeS OF sermons. In fine, the play IS an argu-
merit, such as people can well understand
against the hiGeOus Mormon creed which is
suffered 10 exist By virtue OF popular indifTar-
ence TO its everyday features. There viii Ger
tainly be change IN public sentiment wherever
the HUNDRED Wives" is PLAYED. for ii IS the
one wife that comes out triumphant. FJrCi5'e
the plot is IL is none The less a clean mot and
al the more dramatic rOr being a triJe biu.
This play will be given at Ford'S Opera House
In this city, on Monday evening Ia Pnila1el-
phla IL drew very largely, the religious Classes
10 the Theater, especially those OF The Society
of Friends"