The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-02
ADJUSTMENTS A
THE YLoRENcEs AT THE GRAND.

| THE FLoRENCFs AT THE GRAND.
"A Million" the new comedy by the
author of THE Mighty Dollar" produced
for the first time last night may be set down
as one of:those light, airy illustrations Of a
tangle of cross purposes. involving very lit
tie of story, but evolving from the dia-
logue and situations any amount Of fun.
The fun arises from the efforts of German
American Professor. Max Opstein" (Mr.
Florence) to marry off his daughter "Ber-
tha" miss Helen Just) and his niece
Dora" miss Mollie Maeder Steele). The
Professor is inclined to be rather gay, and
looks upon these young women as obstacles
to his perfect freedom. From his anxiety
to get rid of the baggage and their eager
ness to catch husband arise many diff
culties. Mr.. and Mrs. Florence are the
moving spirits of the piece. Mr.. Florence's
quiet drollery and his comic vitality
were steadily effective, and while he
was on the stage the spectators
were kept in ripple of laughter. In ges-
ture in expression, in dialect, in makeup,
he presented German-American. not as
the clown commonly seen on the stage,
but a Teuton with certain airy noncnal-
ance and high manner that appertan to the
man Of polish. One of the most amusing
scenes in the play is his declaration of love
to Mrs. Finn Dacey (Mrs. FlorenceA
woman vino comes to the hotel for fort
night with sixty-six dresses and who in
the first act is plunged in misery from the
fact that she can not possibly exhibit all
her wardrobe in that time, allowing tOu2
dresses day. Mrs. Dacey is compound
OF millinery and affection, satire
upon the type OF American
women who, with three or four carloads
OF trunks seek health at our summer re-
sorts. This appears to be the sole purpose
OF the character in the play, and Mrs
Florence, aided by magnificent wardrobe,
| carries out the idea of the author. The
pretty ways of Miss Mollie Maeder Steele
as Dora gave grace and charm to the
character she assumes, and seems materi-
ally to make the piece much brighter than
1t would otherwise be. The audience was
good one, and fine weeks business Is
promised. "A Million" again tonight.
DRINK" AT PIKE's
A fine audience assembled last night to
witness the first performance here of
Drink" Mr.. Charles Reade's drama OF
Zola's "L'Assommoir." The piece opens
rather dull, but grows interesting as it
progresses, till the battle over the tubs
in the first act enlists the closest attention.
The second act discloses view of an old
| street in Paris and 'Coupeau," the Young
plumber, courts "Gervaise," the deserted
wife, 1t requires all of his persuasive
powers to overcome her scruples, but Ger
vaise" finally consents and in the third
act they are married and have fete in
which there is some can-can dancing, Just
enough to make the scene lively without
any immoral inspiration. "Lanlier" turns
up, and with 'Virginie" becomes the evil
genius of the play. "Virginie" has vowed
to herself to destroy "Gervaise"
and all Of hers for the whip ing
given in the laundry, and she plies
every art. using "Lantier" to accom-
plish her ends and becoming his paramour
although having as husband Poisson"
a retired soldier, who supports her in COM
fort.
In the fourth act is shown building
in process of construction. 1t introduces
"Coupeau." 'Gervaise" and their child in
some pretty domestic amusement, and
finally "Coupeau'' falls from the third
story Of the building, "Virginie' having
failed to give warning Of the treac erous
scatfold. as she had promised the other
workman. "Coupeau" RECEIVERS, but his
head Is affected.
The fifth act shows the interior of GAS
sommoir," the bar in front, the sti be-
Lind. There is drunken scene little |
more realistic than the audience ever te-
fore saw in this line of business.
The sixth act SHOWS the interior OF the |
ruined home, "Coupeau'' is brought home |
from the hospital just up from an attack |
OF delirinm tremens. A bottle of brandy |
is put in his way through "Virginie's' in |
strumentality. He drinks, Is seized with |
his last attack Of the horrors and dies.
While "Coupeau'' was going through with
this terrible scene the house was as still as
death.
In the closing act Is shown Partisan
boulevard, with gas-lamps lighted and snow
falling. To the left is a park; to the
right cafe, and in front the brilliantly H.
Illuminated entrance to "Elysee Mont
martre." In this vengeance overtakes
"Virginie and her lover "Lantier." "Pois-
son" discovers the intrigue and plies the
dagger. 1t is simply impossible to give a
synopsis of the play which will contain
fraction of the notable incidents. "Drink'
must be seen to be appreciated. Whether
the moral which Is claimed for 1t amounts
to much is hardly within the province of
theatrical notice. 1t is thrilling and sensa-
tional, exceedingly Frenchy in domestic re-
lations. awful in its illustrations of drunk
|enness, and affords the finest of fields for
scenic and mechanical effects. The scenery
in every act is superb, and while DRINK
will be in turn praised and condemned it
will, nevertheless. be in order for every one
to see it and know personally just what the
verdict should be. Every night, and We'd
nesday and Saturday matineea
HEUcK's oPERA-HoUsH.
MI. Frank s. Ohanfrau and company ar
rived yesterday from Columbus O., and
begin their second engagement at Heuck's
this season, the play last night being
"Kit, the Arkansas Traveller" q piece fa-
miliar to nearly everybody, but always well |
come. The audience was good sized one,
and Kit" was performed in fine style |
Several new scenes were introduced. Same
bill every night this week and Wednesday, |
Saturday and Sunday matinees.
vINE-sTREET opERA-HousR.
The Vine-street began another week last |
night with a good show and fair audience.
IT, raxy v~a rfrrv,,arc orn, Mon;ll .ul n.