National Republican., 1880-12-28
TWO FUNNY PLAYS.
SOMETHING GOOD TO LAUGH AT,
"sharps and Tlats' and "The Guv'nor "--Robsop,
Crane, and Barton Hlll--Three Able Come.
dians AZ the Two Thcatres-Other
Amusemepts Of the Week.

Stuart Robson Is an actor who has always been q
favoritc in Washington where his peculiaritics OF
voice and manner, and his inimitably comic ap-
pcaroncc, never fail TO bring laughter from the
audience mud from the first time we saw him
(ycars ago. with Mrs John Wood, as Cuptaia Cross
trcc In the burlcsque of Dlackeyed Susan" up to
last evening, we have never witnessed his acting
without feeling proud that he is District product.
His great popularity here Is n strong refltaton Of
the old adage that n prophet is not without
honor save in his own country"
Mr. William II. Crane is o Boston boy, and more
than twenty years ngo the writer used TO
talk with him about his boyish aspira-
uons for histrionic fame. lie then thought
that his forte was opera, and his early
man Opera Troupe. To show Mr.. Cranes versa.
tilty at that time we will instance one perform
Of the Doder in "The Elixir Of Love-" then there
was, an olio, during which he did "sally Come
Up IN BLACK, and TO close the performance there
was pantomime, in which he took the part of the
clown. lie subsequently was q member Of the
OATES Comic Opera, Company, when that fire.
nr, nnd travelled with her for several seasons. lie
nt length concluded that his talents as an actor
Were superior 70 his vocal culture, and decided TO
n,dopt the legitimate acting stage and, Il Is he.
nevcu, played one season at McNickcr's Theatre,
ChiCngo.
IL was happy thought when Messn. Robson
and Crime concluded TO unite their talents, and
both have increased their regulations and the
venture has been decided success financially
Their styles 80 totally different that II is diff
cult to determine which is the better artist, al
though Mr. Crane has the greatest mimetic power,
as was seen when they produced the COMEDY of
Errors" here last season. his imitation Of Mr.
Robyons peculiarities, especially his voice, being
"sharps and Flats" the piece In which these
comedians appeared last night, Is the production
OF two San Francisco journalists, Mcssrs. Green
ana Thompson, and was written especially for
Mcssrs. Robson and Crane, and II brim null OF
bright sharp, witty sayings and highly comic situ
ations. Mr.. Robson as Cutler Sharp, Is an ex-
aggcrated type Of the thorough speculator, bold
reckless, with plenty Of nerve; always on the go .
one day the posscssor of pTinccly, fortune
and the next, perhaps, entirely, cleaned
out" Mr.; Crane, as Da'tt9ae Fiat, Is, of
course, dazzled by the bright pictures
OF easy. made fortunes presented by his friend Sharp
and induced by him to invest the fortune OF his
ward IN some of that genteman's many schemes
He follows faithfully his friends advice rs to be-
coming u blood" and, OF course when the crash
comes he weakeps, and Is only upheld by the per
feet nerve Of ShdIp The acting Of both was superb
ana the audience, in the brief intcrmissions of up
roarious laughter, testified their satisfaction by the
most emphatic applause.
There Is a nice little underplot showing the love
diMcultics OF Miss Marian Ptmbcrton and Captain
Erert0n and Nelly Fiat and Rcp. Percy GOsiing,which
Is well worked up and of course ends Happily
Inc company Is good one, and the play is one
which should certainly be seem