Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-07
METROPOLITAN THEAgER.

The success of "Hazsl Kifke," which
drew another brilliant audience last night to
witness its presentation by the Madison
Square Theater Company. is due to its purity
and the excellence of the acting. Its mar.
veIcus run in all the chief cities Of the Union
gives the lie squarely in the face to the sensa-
tional managers who declare that vitiated
public taste is what induces them to persist
in tie presentation of the vulgar and demon
alizing French and so.called society dramas.
Hazsl Kirkes" seven hundred and nine
nights Ia the United States proves beyond all
denial thst the public will hail with delight
and bountiful patronage the return Of the
legitimate, and will encourage and sustain all
efforts TO develop the true mission of the
stage. Il is to such an effort that Steele
Msckeye, the author Of Hazel Kirke.s has
bent his energies in the work of establish
ing model theater and 8 model theatrical
association in New York. In similar effort
the Mallory Bros, the proprietors of the
Madison Square Theater and its several com.
panies-of which that here last night is one
are engaged, and one of those gentlemen
being a clergyman and Christian min
lister, finds theatrical management not incon-
sistent with his professed following, and that
Hazel Kirke y is a step upward, though a
play by no means of the first order; indeed,
a comedy drama far below, in dramatic and
literary merit, scores Of other legitimate
dramas. 1t is play which draws its life
from the spirit Of such pieces as "The Rose
of Killarney" "The Willow Copse, Dora, -
and the Ike. But with this piece in the
hands of chosen reputable actors, the test
has been made, and here, as elsewhere, it
has been proven that the public pre-
fers the chaste entertainment and does
not demand the kind of stuff with which the
public has been so long treated, minimum
OF morality in an ocean OF vulgariLy, and Of
witless suggestive AID outrageous improba-
bilities. More brilliant and select audiences
have never assembled here to witness theatri-
cal pieces than the audiences of the past two
nights in the Metropolitan. Even the gal
lery, noisy one here, has yielded to the
influence and been stilled by the simple pathos
and pure mirth Of Hazel Kirke.' twill stand
to the credit OF the local managers that they
brought this company here, and they and
other managers have full warrant for repeat
ing with like experiments. Some dramatic
gossip in this connection may be of interest
Mrs. Sol Smith, who plays. Mercy Kirke is
none other than Sedley Brown, who go de-
lighted Californians few years ago as Arrah
na-Pogue Alr. Couldock, the veteran actor,
Dunstan Kirke, won some Of
his early triumphs upon California boards !;
MIR. PlyInpton, playing CarriDgford. had
his first dramatic training, and made his first
appearance in Sacramento under Proctor sew
eral years sgo; Miss Denim. appearing as
Lady Travers, is Mrs. John Wilson-herseif, |
husband and daughters being Californians
and San Francisco favorites; Miss Ellsler
Hazel Kirke) is a bride, the wife of Mr.. |
Weston aaron Rodney; they being engaged, |
received the permission of the wife's parents |
to marry if their affection outlived a year,
and the time expiring while en- route to Cali |
fornia, they were married on the road; Miss |
Sidney Cowell Dolly Dustor) has before
played in California. The company goes |
hence to Marysville, and thence back to San |
Francisco for two nights. and then returns
toward the East again.