Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-04-05
The DRAMA.
Young Mrs. winthrop In Fulton Opera
House,

" Young Mrs. winthrop IN FuNOn opera
House.
There is a painfully obvious tendency
among modern play writer's to depend too
much upon improbable actions and start
ling situations to bring their efforts into
popular notice and commendatioD, be-
cause they are supposed to awaken the
emotions with more spOntaniety and vigOr.
But it should be remembered that i'm
pressions created by such tiImsy influences
generally vanish with the last scenes be-
hind the curtain. The force of these ideas
caunOt be illustrated with more perfection
than in all honest and able portrayal of
tho features of Bronson HOward's latest
play, "YOung Mrs. Winthrop" which was
presented last evening in Fulton opera
house before one Of the largest and most
brilliant audiences that haye assembled
there this season. The plot has been
made familiar through the prominence
tho play has gained. 1t is not intricate
nor profound, and yet it is eminently
absorbing. 1t is the story, in brief, of Il
young husband, engrOssed in his business
responsibilities, unintentiOnally reglectiDg
those duties which are requisite to happi-
ness in the home circle and forgetting the
considerations of affection for his wife in
bis anxious strivinSa for position and
wealth. His sOlicitOus mother notes tho
estrangemeDt that is separating tho two,
tells him of his fault and advises him to
speedily correct it. The careless remark
of giddy woman to the young wife
places the husband in her eyes As false to
her, aud the deep, heart breaking wound
is not healed even by the death of their
little child. Proceedings are instituted
for a separation. a generous hearted old
lawyer, = friend of both aud Al acquain-
tance in their tendercst years, is employed.
ue comes furnished with necessary papers
to complete the separation, but with tho
full intention of clearing away the clouds
and bringing together once more tho two
mistaken but loving hearts. Tho old
lawyer proceeds to read the documents
certain expressions in them bring
to mind the early days of the young
couple and his association with them.
He, seemingly unintentionally, digresses
and grows eloquent in calli0g back the
sweet youthful memories no purpOsely
reverseS tho features of certain occur
rences of those days. UncoDsciOusly the
husband and wife seek to correct him
the bright days of the past float before
them, the tenderness and love of other
times suddenly dispels the unnatural
gloom, and when tho lawyer turns to SEQ
why they don't take tho pen from his
hand to sign the papers, he behOlds them
in each others arms.
OF tho acting much eau 10 SAID i'm it's
praise, but it is very difficult to discrimi-
nate in points of ability where the general
even excellence of a troupe is SO marked,
and in play which c,lls from
each character 4 silent suppressed
anguish that is felt almost equal
ly as keenly by each parsonage
of the drama. Indeed, this is Quo of tho
main charms, and constitutes the great
strength, of this play. No wild declama-
tory Outbursts are heard anywhere there
is hardly superfuous word spoken. Dir.
Howard has acquired the rare gift of
touching an audience far moro by actions
than by words. Mr.. F. NJ. Burbeck gave
a fine and intelligent impersonatiOn of
Douglas Winthrop, the young husband.
Every prominent and every small detail
were expressed with a most careful con-
fOrmity to truth, with 10 exaggerated
representation of emotion, but a subdued
and intense anguish that ever meets with
genuine sympathy from the spectators. AS
Constance sKinthrOp, tho wife, Belle Gil
bert left little in heT rendition
TO be desired. Assiduous study of her
role with just conception OF 1t are alone
what enable her to give rendition, that
astonishes while it pleases, of the young
wife misraking the actions of her husband,
and bearing her grief with silent fOrtitude,
at once too proud and too loving to seek an
understanding. As Edish Chaplin, Miss
Susie Ames gave an exceedingly
satisfactory Interpretation of her
part, her pretty face and winsOme manner,
placing her, from the start, IN tho good
graces of the audience. MIR. Edward Mar
bIe, as Button Scott, the hearty old lawyer,
who not unreasonably thinks himself es.
pecially appointed by Providence to settle
the case between bis young misunder-
standing friends; Miss Carrie Wyatt
as Mrs. Dick Chetwyn, a giddy, good
hearted, vivacious lady, whose penchant
is for divorces and recOnciliatiOns and
Mr.. f. w. Peters as Herbert Winthrop,
were all well up in their renditions and
received unstintcd endorsement from the
audience. The scenery used in the pre-
sentatiou of the play was especially ele-
giant.
N-A rAaA