Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-02
ADJUSTMENTS.
Shook & Golfers Lights o. Loncon"
al Po~ers's-Coming Attractions.

al Powers 's-Coming Attractions.
Mslodrama with It's noise, explosions and
supernumeraries, seems indeed. at the
present time to delight and De the fashion
with q goodly number of the lovers of the
drama, like plaques and panies, the by-gone
p0pularities Ia the histronle world, seem 10
pass regularly through transitory oblivion,
and awaken again popular successes. For
two or three years past, melodrama with
gorgeous and costly accessories IN the way
of scenery and properties, has been hrst IN
the line of theatric successes. That this Is
true is evinced in the reproduction of the
same plays in the same cities year after
year, for as soon as play begins to weaken
ia its drawing power, it is promptly shelved-
The Lights o. London" is now on It's third
engagement in this city, and the house that
greeted IL at Powers's last night was fully as
large as that which witnessed IL on its first
presentation. The cast IN many instances
is the same as that which appeared here
last year. Some of the parts were as well
played while Others were not, but as whole
the presentation of last evening, barring the
scenery in one instance, was much smoother
than the one of last year. The part of
Harold Armytage, enacted by young man
named James Neill, though in name there is
only an so" and an II" difference between
him and James O'Neil, the famous melo-
dramatic actor, the whole breach of the
alphabet with two or three foreign ones
thrown in would not bring him within the
outlines of an imitation of the latter. At
best Mr.. Neill was earnest, and is deserving
of credit for honest purpose. Miss Ottolen-
gui what nationality prayD as Bess Marks
labored with conspicuous effort, while Mr..
Huebner, as Clifford Armytage, at times
displayed an opposite disposition. The part
of Marks was well played by Mr.. Ryder, who
appeared in the same role last season.
Mr.. Harwood as Jarvis and Miss
characters of the play, were highly
amusing, and formed bright frame work
about the more sombre situations In the
piece. Mr.. Harwood's impersonation was
noticeable for much improvement, particu-
larly for easiness and general toning down.
fayorite here, Maggie) won for his persona
ton of Seth Picene, more marks of approval
than any other actor in the cast, though it
was marred here and there on account of his
broad dialect and slight hoarseness in his
speech. His acting in the scene with his
daughter in the fifth act was very strong and
evoked such applause that the curtain was
rung up to allow him to bow his acknowl-
edgements. The theatre will doubtless be
we'll filled again tonight when the engage
| ment closes.
| BARLEY Campbelrs greatest drama, Siberia,
will be presented in this city for the first
time tomorrow night, the engagement last
| ing the balance of the week. The company
closed very successful engagement in
Chicago last Saturday night, guarantee
| that the company is first-class. The Toronto
| Globe said the following in reference to the
play:
The scenery and mounting of the play are
| both wonderfully effective, while as to dra-
matte strength, few if any plays of the pres
| ent decade will compare with it. And to these
| is added literary excellence of a very high
| type. The construction of the plot is at once
| judicious and original. To captivate public
| favor a story or play must deal with live
| current issues, and to outlive in its success a
few years at most, lit must take strong grounds
against real rather than imaginary evils. In
selecting theme for this play the author
has selected Nihilism, the persecution of the
Jews in Russia and the corrupt and despotic
| sway of the Russian nobility. The dialogue
though sparkling with excellent passages, Is
always bright and interesting. None of the
characters weary the audience with long
speeches, and yet there is many touch of
deepest pathos and many a high, heroic re-
solve tersely expressed in short. crisp SEN
tences. The interest never flags from the
rise of the curtain till its fall, and every act
closes with strikingly brilliant and effective
picture.
AIMEE COMING.
Mr.. Gran, advance of Mile. Aimee, was in
the city last night arranging for the famous
French lady's appearances at Redmond's next
Monday and Tuesday evenings.