The Washington critic., 1885-09-18
4 STRONn PHI,


"Hortcnso" Presented for tho First
Time, Lust Evening.
Mr.. Chipman's "Ilortcnsc," which was
produced last night at Aibnugh's for the
iiIst time, is strong play and Is bound TO
meet with success. It Is 10y no means per-
feet, and needs to he well shaken together,
but II has all the elements OF success, and
after Il is smoothcd of here and ther' will
prove n great addition to Miss Grdy's
repertoire.
Hor,ps, is a wealthy lady whose parents
died when She was young. She hai cN-
pcrcnced trouble when young and had
seen an adventures come between her
mother and father which ultimately had
caused both their deaths. She marrics her
cousins friend, poor artist ChvcHcc lIU-
Hrop, aud makes over to him all her prop
crty. Her intimate friend, TgjHu RIh
is Il wCman Of the world, living ON her
wits and a year before had made quite an
impression on the young artist. This woman
CoEccivcs the idea Of 50 infatunting her
friends husband, us to make him clOpc
with her with ali the ready money he can
command To this end she drugs his wine,
and when he is half crazy with the drug
and wine lie consents They are discovered
by the wife, and the tableau, "Ihc First
Doubt,n closes the second act
In the third act Clarence throws OF the
spell, ard refusing to go with IWgittd,
escapes from her presence. HOricHsc con
fronts her false friend, and a stormy scene
cnsuCs. AS Ho1cHc leaves the room, l'i'-
ginjd'S husband enters lie has made his
appearance in the first act, when HOrt,asc
was kind TO him. and has discovered Ij,-
GiNjd'S plot He has been reduced to a per-
feet wreck by her and a charge Of forgery
she holds over his head has heretofore Kept
him at q distance. He is now desperate
end after few bitter words, he Kills his
wife and escapes. HoitcUsc comes in, and
seeing Virginia, as she thinks fcgning II
faint, drags her dead body up TO her and
accuses her again. As she discovers that
she is dead and drops the body, her hus-
band enters. He but partially realizes the
situation, and accuses his wife Of the muir
der AS he bends over the body, servants
and others enter at that moment. "Who
has done this deed?n The idea Of vengeance
suddenly takes full possession Of HDHa,sc,
and she answers, "My husband Tablcau
ard end Of third act.
In the fourth, land the three acts are sup
posed to follow Immediately upon each
other the cousin of HgWcHSc discovers that
Clarence has been drugged. HOrtcHsc sees
It was not love for Virginia, but the drug
that has caused her husband to act so
strangely. She is overcome with rcmorsc
that she has falsely accused him, and as
the officers arrest him she eXclaims, ale is
innocent, killed Virginia Rdy" At this
| point the husband and real murderer enters
and gives himself up, and the curtain falls
on the reconciliation Of H0ric,Se and Cidr-
| CncC.
The shadows are lightencd by strong
comedy, introduced in the shape oi n
| French maid and iiphon=O colored
servant. There is no supcriluous dialogue,
but plenty Of action, and as may be seen by
the above brief outline, there are plenty of
| strong dramatic situations. 1t would
hardly be fair to crticisc the cast on the
first night, but the piece ran remarkably
| smoOth