The Washington critic., 1885-12-12
MISS MATHER'S JULIET
A Phenomenal Success at the Union
Square Theatre.
TEE QUEEN OF sIrEBA."
Nearly rive Hundred Consecutive Por-
formancos OF ".Adonis."
Hnss soHnLLINGs NEW ROLE.

NEW York, Dec. ll.-MIss Mlrrlr,t
Mathcr has been at the Union Square Thrl-
tire ten weeks aud during that time she
has acted only one character that of
Julid in "Romeo aud Juliet" Now, II is
pretty well known that "Romso an1
Juliet is not what Is called popular
play-thot is to say, play popular In tne
sense that many cphomcral productions
are, productions that Inst on tue stage
frequently many hundred nights. In an
other scnsC, "hUuleu uud Juliet l. pppu-
lar II Is one Of the most likel OF ShaNs-
rcnrc's dramas, Il fact which does not
change the record that "RomGu and Juliet
las never "ruun on the American stage uu-
I'll Mr. j. NJ. Hill, Miss Mnther's manager,
plGt Cd it at the Union Square Theatre. Ga
Christmas night, Mr.. hiil's revival will
lave been given T5 times, anl Miss
Maiher viii have ucted Jutiet the
same number Of times cousoeutlycy.
II seems almost phenomenal That
this should lo so. Even Mr. Booth, who
revived the play maguiiiceutiy iwhcn he
was the director Of BOuth's Theatre IN its
great days, could not prevail upon the pub
lie 10 witness the work. with Il very Strong
cGst, intending himself, 10 back It, more
than u few nights cousCcItivelv. In BIS
liant success for two weeks; Ia New York,
she may act 1t for o hundred nights. 1t
ia idle TO pretend TINT the spleudor OF
scenery end costumes with which 'ROmeO
and Juictn Ia decorated aud illustrated
at the Union Square Theatre Is rcsponsi-
bic for 30 remarkable II result. Beautiful
scenery has failed more than once 10
bring enduring popularity to "tOmeo aad
Juliet" 1t is the acting of Miss Mither,
above cvcrythin else, which has made
Tie success OF the revival, which has at
trGctcd large and sympathetic audiences
continuously to the theatre. The people
of New York, like the people Of Boston,
admire Miss Mathcr aud have made the
engagement the most conspicuous personal
triumph of the season. They have permit.
ted her, by encouraging and appauding
her, to surpass all the previous records Of
actresses who have performed the character
of Juli9. That Is fact, and IL should be
acknowledged frankly. 1T is an astonishing
fact when IT. Is remembered that Miss
Mathcr IL extremely young, and has been
on the stage only n little more than three
| years. 1t is astonishing, too, because when
Mr.. Hill projected his revival and went to
work spending money on it lavishly
| he was assured that the revival would
| lie n failure, aud that Miss Mlther would
not he accepted in New York--at least
not without Il long and uphill struggle
| Jet, in spite Of the sngnciOus predictions OF
| Mr. Hills friends and couusclOrs, his object
! has been accomplished without Ostentatous
| advertising of any sort, without sublcctng
| Miss Muther to the foolish inquiries OF in
reviewers and gossips, and without fore
ing her personality upon tho public except
| in the one character of Juiics. AsJliict,
Miss Mather is now widely known here
| AS herself. she Is hardly known to any one
| outside Of her studio, where she gives many
hours each day to serious and patient stu IT,.
| II single person imagines that Miss Mather
IL satisfied with herself because she has won
great triumph on the stage of New York,
| that person is mistaken. Her ambition is
for The future, not for the present
| she is determined to master her natural
genius, to invest II IN all the graccs aud
| felcitios of art In fact, 90 train herself per-
fcctly. The success Of Miss Mather's Juliet
is both financial aud artistic. Money has
been made each wecl; since the revival was
offered to our public. How long she will
continue TO act Jaiiet is n doubtful ques-
| ton Tie strain of the character is enOr-
nous, and it tells on her as one can easily
understand. The likelihood is that she will
net II so long as the physical strength needed
! for IL lasts. Then she will take brief rest
| Of two or three days aud make her first APP
pearance here as Lcnh-one of her strong
est approximations. The version of Leah
that is to be offered at the Union Square
Theatre will be practically new play.
#ss