The Sunday herald., 1886-10-31
AMUSEM NJ ENTs.


week, by Introducing TO their notice and approval
play new to the Capital City, but bearing the blush
ing honors thick upon II Of n whole seasons trl-
umpha run Ia New York. II Ia not permissible 10
speak Of "Onc OF Our Girls" as clever, MIR. Bron-
son Howard would have TO 90 very far ancld from
his previous literary habits aud reputation TO write
anything that was not. His latest output holds per-
haps q somewhat Intermediary position among his
best work. Possessing, as II does, an avowed social
ami perhaps we should say moral ain, DEFINITE and
wclconccivcd plot, sklfully contrascd characters,
and Ingenious AMI cmactic situations, II as much
above tho dvcrtng II somewhat fro'hy and farcical
"Saratoga (dng,icr "Brlghton9 as II fails beneath
In coheroncy and sustained and consistent power the
more ambitious "Banker's Daughter" and "Young
Mrs. Winthrop" Liko Sardou's inimiiabc "Divor-
cons.n which In somewhat diluted shape was served
up TO us a week ago by that naughty little Gallo
Iicbc, Aimce It deals with the absurdily, or some
thing worse, OF the conventional French marriage.
hut while the great French dramatist treated the
subject with logic as mercilcssy severe as his sa
tire, the brilliant American has largely depended
upon effects OF contrast, which, In striving torendcr
more striking, he often pushes over the verge o car
rlcaturc For example, when the impulslve young
American girl Is leaving in righteous oTense the
home OF her noble relations, but pauses
on the threshold for a humorous resume
OF the tremendous yarns she had imposed
upon their guests and counirynen- which rccltals,
be II said, not all 81 new as TO he wholly worth
the telling. Or again when those same noble rcla
tlons yawn most grcvously over the narrative OF
their son in-laws supposed fatal duel but are I'm
mcdlatcly plunged In depths OF anguish at their
failure to invite certain diplomat to dinner. All
this, while amusing no doubt, serves to cast sus-
pcion upon the more serious passages OF the play,
and Ia not strictly essential to point the conras, be-
tween the pale and faded outlines OF the dncien
nobesse OF France and the fresh and vigorous per-
sonality OF New World young womanh0od. And
Miss Kate Shiptep herself, albeit zone OF Our Girls,
IL by no meansa typical one. No more 30 even than
magned and mlsapprehendcd "Bdjsp MHer."
Not 30 much so, perhaps, as Mrs. Burnett's "Falr
barbarian" hut 1t is.not considered strictly good
form to inspect too closely the molars AMI blcus
pids OF donated animal OF the equine persua-
sion. We ought, perhaps, to be 40 profoundly
grateful for any American play which Ia even fairly
good, In view of the mass of trash that goes
10y the name, rs to raise no question Of Its abso-
lutte perfection. In an age that satlrIzes every
thing, age to which nothing IL any longer sacred
let not he too nice and ncal about the minor de-
tails OF play which In its motive AMI methods at
least IL clean AMI strong its central figure girl as
good and true as she Is bright and captivating; its
lovers, brave AMI honest young fellows, always
manly aud never mawkish In their sentiment; its
icnouement, n triumph Of the right, as It Invariably
used to DO the boards and still Ia occasionally In
real life. The talk, as always In Mr.. Howard's
plays, is full of things one would like to have said,
and the situations effective that each descent OF
the curtain Ia the signal for repeated recalls. The
cast Is the same as that OF the long run In New
York with two or three exceptions, each Of which,
perhaps, Is an Improvement. OF Miss Dauvray's
Kate 'ShiDiey It Is dnicult to say too much
for the exquisite ease, grace, and charm OF
the impersonatiOn. 1t lives In the memory with
the persistent power OF q true creative type. One
can readily believe the statements OF the acircss's
juvenile trlumphs and lifelong career upon the
stage, AMI look pleasantly forward to the brilliant
future yet In store for her. The Capt. gregory OF
Mr.. T.. II. SOthern was an agreeable exemplincatiOn
Of the frequent transmission OF dramatic genius.
heritage unfortunately so rare in other realms OF
art. This more than promising young actor gives
much more acceptable sort OF Engllshman than the
one immortallzed by his distinguished father, aud In
quiet, judicOus, and fOrceful fashion has so con
trived to blend the comic and heroic as to inspire
laughter and respect In about equal proportions Il
is not every actor who could conceive or carry on
the daring dramatic anomaly of red-headed hero
Miss Enid Leslie rendered In u very wlnsome ant
touching manner the role of the young French girl
the scared little canary suddenly sci loose from he
| convent cage into world all harsh and strange
who forms such an effective foil to the lark-like
not to say "larkish" )" freedom OF her fair America
| cousin. Miss Ida Vernon made very stately repre-
sentative Of the old regime, and divided with tn
other ladies' Of the company the burden OF fcmInln
admiration and envy by the richness Of her toilets
Mr.. Joseph Whiting as Or. Girodet was palpabl
| Improvement upon the rather perrunctor
| reading of Mr.. Louis James, who fOrmerl
| sustained the part. Our old friend. "Jack" Save
rs the Icy villain, the Conle de Crebiton, and MI
Frank Rodney as the unhappy young scientist lover
Henri 81. HHdfre, are also most acceptable a'quis
tons to the original cast while Messrs. De We're an
hunter, seem to improve In their characterization
with time. Tue beautiful stage settings, with the
innumerabe artistic accessories, lend hopeful assn
ance to Miss Dauvray's reported uttcrance that sl
proposes to do for comedy, In the matter OF mise
scene, what Irving has 80 superbly achieved In tral
edy. We hail her as the prestess Of new dlspens
tion in the worship OF the blithcsOme Muse.
II Is now number OF years since the managcmel
| of The Madison Square Theatre sent the play ar
company with which they proposed to open the
beautiful little playhouse to Washington for a 10
OF q preliminary spin over the course. We wei
accustomed to having the District used as prOp
| eating garden for all kinds OF new experiments
politics and government, emancipation, unvers
suffrage, territorial officers, etc., but "custom
come to try on" In the play line was a novelty. III
drama In instance was "The Iron WILL" afterwar
to he known as "IIazel Kirk" the first Of the r
markable series OF Madison Square successes. III
, title role was sustained by Ellie Ells!cr, and tho
who were fortunate as to witness that perform
ance will recall wonderful little woman who
seemingly heartfelt tones OF love aud pathos sway
. the emotions OF her audience at will, and made
the weeks engagement u moist aud fearful evel
that required the carpets and cushions to he hun
out TO dry for days to come. Miss Ellsler has r.
turned to us after long and regretable absenc
: and, despite certain semldenant hardness OF
, gard and delivery at times, must still be reco
, cognzed as an emotional actress OF gre
, magnetism and sympathy. "Woman for Woman
however, ls scarcely play In which her power G
, be appreciated to the best advantage. As 30 Off
the case with productions OF ita GLASS; the sells;
rlnce wh ch makes Its action possible Ii felt ut on
!, to be not merely foolish but wicked And, In &c
eral, II should be said that The drama or humble II
q | which Involves lte tale OF drunkenness and sort
a misery and crime, should he Informed thrOughG
!, with some pure aud lofty principle or motive, so
saving strain OF poetic feeling to render Its drca
AMI dlspirtlng details endurable. Miss Ellsler Ra
!, u very moving picture Of the suffering heroine
y was ably seconded In her Efforts by Mr.. Frank We
: | ton AZ the workman husband, whose happy hoI
: has been Invaded and laid waste by the demon
n distrust. Miss Earle deserves credit for a rath
!, | painfully realistic Interpretation OF the ungrae
j. role of Rachel WesttDoOd, "ihe tough customer"
a comic element was mainly supplied by the her
a | bibulous father and Rarrulons mothcr-na
- though the eXcltable ltile bridesmaid had her
. very amusingy in the last act. In general the co
. pany were acceptable In their respective parts.
Y The celebrated tragedlenne, Madame Janausch
v will commence her farewell season In this city
3. morrow at Albaughs Grand Opera House. Il
~ famous star IL one actress out OF ten thousand
e that she combines the strongest masculine mi
!, neilsm with the very deepest OF womanly afcctI
ID and gentle purity The actress touches the inte
gence and the heart, stirs the blood OF the soul,
in her hands the most splendid passages OF
dramatst nnd appropriate and thrilling interpre
tiOn There IL Que thing for which the Amerlc
N stage has to thank Madame Janauschek: she
n brought 10 II an heroic strength which had well
N departed from our boards, and redeemed the clas
~ drama from decadence. Madame Janauschek "
10 be supported by an exceptionally strong compa
% carefully selected by herself. 1ie repertoire OF
n week will be: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, q
~ Thursday evenings grand production OF "N
r. Merrllies," which Will he produced with new d
n appropriate scenery, all tho original music,
,t grand chorus, Janalcshek, for the first time he
~ | In her superb impersonaion OF Meg MpITWies,
~ | latest and greatest success; Wednesday matn
az Smother nnd SOM" Friday evening and Saiur'
'e matinee, "Bleak House," saturday evening, "Ma
n | Antoncite."
10 '''''
re | Hnr onc xvael commanding IN inorrow afternO