The Sunday herald., 1886-11-28
AMUSE N ENTS.

a.em brace, at each house-Maggle Mitchell at Al.
baueh's, Minnie Maddern at tho National. And
though one OF them dear TO the great public heart
by quarter centurys tender and tcarfu associa-
lions, while the other has scarcely had time TO curl
herself comfortably up as she only can. in the warm
corner she has won In that same expansive organ,
they In many respects are slngularly and charm-
ngy alike. Both have discarded from the outset the
conventional, u Indeed either was ever capable OF 1t.
Roth act from the heart and to the heart. Both
tefylng all rules, and banning all provision, by some
sudden touch Of nature bring tears TO eyes yet
wreathcd with the wrinkles of laughter. Each has
genius. The one wears upon her still
youthful brow the well.won laurcls Of lifetime OF
Altogether admirable and conscientious art. She has
founded school wherein from her innumerabe
imi'aors she has not hitherto educed worthy sue
cessOr. The other, In the flush OF youth andbuddng
talent, comes upon the scene. perhaps predestined,
II the Facs prove propitious, to OF triumph
In still higher walks OF the profession than those
trodden by the elder artistic TO whom we have COM
pared her. II is with Minnie Madden but uues.
iion the development OF her undoubted genius
the outstanding OF her more doubtful strength, and
always, OF course, the factor potent In theatric
as other mortal aflairs-luck. 1t Is not altogether |
easy to estimate or summarize the elements OF her
power. Simplicity, drectness, and an absolute nat
uralness come nearest to expressing charm which
you cannot define, but are very certain you feel |
repression. Her acting, like the songs she sings
with moving pathos all her own, Is pitched In a
low key Her effects are gained so swiftly and so
simpy-a single word no louder than 10 reach you,
sned, inarticuate cry, little heart-broken sob,
or perhaps merely gesture, or look-that before
you know It you see tears in the eyes about you and
wonder what Is the matter with your own. |
This Ia something better than mere rant
and bowling. This quantity earnest little
m. tt har h,,r, ts,,
presses one as being so very thoroughly In earnest,
and her nervous flre and intensity are so diIusve
that presently there IL that reciprocal magnetic
thrill throughout the audience which Is at once the
surest test and most priceless reward OF the art OF
the actor. In "Caprcen Miss Madden has play
which fulnlls very accepably Its avowed purpose OF
aiIording scope for her special abilities This is
notably true OF the opportunity 1t gives her for
ceptionay clever dialect and character business In
the role of the unuore little country damsel Mercy
Barter As the finished society girl of the last act
she was all that was winning and graceful, though
we cannot but deprecate the departure from her
usual quiet and tasteful method IN the our de force
wherein she fiings chair the stage, with an
"in-curve" worthy OF league pitcher, to expedite
her arrival In the arms of her lover Aside from
the leading part and even In that, we cannot help
thinking that Miss Maidern has made mistake In
shelving her last years play, "In Spite OF which
In wifes well.founded jealousy Of her husbands
infatuaion for an actress, at least had q probable
and even powerful motive, and In other qualities,
was what We might expect from an adaptation of
Sardon by Steele Mackaye. Not unnaturally, too,
we miss an almost Ideal cast, which embraced
Richard Mansfield, Mr.. Frankau. and Mile. Nadia.
OF the present support the old farmer Jethro Bar
ter, OF MIR. j. T. Herndon, was an admirable bi, of
Characterization, while the actor himself, with the
curious parity OF resemblance that often extends
from faces to voices, looks and talks most comicay
like John Raymond. The Professor Potts of Mr.
Longworth was clever piece of eccentric comedy ,
and Mr.. George Bailey did the good. hearted, mpul
sve youngster to the life. The ladies' OF the cast
Miss odette Tyler, Miss Mary Madlern, and Miss
Addie Baker, had little to do or say, but were pleas
ingy effective In proportion to their opportunities.
Further than has been written above of Maggie
Mitchell 1t Ia scarcely necessary to write. From the
very earliest scenic Impressions of some OF us she
mas been an ever-welcome and winsome figure. And
yet 1t Is certainly not long ago-for her sake and our
own we will say it-slnce we hrst saw that glrlish
shape bowed in an agony of grief while the song of
the village merry-makers dying into distance "over
| the hills and far away" served as the accompani-
ment for the choking sobs Of lonely, neglected little
| Fdnchon All the hunger OF the woman's heart for
love, which the great, insatlate soul OF wonderful
George Sand had projected into this touching con-
ception, were In that bent little figure ,shaken by
that cyclone of woe. 1t was not acting bnt nature,
and the audience and the world were not slow to
acknowledge it, In the lapse of years manner Ia apt
| TO mold and harden into mannerism. With Maggie
Mitchell we cannot see that it is so. Her art is as
fresh, spontaneous, and thoroughly delightful as
ever, and may II thus remain to gladden. the hearts
| OF our grandchildren. Her plays may not be mar
wells Of literary conception construction, but the
Joys and sorrows she portrays those of good and
| true women, and not the unwholesome and mere
-
contagious gladness OF happy and Innocent girlhood
rings in her laugh and flashes from the nimble PAGES
OF her dancing, and the world is better aud brighter
| for her presence. The company Miss Mitchell haR
brought with her this season Is above even her usual
standard. 1t is impractlcable to specify, but per
haps Messrs. Abbott and Galloway and Misses An
drews and Clinton should be mentioned for uniform
excellence in their varied assignments during the
week.
| The appearance of Mr.. Atkins Lawrence and Mist
Viola Allen at the National Theatre this week in "a
Wall Street Bandit" Is an event OF considerable in
terest Mr.. Lawrence was born In Washington
spent his youth here and spoke his first lines In thu
Old National Theatre after having served as an usher
This is his first appearance as star and manager
after twenty yeara In the ranks. Mr.. Lawrence will
make his bow to friendly audience, and is sure O
cordial reception. The play in which he appear
Is from the pen OF A. C. Gunter, author Of "Fresh
the American" "Prlnce Karl" and ''Two Nights II
Rome" Inc action opens In Wall street during th
panic OF ls5', where the crime of q bank presden
Weston 1into,D ruined two helpless children
, johnny and Ethel Wavne, and placed them In th
cruel clutches OF Stephen Ma,Uiep, the infamOn
philanthropist and shepherd OF the Infants fold
the second tabeau being at Mr. Maciep's asylum II
. 1851, where some of the peculiar methods of tn,
philanthropic scOnndrel are displayed. To escap
the cruelty OF Mduiep, the boy runs away to the
and enters a. drummer boy In the army; the sis
9 ter is taken from the asylum and adopted by Mn
ton, who sees the suffering his crime has cause,
= and is anxious to atone for It. The play prope
,aHes place during the panic Of 1873. Ethel Wayne
known in New York society az Ethel MintOn, wher
she IL considered the daughter of the retired capital
T man. She sought In vain for her brother, but un
known to her, fearing recapIure by Ma,ceg. the bo
changed his name, and not nndIng him in the arm
d list or regiments returning from the war, hi
sister, thinks the brother dead. 1t wou
be s,,, Impossible In a. synopsis Of ordinar
Of the play. We simply mention a few OF It's erecti
w IN Act the business crime Of the retired Ban
rs vcms Rs OWN aaopiea @ dassSes n
prop OF his declining years. Theyoung Locksuifth'
9h against fate IN having bis savings stolen by tn
Q Gently pick the combination of the very safe 4
which hls properly and the proof OF Mtntoa's Grim
, | Ia locked up The most extraordinary burglar
upon record. In Act III, which leads up TO the pecl
liar recognition scene between brother and and si
ter produces the sisters sacrifice for the safety
ding, IN Act ~, where with his wedding bells soun,
Ing IN HIS ears and his bride him the alta
johnny Wavae makes his fight to prove his innC
cence by means OF the very man who IL striving
y prove him a feon aud q murderer. The play Ii EN-
II beshed by numerous character sketches, many q
e them taken from actual life the Streets notab
j. j. jerks, the lightning life insurance Bollcto
,a who believes nothing IL certain but chance; j. I'd
son Shocks, the old walking electricity, who para
lyzes children on the BOwery at i've cents shOci
Stdkep the notorious bank wrecker; Kate MOrtO
4 who exhibits cl0aks at Lacy's, on Sixth avenu,
Gentleman Jimmy, the pride OF the Bowery, who's
a, pictures sold 100000 copies OF the Police Gdze
:, etc.
d '..''
The amusing Irish comedian W. j. Seaman W
a appear at Abaughs this week In his new p
'Shane- nal Lawn" This IL a comedy love st0r
the scene OF which Is laid In Ireland In 1870, Il
period OF Grattan's Parliament. The authors wi
a have coaborated In Its composition arc the famo
humorists OF Texas SU1fn1s. Seaman has improve
rapidly both In singing and acting, and besides q
his old favorltes has had number Of new SOM
written for him which have proved very popula
7. The World, In chronlcllng his New YORK success
)f this play, said: "The story OF 'Shane-na-I.awn'
supremey sweet In love. II sa heart romance
" the land where love and patriotism are the han
No maids OF master faith that II the admiration Of
" the world. Shamrocks and sweethearis sweet sin
II ing and graceful dancing, music and merrinet
herosm ana bappy-goIuchy indllerences 10 fal
= and everything else are tue Ingredients OF u
:, comedy, and the beautiful and charmit
" things which distribute themselves ihroul