New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-04
FIRST NIGHT FoR " THE KEEPsAKE"
THE MADISON SQUARE THEATRE FILLED WITH A

GENEROUS AUDIENCE.
The cool weather Of last evening was specially Ia
vorabe for the production OF Miss Enio Elsiers new
play "The Keepsake Before tho curtain rose
tho house was filed, and the audience, largely COM
posed of professionals, manifested its sympathy with
tho performers as occasion offered. " The
Keepsake as has been previously stated in these col
umns Is an adaptation OF AntOnette Rigaud," origi-
pay presented tho Francas and Of which versions
have been offered IN London and Boston. The story
is not original, and though possessing abundant
strength Of dsageeablc kind in its French dress
has less purpose and consistency in the purifying pro-
cess to which It has been subjected by Clinton Stew
art, the author of this latest version.
The plot, which details the pcrlls Of a wife whose
husband is the verge of discovering lover in her
room at midnight, strongly recalls "Ferreo,' Nos
Intimes' e. Perilr) and many other modern French
plays. In nearly all Of these the lover jumps from
tho window before the door Is opened for the husband
4" The Keepsake' Is exception to the rule. Inc
lover jumps, leaves his tracks in broken glass and
troddeD down flowers, and in the morning the usual
investigation is held. Tho poor husband Is hood
wInked, and the less guilty couple are sup
posed to DO cured Of their nfatuatlon and never TO
each other any m0Ie.
Tho acting was fully equal to, If indeed It did not
surpass, tho merit Of tho play. Miss Ellsler was
charmngly natural in nearly ell the varied shades of
emotion she was called upon to portray, though she
was occasionally slightly deficient in power Her
burst of hysterca laughter and her rcckessncss and
nervousness when her husband returns and IS
admitted, and during her subsequent interview with
him, showed her abilities at their best This scene
is tho clevcrcst and the most striking in the play
The husband, commonplace unlmpressionabo per-
son, has been jury that has just acquitted
who shot his wife on discovering her nfdelity
under circumstances precisely like those which he
might himself have found had he burst the door In
stead of waiting for 1t to be opened While he ate
his supper he narrated the Incidents Of the trial and
illustrates the shooting with his pistol till he works
his wife into a state Of hysterlcal collapse
lie is so simple and blunt IN manner that the
audience thought this more comic than the
adaptcr probably intended. Yet Mr.. Weston played
the part effectively, though here nothing French
in his manner. Mr. VANDERBILT as tho self sacrificing
brother acted with considerable power and much dis
croton +; c. Bangs was impressive as an Old gen,
er4 though he IS little given to Indulgence In TOO
much gesture and too many appealing looks 10 Heaven
Mr.. Ramsay played the difficult ana disagrccable part
of the lover carefully and neatly Miss May Wool
colt made interesting "ngenuc" part out Of one
that the author had left rather colorlcss All the
minor characters were acceptably Played and the
piece which had been staged by Ben. Tealo moved
with great smoOtbness So short were the acts and so
brief the waits that the curtain fell at 10 10.