The evening world., 1888-09-18
THE TANK IN MELODRAMA.
WET HEROES AND HEROlNES ADD TO THE
CHARM OF THE PAYMASTER."

Mrs O'suilivRn DinpfeI Makes Her Debut
ut the Stnr-Pretty but Very AmRteurish
C. II. Gardiner Makes n Disclaimer
Actors Take the yrilov-Fcyer scare
Adonir Dixey In n New Opcrn-iIouse.
The time. honored melodramatic situations
used in Duncun b. Harrison's play, " The
Paymaster," which was presented at the Star
Theatre last night. have all been diluted by
nice, clean, fresh tank water. The audience
was taken to the Inshavoguc River, and,
though it WAS n sGturstrngly wet night and
tho theatre wac filed with dripping men and
women, the tank pumps were vastly appre-
ciated. Perhaps the audience, being so
thoroughly moist. enjoyed seeing the hero
and heroine IN the same condition. Svmpa-
thy is u great thing. The plot Of THE
Paymaster" can never annoy by its com-
plexity. You see the villain steal the
paymaster's money. and you hear him solllo-
quizingly taking the audience into his big
theatrical confidence. You note that the
paymaster is accused you see HIM quiyer
convulsively and utter STACEY remarks. after
which he pauses for that round of applause
which has never vet failed the dear old melo-
dramas hero. That occurs in the first act.
The other four acts are devoted to setting
this good young paymaster right and to the
tank. Thu mi probably gets the lions
share of the devotion. But "The Pay
master " is not entirely inoffensive. The
act III which the gentleman's mother
and sister are pleasantly allowed to suppose
TINT he is dead. when the audience knows
hat he isn't, is annoying because it so evil
IDENTIFY tries-though unsuccessfully-to be
narrowing. You see the good old, conven-
tionnl, black-clad, white haired mamma down
at the very front of the stage, talking delir-
iously of her boy, of his baby kisses, OF his
toddling footsteps and all the rest. She omi,s
to say whether she fed HIN on condensed
milk or patent food-probably because
the climax of annoyance the live
son comes forward and the mamma
shrieks. Then come me SON." ~ Me
mother !" and there we are Tn best work
same mamma, Miss Maud Adams. Mrs.
O'Sullivan Dimpfel is pretty, but more anna
flourish than 1t would have seemed possible
for any one to be. Not the faintest suspicion
into emotion fitted across her handsome
features. She spoke her lines as though she
were n schoolgirl reading TIL boy stood on
the burning deck, " or A chiettain to the
Highlands bound" Duncan b. Harrison
was the Paymaster, and Miss Beatrice Lieb
the Irish heiress.
G. r. Gardiner, who 10 receiving the
greater part of the blame for the unfortunate
" Uncle Toms Cabin 4" affair. writes II
may become necessary. ! think those who
talk the least may possibly fare the best.
They did all the business with MIR. Randall
until in troub e, then they shouted Gar.
diner Gardiner did not respond. l never
was the manager, only on the bills. / bjec,
to that kind of management" Ahem!
One or two of the member of the " Struck
Gas" company have resigned rather than nc
company the organization to the South anC
enter the yellow fever stricken regions.
Assistant Manager Potter. of the Gaiety
Theatre, London, who has been in the city
over a week arranging the preliminaries fol
the appearance of the Gaiety Burlesqut
Company at the Standard Theatre, leaves to-
now en- route from Austrnl a for San Fran.
cisco. A section of the company will meet
the Australian portion IN this city. Eight
principals were sent to that far-of country
where thirty people were added to the organ.
ization. In America. however, it will bt
the genuine Galety company that is seen
Mr.. Potter, who represents the theatre
where Days company played for thirteen
ern and Lord Chumley" in its entirety tC
London to open tLere Easter Monday ant
straight through the summer. The offel
awaits Manager Frohman's return from Chi
cago, although it is pretty easy to imagine
what his answer will be.
Henry E. Dixey last night opened the new
sos. 900 opera-house at Newburg. He wa
paid a certainty Of 81, 900 for his perform
ance. and will give another tonight, Mex
I, eek Dixey begins his farewell "Adonis
engagement at the Hollis Street Theatre,
Boston. He follows ~ Possible Case " q
hat theatre.
CHANGES AT THE THEATRES.