The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-12

OF the play and 80 to accentuate the theme,
that she shall do this and forfeit
nothing In the respect and sympathy of
the audience. ifA more difficult prob
lem could not well he submitted to play
wright yet his ttiumph is all the greater be-
cause he succeeds in spite Of the difficulty.
II Is really a play OF the good old
fashion. which sends the spectator home
satisfied that virtue has received its
complete reward, Therefore 1t natu-
rally proves popular when given
by such capablcactJ RS rs Miss Coghlan and
company. The third act moves the house
with the force OF a whirlwind, and that, too,
without surprising the auditor In no por-
ton Of the play is any effort made to
introduce effects" The play is power
full because d simple story OF one
woman's heroism is so we'll told
that the heart is touched. The dramatist
has followed the old method of playmaking
that our fathers favored long before the play
makers thought Il better 10 startle the mind
of the nearer rather that TO appeal
TO the better instincts of human nature.
1t was pleasure, indeed, TO note
the excitement OF the house at the close OF
the third act What had happened? Moth
ing more than the valorous Interference of
an honest lover between his love and de-
signing villain. Thousands Of plays have con-
tanned Just that incident yet the applause was
fervcnt and protractcd. Whyp Because Miss
Coghlan had made everybody love Jocelyn,
because Mr.. Malone had made everybody
admire Marcel, and because Mr. Evan had
made everybody hate Sayiani. That was all
there was in it, yet when Jocelyn cried,
"kill that man." the house was in
cordial agreement with the en-
tire proprioty of the passionate mandate.
II required courage on the part OF the au-
thor 10 present the old wine In the new bot
ties, because II had been given out that the
public had wcaried Of it, but he has proved
the better judge. II still likes the old wine,
II il be given without diluiion and with
out tho cordials suggested by those
who believe novelty Of admiXture TO be the
public's chief desire. But In framing his
play upon the line, indicated by those who
wrote before the public taste became yitiatcd
by the methods OF false art, the author has
taught his fellows Of the craft a lesson they
would do well TO heed. He has mounted
the play handsomely, but the mounting Is
merely incidental and not a manifest es-
sential. lie has given every actor an OPP
portunity TO merit the critical favor Of the
audience. yet though 'Jocolyn' be ever 30
winsomc, and Sayiani ever 80 positive, and
Marcel ever 30 brave the play is the thing
after all, and Il is the play which
makes the strongest impression. The text
is very agreeable, the author, with fine COM
mon sense, dispensing with the archaic form
and the characters being all owed to speak,
as rule, In good, strong modern
English Miss Coghlan is not re-
quircd TO display technical hncsse. The
character Of Jocelyn Is rs free OF inyol utions
as that OF Fanchon. II is wholly emotional
and Miss Coghlan succeeds for the reason
that she is versatile enough to en-.
body the authors idcal-an ingenu-
Gus maiden with whom duty is but
another name for religion, and who, IN
the performances of a recognized obligation
shall display all the ardor and devotion OF
zealot. She strikes the key 20 tho character
at the very outset OF the play, and TO the end
she never sounds discorlant note.
The author oxacts no more OF
Jocclyn, II - much, as he does
Of saviani, a pari which was put into
most capable hands when assigned to Mr..
Evan. We do not believe II could be more
adequately presented. lie is an actor Of fine
qualities. lie has, what 80 few actors nov ex-
hihit, extraordinary facial control one Of the
most necessary accomplishments Of impcrson.
ators, which forsome singular reason seems
to be neglected by the younger actor, OF the
day. The part Is one which brings out
the passions Of malignily. lechcry aud
selishnoss Nevertheless, like that Of Iago,
the villain Is nj times dcbonair, iooular and
merry. lie can cut throat with the same
insoucianco that ho can dawdlc In "my
lndy's chamber" The part +, In every
way, q capital foil io that Of Jocclyn, aud
the two dominate the play. Altogether we
are most entirely justified In commencing
the play and H. player. 10 the cordial favor
Of the public although such commentator
may lie a matter Of supcrcrogntion In view
Of the fact that II b surely making is own
way.