The evening world., 1888-04-03

partners, " q new comedy by Robert Buchanan,
was produced last night at the Madison Square
Theatre and was received with noisy, cfrervcscent
enthusiasm by a large and critical audience. MIR.
Palmer had not hera,ded the production with any
talk. The arrangements had been conducted with
almost Daly-esque solcmni'y. and this may be one
reason why the unequiyocal, triumphant success of
the play took the audience somewhat by surprise.
Partner" is an adaptation OF Daudet's charm
ing novel, "Fromont Jeune ct Risler Ain6." l am
not going to take 1t for granted that you have read
the book, nor should I experience any rained
amazement II ] heard that you had not. The plot
Is simply this: Henry BorRfeldL q rather unre-
fined. bluntly outspoken German, Is a wealthy man.
u%facturer, and has Q junior partner, Charles Der
wentwater, and . pretty little fool OF q wife, twenty
years younger than he Ia, called Claire.
The junior partner is also married, but prefers
his partners wife to his own. Il was Just going to
declare that l didn't blame him under the circum-
stances, but as such q sentiment would be emil
nently improper, 1 draw back In time.) MIR.
Charles spends his money with the pretty but
idiotlo Claire, buys her diamonds, lowers aud
presents of all descriptions, BY her extravaganza
bringing the old-establshsd nrm to contemplate
ruin and disaster.
Old Borgfeldt 10 absurdly blind. He trusts his
wife, he trusts his partner. lie laughs at the
warnings given him by Mr.. Parr, the head clerk.
lie Is suddenly called TO Germany on business, and
during his absence the climax comes Bills can
not be met. demands are made from all sides, and
MIR. Charles feels that he Is IN hot water. MI. Parr
telegraphs for Borgfeldt. and the junior partner,
dreading TO face the results OF his Ni-doing, begs
Claire to fly with him. She Indignantly declines,
and processes love for her husband.
Pe returns, learns all, turns Claire from his
home atOrmlv unl,raida tho iunior nartnar aalIa
everything and determines to live in lodgings until
the AFFAIRS OF the firm are In 4 brighter condition.
or course he finally forgivcs his wife, aud the In
ference In clear that they are, at II. 30 p. NJ, on the
high road to living happily ever afterwards.
strong play, with wonderfully effective situa-
tons. Coming directly from the spicy French,
however, It loses somewhat. Claire, or sidonie,
Al she was called In the novel, 10 milk and water
personined. There Is evidently nothing but
thoughtlessness In her conduct. She never loves
the Junior partner, and never permits the audience
to think she doea She Is an out-and-out fool, who
10 lured into the company Of MIR. Charles by one of
that gentleman's former flames, q Mrs. Harkaway,
who is jealous, Of course.
This character does q great deal to rob the play
OF It's artistic worth. Mira Harkaway is purely q
creation OF the stage, as hackneyed as the heavy
villain. She takes the audience into her CONF
dence. speaks IN "asides, "faces the name {"
for the benent Of the audience. and then dashes
out of sight The play would be better withou-
Mrs Harkaway. Hers is one Of the roles that
makes you remember you are at the theatre, which
fact clever nv. Palmer and his superb company do
their best to make you forget
Claire's father. q retired actor, Ia an amusing 40.
cessory, while omedy Is contributed by Dickin-
son, the aristocratic butler, and Mrs. Harkaway's
husband, q somewhat conventional Top.
Mr., SalyinL "A BorRfeldt. haB the chanca NJ hia
life to make q success, and the gifted young actor
knew this 30 well that ne erred on the side Of over
doing his part. He was too dynamitic. In the
most trivial situations he always seemed about TO
explode. His tones were too loud, and that mas
sant laugh of his was simply provoking. But MI.
Salvini did some admirable work, notably at the
end of Act w.. when, tearing OF his wife's rings
ana necklace, he hung them to the butler TO sell
There may have been 4 dash OF brutality in this
act. tits neyer:pleasing to see q woman subjected
to violent treatment. even at the hands OF an indig-
nant husband, and 1t certainly looked AZ though
Claires fingers must have broken beneath her hus-
bands grasp. Saivini's change from Teutonic de-
votion TO passionate hatred was too sudden 10 DO
true to life.
Miss Burroughs a. Claire was unequal to the re-
quirements Of the part She looked exquisite, but
she is not emotional. Even In the most stirring
situations she could not rise to the height OF her
role. A charming piece Of work was that done by
Miss May Robson as Alice Bellair. Claires sister.
Mics Robson showed herself to DO a thorough ar
list Her dainty little bits Of ''business =" were
msrvellously good, and at one time the catch In
her voice, the suppressed sob. were real as life.
Walden Ramsey, who reminds me Of Herbert
Kelley modified, played the part Of Charles Der
wentwater conventiona!ly. Mr.. stoddard was ex.
celleut as old MIR. Parr, and < NJ. Holland as the
retired actor won a great deal Of merited applause.
Miss Mathilde Denison looked ~ravishing az Mrs.
HarEaway, but Miss Denison is too fond OF the
audience, and when she appeared In that wonder
full ruby dress with the pink roses she was careful
to note the effect 1t produced In the auditorium.
Mrs. K. ]. Philips Is always good, and as Lady
silverdsle, a poor, worthy old creature who sets
everything right, her work was highly commenda-
BILE. Miss Kate Mallory was not particularly strong
q. the wife OF Mr.. Charles. A "cute " little girl,
Gertie Homan, was capltally trained to play the
part OF Gretchen, Claire's child.
.,Psr,ners" will crowd the Madison Square
Theatre while II remains there. At the end OF the
fourth act there was 30 much enthusiasm IN The air
mat Mr.. Palmer, slick and nice, appeared, and,
bowIng his respectable, brainy head, satisfied the
audience. ALAN DALE.
MR-. n..sE kA4 0l~~A