New-York tribune., 1888-08-28
THE ORA MA.
PHILIP HERNE.

Mrs Mary II Fiske's play, Philip Herne,' pro-
duced last ght at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. was
announced as comedy drama but proved to be
decidedly sensational melodrama, built upon al eH'
tremely un lcassni theme This Is strfkingy similar
to that OF D'Ennery's "Maryr,' and Is tho sudden
revelation some OF the principal actors, and neces-
,atly to the audience that grayhaired. respectable
and seemingly lovabIe old lady-an bonorcd wife and
uotherhad given rth since her marriage to an lie
gtmate son. Audiences apt to pity, II not to
considerable extent to excuse. the sexual crimes oi
youth but when the perpetrators OF these ohences
are shown In their old ago they are gen.
eraIly regarded with adherence. Something like a
>huddef Of disgust felt last night when Mme
Ponisi az Mrs Horne, made with surprising curt
ness the entirely une4 4pcced avOwal OF her gu IT, IL
was felt be only painful, Lui unnatural for In
no way had her character or bearing led Wy to the
situation
phlnp Hern. Is a waywari boy OF twenty, who
makes unlookedfor return to the home he haa run
away nom ihroe years be4Oe on accOdhi vi qusire'
with the man be believed to be bis father. This man
an almost impossibly brutal and unreasonable being
and sUoner do be and Philip meet than angry words
are again exchanged II Is then that Mrs Ierne
blurts out tie fact OF her shame and her husbands
dishonor He Immediately suspects his wlfe's cousin
George Maitland. being the partner OF her quit.
Maitland is expected TO arrive that night, and the In
jurcd husband cts out to neet him. This meeting
does not take place, but D It's stead here Is one ue
tween Maitland and Tom Barrett, young sailor whose
sister Maitland has vrorged They fight. and IN a
struggle Maitland Is thrown to the ground aud killed
thrvush his head srlhns a stone loD eseapes' Out
Phip finds the body, and being discovered near II Is
accused Of the murder Believing that hi mothers
husband is the real murderer Philip makes 90 defence,
and under an assumed name Is tred aud convicted
In the second act he Is an escaIed convict who comes
AT night to the window OF the heroine and Is taken 10,
fed Wned and rather petted by the heroine. This In
cldent IS strained and mOs Improbable One ac later
Philip IS shown under third name as an enormously
rich and peculiarly phanih hrOpo merchant 10 ihls
act occurs the srOngeS, scene Of the pay, ono that
doc m ch atone for the de ects OF al the st. Tom
has become a clerk ~ Philip. he Is dying Uf con-
sumption and his mind Is tortured By the Thought OF
his guilt and of lhr suffering OF the man who bore his
pun shmen Stirred by tho feel ngs tell his story
TO Philip tho who had taken his place, OUT OF
whose identity he has not the slightest suspicion
Joseph Whrelock told this story with quiet impress
siveness and reserved power that fairly captured tho
audience and worthy o. all the applause they re-
ceIved In the last act Philips troubles accumulate,
but they are finally ended by Toms confession and
dcath which clear tho way for the marriage OF the
heroine and Philip.
Joseph lawortb PLAYED Philip with considerable
force and undoubted eatnesiness. but bis acting
did not always have the ring OF truth
He ls too restless, claws the air too
much, ard indulges IN too many grfmares. and
frequently sreaks TOO fast. frederick Pauiing. Helen
Russell Miss ander and Nine. PonIsi were all good
ard Master " allie Eddngnr wonderfully amnsing
as little girl. Mrs. Fske was called out alter tho
second act and In q bright speech acknow egod that
Natural r'fN" 'aot that many In the audience had
aIro odv