New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-05
THE HIGHEST BIDDER.

Mr. F. II. Sothern made his remittance upon the
York stage last night at the Grand Opera House,
-nactIng the spirited faceous and ardent aucuoneer IN
1.-THE Highest Bdder'-a queer piece that was origin
aIly brought out by him at the Lyceum lie was re-
ceyed with kindly interest by a considerable audi
ence, and he gave performance OF renarAaoie
v,vacitv and fnish especially when one considers
the artificial character Of the part and the hmsness
Of the piece.
There IS an old French play which has long been
known to our stage under the name OF Bachelor
Of Arsn In that piece Jasper farceur, enters tho
home of an English gentleman and rescues him ana
bis daughter from the clutches Of a willy sharper.
This same antique dramatic scheme, In The highess
Bidders is exhibited under impossible conditions as
II IL were new. The scene laid during TWO Oh ths
three acts ia and about an old English house, not
distant from London. The owner, who has hand
some daughter wants money. The handsome dauSh'
ter is sought in marriage by baronet, who also is
scamp The distrcsses of the father compel him to
sell his estate for the satisfaction of his creditors
lie sends for aucOneer, who is the son Oh an oiu
friend and in this the farcer comes uooh E'
scene.
To him IS known not only the embarrassment Of
his father but the rascality Of the Baronet TO MIN
also the handsome daughter IS precious, the play pro-
ceeds to show in what way-and no way could 10
clumser-he discounted tho adyenurer, redeemed ths
estate, and won the love of the heroine. lie II d
man with an afectionate heart, an elegant person
and p vvacious manner His dramatic expedients
are obvious He dlscomfts his rival by showing MN
to be gambler, and when the estate IS put UP at
auction he buys It himself in order to return II to Its
former owner-a kindness TO a filend Whlch theIe ID
no apparent reason why he should not have SHOWN
at the outset Those however who ask Tor reasons
for anything that happens in this play VIII ask IN
vain. -,
Wber so much is irrational It tedious to dwell
constitute the opening scene could occur IN no sehue
mans house least of all in representative home IN
England. The squabblng over the breakfast 'aote
is in the vein of facical vulganty. No man IN MS
senses could behave toward a comparative stranger
as Mr.. SOthern's hero is made to behave to"atu .ho
heroine Of this piece The observer naturally IN
ouires how It can happen that person who Is aus
graced and discredied at tho end OF act hrst snoua
still be employed by the very people whom he mas
offended in act second There Is no motive IN 'he
misunderst landing between the lovers, Which, III act
third, is proracted through platitude 70 isip'u'y'
There IS no adequate ground either for the
emotion in the auction scene-fOr he IS doing n0ihhs
heroic and there Is reason why he shouiu suPPO'o
that the lady ought to be impressed and snecteo W
his elusive and hystercal proceedings II was ior
this situation, though, that the comedy was conrVea
Mr. BeIasco. who adapted II from the English original
has cut out few lines Of the text, shifted the lister
letter from the first act into the second emphas@ou
the Poy thorn part of Mr.. Cheviot and written III Z"
quantity of chatter for the two lovers toward ulo
close and he has subdued the melodramauc MAYOR
of the discounted villains assault upon inc success
full lover. In this form the piece was aecep"u "
the admirers of Mr. sothem when performed at tho
Lyceum and in this form the clever and sparkling
Young actor has kept It in his repeItory The per-
sonal farce and comic vim that he IS able TO thfow
into II have invested II With air OF plauslDlny az.
OF agreeable vivacity, and it was again wen reo'N0N
last night.