Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-19
AT THE. THEATERS.
A Society Comedy, New Opera and Other
Theatrical Attractions.

Theatrical Attractions.
What was said in praise of Fascination" in
this column week ago, can be repeated with
emphasis in regard to 1.-THE Wife," this weeks
attraction at the Grand Opera House. The
two comedies are totally unlike in conception
and details; the only similarity between them
is found in the admirable staging given to eacn
and the almost complete excellence OF the
talent engaged in the production. ''The Wife"
is a society comedy, the scene of which is laid
Washington. Its story deals principally
with the lives of three people.
one of whom is woman. The heroine,
Helen Truman the motherless daughter of a
New York broker, has a misunderstanding
with Robert Gray, her lover, and be-
lieving him false accepts the hand
of John Rutherford, a United States
Senator and an old friend of the family. The
wife discovers, after marriage, that she still
loves Robert but, attracted by the really ad-
mirable traits in her husbands character,
eventually gives her full affection to him, A
cleverly constructed plot in which the machi-
nations of male and female mischief makers
figure prominently. leads upto the climax OF
the play.
The character of John Rutherford is the
very ideal of generous, noble man, and its in
depreciation by Mr.. Frank Carlyle well-nigh
perfect Mrs. Berlan- Gibbs, in the title role,
proved herself an actress of superior ability.
A more pathetically sad yet beautiful scene
than that between Rutherford and Helen
messed on any stage. When the wife,
after acknowledging to her husband
that she still loves another man, overcome by
her grief, asks Rutherford: ITO whom shall
turn in my trouble7" The latter replies: Turn
to me-the one who promised to cherish and
protect you, and whose protection you now
need more than ever" Then he repeats the
words of the marriage service. binding himself
to her anew. 1t was all admirably done and
very impressive.
Of the subsidiary characters that of Major
Patndn, veteran who can face cannons, but
not women, is most artistic creation. The
role is cleverly sustained by Mr.. James o. Bar
rows, very capable comedian. Mr.. Charles
s. Dickson, as Jack DEXTER, a young collegian,
was most excellent, and with Miss Eta Haw-
kins, who appeared as Kitty Tues, very giddy
maid OF Id, kept the audience in roars OF laugh
ter. Miss Hawkins, by the way made de-
cided hit, and is remarkably well suited to the
part. Mr.. s. Miller Kent, as Robert Gray, read
his lines well and made a graceful and hand
some though somewhat conventional, lover
Miss Adeline Stanhope, in the role of Lucille
Fdrrdnt. succeeded well when she was content
with being natural, but failed miser-
ably when she tried to be impressive.
The rest of the cast was good, without ex-
ception, the work of Miss Adelaide Thornton
and Mr.. Henry Herman being especially worthy
of commendation. A more astute and less un-
natural stage villain than Mr.. Herman's
Matthew Cutuer is seldom seen. The scenery
represents interiors only and is very fine,
particularly in the last act, in which
"a moonlight view of the capital appears beyond
the library window. Mrs Berlan-G Gibbs won
derful gowns drew large share of the atten-
tion of the ladies. They are indeed exquisite
veritable poems in silk and satin and other ma
terial, the very name of which is unknown to
the average masculine mortal.
"The Wife" contains scarcely any blemishes:
its tone is pure and elevating and the dialogue
remarkably animated. 1t is pity that such a
fine play should be marred by putting oaths
into the mouths of some of the characters. 1t
would be far more effective and great deal
more pleasing if they were utterly eliminated.