Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1889-10-12
AMUsENENES

An eminent dramatic critic in the
East remarked last summer thar L Was
unfair t. pronounce judgment on q
new dramatic production upon e tfsl
appearance tnat as q ruie the actors
were more Or lees ratified and enlbar-
rassed. and not 81 Their best. Inis
principle should n mercy be- applied TO
the performance gwen by Jarbeau and
company Al Powers last evening. The
company attempted for the first
time a new comedy entitled strictly
| Confidential" and II il were not
for the fact that there Was sn
audience present, We should consider
the presentation, according 70 is title.
"stnctly Confidential IS a peculiar
and thoroughly original comedy, and
owing 10 ;he heroic efforts OF the
prompter, which were aud bic through
out the theater, the audience was en-
abled 10 catch most OF the lines OF the
play. Considering the valuable ser
wees Of TINS gentleman il was a mis-
take a. have ms name OFT the program.
| Mr.. Poland has labOred to produce
! high class comedy OF the refined order.
/ In the Ilrst act Il moved smoothly and
/ the characters We're comparatively con-
/ hdent. and expectations became inter
! esled, only 10 De shattered asunder by
/ the situation presented when the cur
| tain fell. AT first IL seemed serious,
and II was gwen out that woman had
/ been dangerously injured, II not
/ killed, IN scuihe with her
/ husband. The curtain arose IN an IN
stant and the whole scene was changed
/ 10 burlesQue. What about the interest
OF the audience now The author trOd
! upon the dangerous ground of blending
serious comedy with burlesque and
| stumbled almost AT the first stroke OF
! ms pen. lie never recovered from the
| confusion of ms fall, and seems TO have
! forgotten the theme he started 10
work out. There was a probable
! plot nicely interviewer 10 start with.
The possibility OF Il little society muss,
all on account of little innocent note
which falls into the hands OF a wife
who worries about the neglect of her
husband. A full explanation of this
| little mystery i given IN the second act,
third. What follows was as confusing
TO the poor, struggling actors as 1t was
10 the very friendly and patient listen
ers. Ii is needless 10 discuss the
actors. as their lack of preparation pre-
vented them from doing III tice 10 their
respective roles. Much good can be
made out of the piece by Intelligent re-
visal, As the characters are drawn with
| in the bounds of reality, and are rep
resentative of life of the present day.
1t Is with sincere regret that the TELE-
GBAM-HERALD Is compelled TO condemn
| this play; at all times II has been a
pleasurable duty 10 dwell IN these col
| umns upon the unquestlOned capatility
| OF JaTbeau, most palnstaklng
and conscientious little artistic.
but the presence of a Bernhardt could
not have redeemed strictly Conf
| dental" from failure, as produced last
| evening Miss Jarbeau danced and
sang with all of her accustomed dash
and brllliancy. Her company Is thor
Oughly capable in every way, and there
is reason to believe that they Will give
the best production of "Jarbeau's" fav-
Orlte, starlight" tonight yet seen in
Grand Rapids. The many admirers of
"Jarbeau" Will gladly welcome her re-
turn to this piece. OF its kind it ranks
with the best farce arrangements on the
road. Strictly Confidential" Will be
J given again al the matinee.
"Pete' Baker had a splendid audi
ence at Redmond's last eveing. This
afternoon and evening viii be the last
opportunity of seeing this popular
comedian IN "Chris and Lena"
The regular Saturday matinee will be
! given at Smiths today at p. IN. The
| entire program will be given and the
usual popular prices VIII prevail. This
afternoon and evening VIII be the last
chances for witnessing the present ex-
I callpnt cOmD9nV