New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-09
THE DRAMA-MUSIC
" ROGER LA HONTE.p'

Two more English players began their American
season last night at Nblos Garden and received a
welcome and a manifestation Of approval that must
have been extremely gratifying. william Terriss and
Miss Jessie Miwad not entirely new to tho
stage OF this country, but they have before
appeared here as stars. The play Of last night was
Roger La Homie, or a Mans shadow adapted BY
Augustln DAILY and Robert Buchanan from the origi.
nal Of Jules Mary and @. GrIser. II IS meIOdrama
and an unusually strong one, with parts calculated
to show the good qualities OF other actors besides
those who play the leading parts
The story is the plots OF Louvesan against
Roger La Rogue, whom he greatly resembles In face
ana hgure' La Rogue, as a military officer, has
ordered Louversan TO be shot as spy but he escapes
La Rogue has wife and a child but before his mar.
rage he was the lover OF a woman now the wife OF
his comrade-ln arms, Luclen de Norville This
woman. julie dc Nolrve, still loves La Roque but
he spurns her advances and bids her be faithful to
her husband, as he will be TO his wife Louyesan
finds her half maddened after the scene with her
old lover and urges her TO ioin him
IN plan Of revenge La Rogue is On
the verge Of financial ruin in the house next TO his
lives rich banker. Luversan kills the banker and
steals 100000 francs, which he sends 10 julie who
sends them in turn 10 La Rogue. under prctencs
that she wishes TO save him from ruin. La Roques
wife and daughter. a child OF eight years. see tho
murder from their window and believe that It has
been done by La Rogue.
Next follows the trial Of the accused man. and
1t closes with a remarkably powerful dramatic stu.
alton. NOlrvllle defends his cOmrade In the court.
The prisoners child is made 10 testify
but not even her fathers pleading can
make hor say anything against him or
tell what she saw. The verdict seems about 10 go
against the prisoner when Luversan gives Noigvlls
a letter from his wife to La Rogue, which seems
to him to prove his innocence of murder and his
sin win julie. The advocate is weak from q
wound, and scarcely stand to make his plea.
but with a supreme effort he declares the courz
that he has proof that La Rogue did not kill the
banker and be is about denounce his vito whea
he falls dead into his chair
In the closing the characters are brought to-
gether at an inn on the frontier. The child meets
Luversan sees his likeness TO her father and guesses
that he Is the murderer, and as he springs up stair.
way in pursuit of her, that he may Kill her he Is
shot by the police who are seeking La Rogue, now
escaped prisoner julie repentant and longing to
atone for the wrong she has done.
tell Of her conspiracy with Louversan and the hero
Is reunited TO his wife and child.
Mr. Terriss played both Roger la Rogue and Lou
versan and skllfu enough make the expressions
of the two faces constantly different, while the fea
lures were Of course, the same. His faults are ten
denotes to and to rant, especially in the case
OF the villain In the hero's qucter scenes, he Is
strong and manly Miss Millwarl did excellent WORK
as Julie dc Norvllle and was especially good IN her
rrpentan in the last act But she appeared at hei
best perhaps, in her silent listening TO her husbands
speech in the court, and mOmeniary eApec au0I thai
he would denounce her. Mr.. TeiHss In this scene
In his nervous attempts to silence the man who Is
pleading for his life and his own dishonOr, appeared
70 good advantage. If allowance be made for tho
different surroundings and conditions Of a French
court from one I'm England America. IL was hero,
TOO that Wilton Lackaye, as NOirville, showed . 70.
markable power and command of the situation ana
applause equal to that bestowed on the actors OF
and easily and among the other actors who deserve
court Miss HenTlette Crossman as Madame La Rogue,
and Miss Hattie Russell. as servant. The prncpaI
actors and Mr. DAILY repeatedly called before ING
curtain and at the end of the play Mr.. Terrss thanked
the audience for their reception.