New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-10
THE DRAMA.
SHENANDOAH AT THE STAR.

faaf.
and its first production in New-York was ing
by no small measure OF success. II has a.s.,.d
positive merits sufficient 10 give (. a loog 81 A'a
five life I'm the theatres OF the country ~ ~
applause did II call out, and freauent 80 "uch
Gus were the expressions Of Satisfaction betx.s. M
and after the final fall Of the curtain w.. NE
metropolitan welcome gratifed the author ,,,..~"
Mr. Howard was called out three times in IN. a''
Of the evening.
I" Shenandoah does not deal largely in the No.
Of war, and such tragedies are insepafabIs -
it's story not gruesOme are they long d.
out. The first act closes with the sound OF the a..
gun hred in the bombarment Of Fort sumter =.
the second and third acts the Incidents are snnr,-.
to I'm the valley Of the Shenandoah in 1894 ~.
the last passes In Washington after the surrende- :.
the Southern armies. There Is nothing In the d,.r.
TO hurt the feelings Of the most sensitive soathe,,
and the pairs OF lovers that nierspersed rou,h
out the progress OF the story Impartiay dyideA
in their sympatbies and affiliations between TIA hln
and the gray. II is with the iranstory troubles 90
fluctuations Of these fond hears that shenabdoAs
Is chiefly concerned. and all ends in roconcg,.,,o
and ecstacy. Tie sterner features OF the great .ta
strife passed over with little stress ard 49,.
phasi. but very effective use Is ma.
Of military situations The flight Of IN. A.,
she'll over the walls Of Sumter interrupts declarato
OF love and brings down the curtain for The a..
time. In the second act military signals with wsv,ns
lights are introduced In telling fashion. The ARA
ends in whrlwind Of enthusiasm and applause WITH
skilfully managed representation Of Sheridans rush.
ing on horseback 10 rally the Union troops at ns
battle OF Cedar Creek II might be feared that aay
attempt TO introduce 50 famous a Circumstance a
the war would prove farcical and failure. But this
was certainly not the conviction Of last nights
audience, which was really a)uched and thrilled.
Mr.. Howard's comedy in this piece is often Ingenious
delicate and delightfully."- entertaining. Although al
l traIlt
preston is grateful.
For most Of the acting commentator must be mod
crate Wilton Lackaye Is not yet ripe for such part
that OF General Haver and the quality Of Morton
Seon's humOr as Captain Hearisease forced and
heavy. Both Harry HAYWOOD as General Buckthorn,
and James o. BarrOws as Sergeant Borket, became
tesome in the last act. John r. Kellard In
SO deadly earnest Captain Thornton that his acting
stood out from the general level of the men.
Miss Viola Allen was truly paihetc where pathos
was needed, jaunty and provoking in her Iuery.
and admirable IN almost all she did in the part Of Ger
trude Ellingham, Ellie Shannon was 50 winsome and
exquisite a tricky spre that she pleased all who
saw and heard her. Miss Naneue Comstock
was graceful and charming a.
Madeline West, but Miss Dorothy Don
spoiled her acting by speaking in 50 low voice
that Of her words could be heard even at short
distance from the stage.
|. wave of q altitude swept through the house
when it was discovered that the author had merl.
fully kept Colonel KeIchiyal West very much In thu
background in the last act. only scanty glimpse
of him given but that was quite enough Not
that the character mpea ant In Itself, but the
actor who took IL was II people to Judge By
this piece OF work, the cUnclu iOn would be uat Mr.
Miller had given the bes year. OF his life. not to
the dIlgent and loyal pursuit Vi MS dIt out % ta
I cultivation OF his seltcUncei. Now, an abiding ard
profound admiration of ones own personality Is
doubtless constant JOY 10 the
admrer but the effect, 0. passionate seesteem nos
wholesome commemorate when ney are 80 OBJ
trusive IN stage methods. In Mr.. MlleTs case las
evening they evident in an awkward
ness, wncn was painful TO ever! sens "nlio uis
actors harsh and d.ssOnant voice AFFLICTED the ear. II
natlrs had been more generous him in many ways,
his crude and performance would nave Deen easier
10 bear But with his unfortunate defects the i'm
preston made by him In this part was anything ous
agreeable either to hearing or vision Rarely has 90
ambitious production this been so III served IN IL
leading man.
FERNCLIFF, AT THE UNION SQUARE
war play with no war scenes was acted at the
Union Square last night for the first time fn
this city. 1t played in a few OF the smaner
cities and towns Of New England last week Ths
author is William HawOrth and he has called his
piece Ferncf" the name of the place near Provi-
dence where the Is laid There are some strong
the play, and the people who took The Lead
ing parts last night able TO interpret them Win
| good effect. The action and interest are now and
| then marred, however, by weak dialogue and By In
cidents that might be omitted without hurting the
play which would indeed be the better for being mas
| a little shorter.
The story is Of two brothers, of whom one Is mar
ried and Is an industrious man, while the other has
led life Of dissipation, but has resolved to do betier'
The former is drafted and the latter offers 10 60 TO the
war I'm his stead The villain of the piece convfnces
the elder brother the soldier has deserted and
he instantly goes to the front to take his brothers
place The report then comes that both have peeH
| killed Both of them come home however, on mo
night when the wife of the elder is TO be marnen !"
the Villain whom everybody regards, OF course As
the best possible friend OF all the other people Of ns
play All his schemes exposed anu " - h,h,
10 kill himself by jumping the Gill; 2oo ieee nsn'
that gives the name the place and 10 ths P.HAi.
There are also love passages. WIN
element of comedy. between the sister o. uo u,,Is
| soldiers and young man VINO seems W ha'o H'N
! 10 do but to make love To her - ..o.A.,.
The author played the part OF the younge, o ~
the supposed descrter and +. IL. VANDERBILT mst VI
! the elder Both gave manly and consistent Peytm~.S
of Young farmers and young soldiers. they rcenci
an enthusiastic call before the curtain ~ M Iu 49,.
coming and meeting with the discovery, o, ue.. az
and wrong. T. j. llcrndon did some g1od ~ 80,
| the father of the young men, ana looMu ING %.
| evceIientsy Henry Person. as tho Villain han =
rather difficult part. and played H. -, ~
with little too much Sowing anu Ion.ns % ,emS
| cyes ne was most effective in his halfrepentan'
scene I'm the last act although, consuerns , uy -
ner Of his suicide. there was peIhaTs ntuo ~, ~
much deiiberation in his manner Two chlnicn, sss
ANGELA Ogden and little Mamie Moore had snort Psst,ss
! b. MaheF Miss Belle Flohr, MIS- heSo0'~ "
| and Miss Fanny Marsh
4