The sun., 1889-11-20
AMUSEMENTS
A New Play, "The Charity Ball." Made
and Acted at tho Lyceum Theatre.

| and Acted at the Lyceum Theatre.
The method Of success at the Lyceum
Theatre is to first know what kind OF o play Is
wanted. and then to make 1t. Mr.. Frohmsr
has no difficulty in pursuing the first part oi
| this plan. He has induced the more intelli-
gently fashionable people Of New York to form
fine audiences for his house. and he Is aware
| that they require considerable substance and
no offence in their theatrical entertainment
on his premises Therefore his pieces must be
polite without inanity. humorous with
out crudty, and strong without coarse
ness. Thus, we'll informed OF the re-
Quirements he undertakes the hard
work OF satisfying them. This is not done by
importation from the Old World. nor yet by
purchase OF ready made matter in the domes-
tic market but by having the plays manufac-
tured in his own establishment. Thev are
written by Henry c. De Mile. and constructed
by David Bclnsco under Mr.. Frohmans own
direction. In that way The Wife" was pro-
duced, and last evening another result Of the
same process mot with q deservedly heartier
acceptance. In some respects it resembed
the former piece. for its scenes were
laid in the midst Of American riches
and elegance, and its personages were
Fifth avenue homes Of opulent refinement.
The good fortune OF the new drama WAS not
uncertain for more than an hour after the per-
formance began, and at u quarter to IL O'Clock.
when tho curtain was dropped on the third act,
1t had to be lifted five times for the audience to
see the authors and manager as we'll as the
principal actors.
A great deal goes on in The Charity Ball."
and its effectiveness with the first audience
depended largely upon the skill with which the
Lemoyne was In love with Mrs Walcott and
after their betrothal he was fooled into a be-
lief that one 81 her legs was cork; They made
pair OF unsophisticated lovers as asst the Tyceum E
stage seldom lacks. and their actual youthful
These and the other Characters were intro
duced n New York parsonage nag on Christmas
Tess In the next act they We're at ball in IN tie tie
Metropolitan Opera House, where their action
In an accurately reproduced corridor was
he Charity BAH Pnd one whle6. sRoPS beine ae
last evenings assemblage deeply It is the
duplicity OF q man toward a girl who has sur
rendered herself unwisely to him-an old sub
rarely deal so directly as in this instance with
out Sa% Ssncs Here the girl is
Unmarried Clergyman falls in love with her.
TO learn not only the truth as she confesses It.
tR % se
stratiyely, bestowed. The situation had been
shaped. MIR. Kelcey. the ideal OF manly priest
to look at. had heard Miss Henderson make the
confession OF her sorrow. His not very iacile
abilities had been used to their utmost but not
beyond the safety point: while her beautiful
nearly so valuable Miss Cayyan hnd par
ticpated potently rs n self sacrihcial good girl,
and Mr.. Wheatcroit had been Just sufficiently
heartless to still leave him In a conditon to re-
ing, blind mother OF the two brothers, and pa
thedcaly instrumental, without knowing II, OF
bringing about a marriage ceremony as the
was left a fourth act In which the self-abne-
eating pastor and young woman got also to the
of married life.
Impressively good scenery. fine costumes,
and excellent Judgment in every detail helped |
the drama to begin whole winter at the |
Lyceum.