The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-20

Laughter began early in the play at the
Fourteenth Street Theatre last night 1t
ripped through the opening scene, swelled
into tempest in the middle one. and culmi
mated in u disturbance akin to a whirlwind as
the curtain fell for the last time. II there had
been sought for The Silent Partner I"
aIerdct OF SUCCESS simply as a farce. there
was no room to question the result. % 1t
was triumph OF bewildering comicality. full
Of confused identity, mysterious happenings.
absurd blunders. and mock heroic episodes.
Since the era OF the French intrigue plays.
there had come upon this stage no more COM
pick or more thoroughly effective tumble. Yet
it bore all the marks Of original workmanship.
and 1t had been constructed by q young Amer-
can whose patient waiting and honestly modest
Mr.. Herbert Hall Winslow who wrote " The
Silent Partner" came upon the stage at tho
"eal which was in every way sincere. Mr.
seemed to be trlle frightened. He has faced
haps. dazed him. He ought to have been
harry because he must have remen, bered that
Theatre.
by having as tho chief Parsonage in it's ON
barrnssment Of fRrccal riches Mr., Joseph B.
Polk nn actor whom 1t is always pleasure. no
school. His methods are those Of the ieGiti:
mate player, as distinct from the singing and
dancing and cavorting and perspring come
dian OF cont emnOraneous musical farce. His
STtike aS zee contributes an adrabs
never undiGninei or exqggcrated, There
tyne that i is gratifying task to have 70
nI SG M FIX another
ior tho continuance OF his starring tours. and
u Wl! add to his fortune as well AS TO his
pecnnions lawyer, short of clients but long in
love with the pretty daughter OF rich friend.
business he invent y partner - for Ills hi;
o of., and from that mild dsception re-
lions. He flrds himself pursued Tor his imaG-
mary partners debts, accused OF bigamy. sus-
IEsseIed Of theft, hunted ioT murder; and
concern c%c and serious asnort that used to give
have command Of his audience. for they mp
aappauded him WIN an almost aiIertionato
:, The sole error N Mr. Winaiow's play is the
Of actual melodrama, This was doubtless to
disn0se OF the genteol scoundrel who had
the story which should have been carried
through In the satiricnl style so well suggested
In the second act. But the DEPRESSION Is inmate
Llal where so much IL otherwise enjoyable, NJ.
Wlnslow exhibits uncommon skill In devising
and bringing t. climax complicated episodes
he writes bright dialogues lnYehts effective
business" and has a knack OF stretching
quaint characters not lar short OF Mr.. Hoyt's
facility in the same direction. And 1t Is more
particularly because he seemed TO be original
that IL is we'll TO encourage him sOundly. lie
ie, with Hoyt, almost alone among our native
dramatists who havo not scourei the French
anu German field for suggestions"
Mr. Folks company have been well drilled.
and they contribute the requisite briskness to
the farce. There Is one member, Miss llelen
a. Soule. VINO should come to town ottensr be-
pause she imparts tho truo spirit OF comedy TO
her work. Besides she Is attractive person
ally, and there is no trace Of sell-conscious-
ness In her acting. The love scenes In which
she and MIR. Polk moved were admirable in
their naturalness and their quaint humor.
The graphophone Is utilized In this play for
The ilrst time rs n help to theatrical realism.
II hrst becomes an instrument OF comicality |
py registering the contents OF q love letter TO
HE luckless lawyer. which 1t afterward re-
peats 10 his Jealous sweetheart Later, and |
less commercially. IL is used to aid in the mclO- |
dramatic sub-pl0t By cony!cting out OF his own
mouth the real thief Tor whom The lawyer had
unHHstly ioen accused, MI. Minslow tins
aNhlls himself NJ once OF the serious and the |
comic possibilities of the instrument which |
viii probably be Of no fur thor use in realistic |
Drama 1t may he said that II worked smooth |
~; anu seemed 70 please the audience by its |
Oddly and palpable novelty.