Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-04
JoHNL. SULLIVAN, TRAGE0IAN.
Niblo's Theatre Crowded-Peopie DO
Homage to the Great Actor.
New York Herali.l

New JNrk h'Ih4N'l
The distinguished tragedian John l..
Henry Irying-BoOt Sullivan appeared
Monday at Niblo's Theatre.
Mr.. Sullivan in challenging a New York
audience-that is to say. chall ngIng metro
nolitan criticism-probably did So with the
fullest confidence in his own powers. lie
has faced many n bigger audience, notably
that last year in Mississippi when over
eight thousand people saw MN ana Nil
rain play together.
The distinguished tragedian, however.
had a more critical audience yesterday,
although a smaller one. lie chose tor ms
first appearance in this city sensational
comedv-drama IN four acts. which was Just
as original a. himself.
Ii was evident from the very beginning
that Mr.. Sullivan is hard student. with
thorough appreciation of the modern
classical drama. Ii is true he has some
mannerisms, as was but too PLAIN when IN
the last act he explains to Joe LannoD with
the mittens on. But there are manner
isms which can be overlooked, as the man
nerisms of Henry Irving have been over
looked. 1t would be hypocrltlcal 10 CON-
pare Salvinl's choking Of Desdemona and
Sullivan's choking OF OF Joe Lannon IN
fins admirable and rip-roaring drama.
The methods Of both are different, but the
result Is the same.
Joe Lannon. or tug O'Buen,' rs the
character IS called which he essays, l. a.
eiTectually knocked ont as was Desde-
mona in Shakspeare's equally great play.
sULLIvAN's STYLE.
But while speaking of mannerisms credit
must be given TO the great actor from Dos
ton for the way in which he manages the
love scenes, because. unlike Fletcher ana
Montague, he restraints himself and per-
mits the words rather than look or gesture
to tell the tender tale.
There IS one great fault TO be found with
this sensational cOmedy-drama,' andtnat
Is II does not afford sufficient scope for the
undoubted talents Of the tTagedian-he
has but three rounds in the third act when
be ought to have three IN every scene, and
this appeared to be the opinion OF the
artist. While admitting that this drama
is original, having three rescues. two
robberies, two forgeries. one murder
one will, one accident. three sets OF
lovers, two villains. and one probable hand
ING. still it is faulty in construction. For
example. an inspector of Irish constabulafy
frequently appears with his men, and all
the time he carries q New York policeman
club instead of a sword. Again, Norah
DAILY. an Irish peasant girl, wears Wat
teau costume in one acs, and III every act
her clothes do not come much further
down than her knees. Another fault IS that
boxing-cloves are used at a fair instead OF
shlllllaghs.
THE SUPPORT.
As for the support / may mention that
Miss Virginia Nelson, who plays the twice
rescued heiress who finally marries Mr.
John l., Sulliyan'S brother, a blacksmith,
does very nicely. and wears new PAIR Of
| boots. Jack Barnitt won great applause as
| the master of the ceremonies" at the hight
AT the far and thrilled the house whenever
| he said 'Go to your corners ana lime.
| The subsidiary hero, Mr.. Duncan Is. Harr-
son, displayed much tremolo IN al MS
speeches. and Tug O'Brien lMr. Joe Ian
! nom considerable muscle.
He was original in his acting. When APP
plauded in the middle OF sentence he
would stop and conscientiously begin all
| over again. This is not the rule with other
/ great tragedians, but they follow tradition
| too closely.
When assisting in the escape of his in
! iured brother, wrOngtully accused by
| Polished Villain of killing General De La
cey Dare. his landlord, when, as a matter
| of fact. Polished Villain had killed his own
pa with his own hand. Tragedian Sullivan
| said in Offering to stop the pursuers =
will brain the first man, and never broke
nv word" The audience cheered this
/ sentiment to the echo.
In the last act in the boxing bunt Joe
/ Iannon shows his muscular arms, but
/ John l.. is hempered by shirt. There is
music between each round, and al the end
| John is very much blown. He is very fat,
and seems to weigh 800 pounds. The box
/ ing is good, for Joe IS nearly as heavy as
| John and can handle his dukes"
GALLERY GODS OUT IN FORCE.
! In the afternoon there was only a slim
1 house owing to the parades, but at night
/ il was well filled. The gallery was sight
/ TO behold, il was in full updress-all shirt
| sleeyes-and the calls for - John L." were
repeated again and again after each scene.
The lobby of the theatre was flower
/ garden. There was gigantic hye-pointed
star, rich with glowing color and sweet
/ smelling flowers, and also another gigan-
| tic piece representing a heart, with the
/ letters j. l., s., sent to the tragedian by
/ j. X. Cusack. j. b. Patterson. Fred Cor
don, and j. II. Cusack. There was another
magnificent gift tor him from Mr.. Harrl-
/ son, who trained him--that is, for the
/ stage. Patti herself was never so favored.
Miss Strong and Miss Nelson also received
/ floral gifts.
! To give the names of the audience would
be to give all the sporting and hstic lights
! in town. There was decided flavor oil
| the ringand the race-course about it.
/ IL only remains To be said that our new
| tragedian relIglously sticks 10 the way he
has been posed, and that he has his in
ward eye constantly on his next speech.
Booth Is nowhere.