Telegram-herald., 1890-10-18
Al THE CHARITY BALL"
A Fine Audience at Powers Last
Lvening.
Boyd Pntnsm Doing Magnificent work
A simple Play strongly Treated
and Impressive in Moral.

"The Charity Bali" Is not society
dance, as many OF our intelligent deyo-
tees of society expected No, there is
not Strauss waltz, polka, quadrllle,
or an ice or cigerette in the four acts.
Ii i charity ball in name only as far
a. that title pertains TO plot. The plot
of this play does not engage the strained
attention OF the mind, but Belasco &
De Mile have aimed to give
something that is true 10 nature,
true 10 the time and true to socl-
ETY.. The latter fact is evident III the
purpOseleSs talk IN which the charac-
ters indulge in the second act, where
the theme OF the story Is very cieveriy
dropped Tor a time 10y the bright e0bob-
arateurs. There Is no attempt at sharp
or eloquent dialogue and the play Is
indeed commendablel for the reasOnthat
It's characters talk caTelesslv and N
dulge IN commonplace IDEAS, therefore
| natural. The characters are. IN the
four acts, grouped in an unrestralned
fashion, INTO several very pretty ana
hOme-llke PICTURES. TINS Is easily sc
compllsned, for every member Of the
cast IS a finished artist, or has been
most protclently drilled by an accom-
plIshed stage director. Do not imagine
| that there IS not merit in "The Charity
Ball" Would that more plays We're as
simply constructed aud as true TO the
subject treated as 1t Is. 1t teaches
beautiful lesson. 1t draws impressive
pictures that fix themselves IN the
mind for good. There is surely the
very exposition and exemplificaiIOn of
! religious fact and preceDt IN the great
scene IN the third act. This is really
the serious moment of the play, and
the silence and eager attention or the
fine audience IN Powers last evening
was the strongest evidence of It's worth
and effectiveness. The story told is IL
lustrated every day IN every commun-
ity IN the land. A mistake IS turned
TO good by the inspiring influence of
| sincere man of the clOth-and q hapiess
maid is by this blessing assured the
| bright light Of hope ana extended the
support OF justice and honor. How
many times, indeed, has the same been
enacted, which transpred IN Rev. John
| Van Buren's study IN mimic play upon
| the stage at Powers last nIgh2 Boyd
! Putnam is a manly and sturdy fellow
now. He has happily found that re-
| pose Is really stronger than force, that
easy grace dIvines nearer 10 the poetic
IN wit than nervous demOnstratVeness
AS Rev. Van Buren,, last evening, he
was dgnitied, earnest and pathetic.
! PathOs OF magnetic and penetrating
| kind controlled ms auditors when SYM
pathies were PLAYED upon. Boyd seems
| u appreciate the delicate aud finer
touches OF the artists details. IL was
| the most correct and artistic effort he
ever gave To his Grand Rapids friends,
| and 1t was properly appreciated, be-
cause at ali times he looked and lived
/ the character. Henry Herman, the
| consclenceless brother OF the rector,
portrayed the character with match
| less finish. Frances Grant, as
! Phyllis Lee, was natural and
| thoroughly sympathetic. Ruth Car
penter presented herself in the very
| lovable and attractive character of
| Ann Cruger. She was the idea good
| girl, sensitive, modest, sympathetic aud
| courageous when occasion demanded
| It, In fact the whole cast could be
/ gone over with words of commenda-
I ton. The piece IS mounted with spe-
/ cial and proper scenery, and the d-es-
/ sing of tue stage was elaborate and
/ beautful-in fact exceeding anything
/ in tnIs regard that has been seen ln TINS
l thrater for some time. Matinee today.
/ The engagement ends with tonight's :
/ performance.