Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-03
AxusElrENrs.

The Metropolitan Theater was crowded
in every part last night by brilliant audi
ence to witness the production of "shen-
andoah." That the people we're gratiied
and went away entirely satisfied and thor
oroughly well pleased with the finished
performance. is but to express the unani-
NOUS conviction. The RECORD UNION has
already expressed itself concerning the
merits of the drama and little re-
mains to be added. The play is
presented with a skill and nicely
rejecting the highest credit upon all the
actors in the cast, and it is also mounted
admirably. Perhaps the chief secret of the
remarkable success of this piece is found In
the fact that the playwright has not fallen
into the error, of which SO many are guilty,
of attempting to tell too much, to too much
intensity, to strongly color, or to make
specially vivid sensational scenes of the war
of the rebellion. On the contrary, with
consummate tact, he has just set the door
aJar, giving us merely glimpse
of stirring events of the greatest
tragedy of the century. leaving to the
imagination of the auditor the conjuration
of all the realism of war. Had he at
tempted to present more than the merest
fringe of the battle of Cedar Creek, he
would have endangered the whole struct-
ure of the drama. He affords us but a
glimpse of the celebrated retreat, leaving
to the speculation of fancy the supplying
of all else. So, too, in rejecting the senti-
ment that prevailed North and South prior
to and during the war, he wisely avoids
discussion, heated debates, or any refer
ence whatever to the political issues of those
troublesome times. Instead, we are given
just glimpse of tie devotion on one side
to the State, and on the other of loyalty to
the Union. And these two brief but clear
and strong views suffice to bring before us
the whole picture of the great drama of
arms, with all its accompanying trials Of
faith, and all the miseries and horrors of
fratricidal strife. Where such general ex-
cellence prevails in a dramatic company
such as that of Mr.. Hayman's. perhaps
there should be no singing out of any one
character for especial notice; but it COM
ports with business of judgment to say that
for delicate shading and nicely of art, Mr..
Barrow's Sergeant Barket is one of the
most striking examples of good dramatic
work that has ever been seen here. Yet it
would be difficult in an analysis OF the
characters persOnated to point out wherein
there is less fineness of art in Mr.. Miller's
Colonel West, or Miss Comstock's admira-
Bile Interpretation of the part of Jenny, or
Mr.. Harwood's strong and manly persona
ton of General Buckthorn, Miss Tyler's
Gertrude, or Mr.. Bailey's Lieutenant Bed.
loe. So the long list might be gone
through, bnt still the character that will
linger longest in memory--that will be re-
called as the most clearly defined and most
artistically handled-is that of the Irish
Sergeant, the slightest overlooking of
which would make it burlesque. The
young men of Company A. of the First
Artillery Regiment, rendered very efficient
aid in the piece completing the military
picture admirably. Shenandoah" will be
played again to. night. By special request
matinee will be given at 2 o'clock this
afternoon, the general admission being so
cents and 81, and for children so cents in
all parts of the house.
An increased and much delighted audi
ence at the Congregational Church last
evening followed Mr.. Bolton over Vienna,
the Austrian capital, that rivals Paris in
art, architecture and courteous people, and
thence to the dream like city of the Turk,
on the Bosphorus. Constantinople abounds
in bright colors, Asiatic races and surprises
at every turn.
At o'clock this afternoon Mr.. Bolton
will give the children and their friends, for
matinee performance, his splendid Illus
trated Mighty London"
By strange coincidence, in the evening
the famous Shenandoah" divides patron
age with Mr.. Bottoms wildly illustrated
Americas Civil War for the Union.'
Every view genuine, the result of five
years examination of the best negatives
taken by our own and foreign Governments
during the Rebellion.