Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-22
Enrerta,nmenss.
THE TEMPTATIONS.

The Pembertons was presented for the first time in this city last night at Proctor's A large audience was present. The Pembertons is intended for strong, intense play. In this 1t is a failure, compared with any one of the late New York successes in society drama. It lacks moral power and point. It is devoid of comedy business; and, in this commission, the author loses valuable op- portunity of grasping the emotions of his audience by quick alternations of comedy with the more serious episodes of his plot. The weakest point of the play, which should be it's strongest, is the final climax. Ia fact, the story lags at the end. Miss Edsall is still amateurist. She has some emotional power which could be heightened by greater art lessness in the less prominent places of her role. She also has precocious "staginess" to outgrow. As Eleanor she ia versatile and perhaps correct after the authors ideal, but she Is not attractive. The center of the Penn bertons' attraction is the handsome Wilton Sackaye as Roman. He outshines the new star. The stage settings are magnificent and the support is excellent. The play will be repeated this afternoon and evening.
 OLD LAVENDER. MT. Edward Harrigan and his company ap- peared in "Old Lavender" before fair sized audience at the Hyperion theater last even- ing. The play gave Mir. Harrigan an oppor- tunity to introduce some of the songs that have made him famous. Sweetest Love-" "Get Up Jack; John, Sit Down" and "Pov- erty's Tears Ebb and Flow" were all admire ably given, and won deserved applause The remainder of the performance was rather tedious, however, and was only now and then enlivened by MT. Joseph Sparks ad- mirable impersonstion of "Smoke." The play will be repeated this afternoon and eve- ming.
 THE PRIVATE SECRETARY. The Private Secretary, which is identified in this country with William Gillette, is not only one of the most successful of plays, but l has had an almost unparalleled run at home and abroad. It does not grew old with repe- tition. MT. Gillette will appear in this play at Proctor's on Monday night. NELLIE ELY. The plucky little globe-trotter, Nellie Bly,, will deliver a lecture upon her tour at Proc- tors on Wednesday evening. NELLIE M'HENRY. Nellie NcHenry and her fine company ap- pear at Prootor's on the last half of next week.
 TRUE IRISH HEARTS.
 This fine old Irish play will be tho attrac- ton at the Grand on the first half of next | week.
 GUILTY WITHOUT CRIME. 1 at the Grand on the last half of next week in their successful play, Guilty Without Crime.
 MAY TOWARDS BURLKsQUKRs. The burleequers of May Towards company give two performances at the Grand to-day
 and close highly profitable week. HERMANN. The great Hermann appears on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week at the Hyperion with his excellent combination. PAUL KAUvAR. Paul Kauvar will be finely presented at the Hyperion on the last half of next week. aLAssBLowERs. The American and Bohemian Glaesblowers are attracting large audiences to the Board-
 man building at State and Chapel streets. THE sALvIN1 ENGAGEMENT. The play selected for the farewell perfor-
 nance of Signor Salvini at the Hyperion
 thsater next Monday evening is Othello. It
 is said that the tragedian's wonderful imper-
 sonation of the tragedy itself Is 80 familiar
 that although he speaks the lines of Othello
 in Italian, 1t is very slight drawback to the
 interest of auditors of the play. Salvini'a
 Moor, heroic in role. great in life and terri
 ble in jealous rage, has nothing in common
 with the comparatively mild manner and
 academic Othello that the American stage has
 known, and when he turns in wrath upon
 Iago, Sslyini reaches indeed the climax of
 fearful ,confict but it is a presentation
 worthy of study and remembrance from the
 moment of his entrance upon the stage until
 the slast scene of all"