The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-07

= - ~ citation with which Mr..
UW Bronson Howard's crea-
ton was received gave
unmistakable evidence of the fact that nothing
OF real merit fails of artistic and financial ap-
provai from the great public OF Seattle. Enough
OF lavish compliment has been showered upon
shenandoah" but little has been said here OF
that which underlies play Of this nature. For
many years those of our people who
have felt gifted with dramatic power,
have gone TO the literature of other
countries for the subject, the characters.
the scenes and motives Of their plays. Mr..
Augustin DAILY and Mr.. A. u. Palmer, who have
LED our ideas and tastes TO q great extent, have
gone, the former to the German and the latter to
the English stage. for works with which to
smuse and entertain our public The late
George Fl. Boxer, Mrs Frances Hodgson Bur
nett, among authors, and Mr.. Al Hayman,
among inpressarfos have gone In large degree
70 foreign sources for their inspiration. Out Of
the mass and multitude of drama, tragedy and
opera, those which are distinctively American
are in the minor proportion. Playwrights and
composers, with a unanimity that has be-
come pronounced, left the green fields OF
our native valleys and wandered away among
the rough breakers of distant shores. Here in
our midst, however, at our very doors, we have
in Literary abundance and convenience the
rough materials which beneath the masters
hand may be transformed into glorious art
ch1RAhSr DAAkdiA6 tftaklHS u QatlOuhk dTGIuAtlC
literature as noble and as intense as that OF
Greece, Rome, England, Germany or France. II
history 10 desired, no nation points 20 a prouder
record, no soldier can boast OF prouder deeds or
boider conqucsts than ours. We can sing the
song OF liberty with as holy an intensity as any
tribe OF men. Tragedy we find on every hand
comedy we meet in every quarter OF our trans
continental country. Every field is rich and
teeming with brilliant incident, sufficient TO in
spire even the Flooding sluggard in his
work Therefore the success which
has attended shenandoah" Alabama"
1.-THE Old Homestead" "The County
Fair" "The Senator" and other distInctively
American plays, should be an encouragement to
those who aim to achieve dramatic fame in our
country. The company that presented "shen-
andoah' was entirely worthy OF the play There
is no need to indiyidualize. Each artist was en-
tirely competent On Thursday evening the
magician, Hermann, filled an engagement at the
opera house This wizard of mystic art has
long been recognized az a monarch in the con.
| juring world. Sometimes these entertainers ex-
| plain their mysteries and then lot of "apish
Alexander exclaim, ssShaw! could have done
| the same myself" Any one could have done
what Columbus did, too, after he had shown the
way. Hermann is nothing If not wholly unique
and original. His achievements are al.
ways marvellous. At Cordray's the story
OF success, both artistic and financial,
was repeated "only q Farmers Daughter
proved to be one OF those strong creations that,
OF their intrinsic worth, win their way into
popular favor Miss Alberta, who sunk her
individuality in "Monte Cristo," was given a
finer chance TO display her intense dramatic
power. Mr.. Whitecar also continued to retain
the favor OF his audience. The engagement
was also rendered more than ordinarily at
tractiye by the clever soubrette work of Miss
Louise kellogg, especially engaged. This clever
little woman won quite place for herself in
the affections of her audiences. and, together
with Mr. Gray, provided most of the comedy of
the play The management at Cordrays is en-
titled to good word for having rendered q ben
eft during the week to q worthy charitable
| institution.
Galley Slave" ut Cordray's.
The Cordray stock company will present "The
| Galley Slave the coming week The play
promises to be extremely fine. The plot of il
is strong and rather different from the conyen-
tional style OF dramas. The opening scene OF
the play is laid In Venice Sidney Nor
colt is poor but ambitious artist
francesca Remini is his model. A party
OF young Americans visit Venice. Among
the party Ia Cicely Blain, a rich heiress.
She meets Sidney Norcott. They fall In love with
one another. There Is man calling himself
Baron lie Bots who also aspires to the hand of
Cicely, but who is an impostor. and not titled
nobleman, and in reality Antoine Brsban, the
husband of francesca, whom he has deserted.
fI80cSsC4, IN lef stafC4 IOr lST tIuaDI husband.
appears on the scene in time to see the Baron,
alias Antoine, kiss the hand of Cicely. She also
hears OF the approaching we dding of Cicely, and
naturally supposing Antoine to be the prospective
bridegroom, she waits until Cicely is alone and
tells her her love is false, mentioning no names
she gives cicely, as she supposes. positive proof
of her lovers perhdy In the meantime Sidney
Norcott has ahsented himself on some missive
expecting to return to be married in two
days. Before his return Cicely flies 10 es-
cape him, believing him to be utterly
unworthy of her love- Pc loses all trace OF her
and goes to America, continuing his search
there. A year elapses- The Baron has been
successful in his wooing; Cicely, believing sill
lore in her heart dead, consents to o union with
him. On the evening of her marriage to the
Baron sidney Norcott forces his way into her
apartments through window. Then mutual
reproaches and naturally explanations follow.
Sidney, heart broken at losing Cicely moro et-
sectively than If he had never seen her. urges
her to fly with him. Their vast love overcom-
ing every scrupie, they are about 10 co. when
number of servants and guests rush in, among
them the Baron. Seeing the man he has ter
rihly wronged, and dreading his vengeance. the
Baron brands Sidney as a thief and causes his
arrest To save cicely's good name, for
were Ii known that he, former lover
was discovered alone with her in her private
apartments on the evening of her marriage, he
allows the accusation TO stand and bears the
brand of thief, being sent TO the SalIeys for
seven years. While there he meets Francesca.
who has been sent to prison for stealing bread
10 keep her little child from starving. He tells
her how Cicely had told him OF her mistake in
supposing the Baron her lover and not himself
During their interview there are visitors ad-
mitted 20 see the convicts, and among them is
the Baron. alias Antoine, the faith less husband.
Francesca sees him aud claims him as her hus-
band. bringing positive proof, which of course
makes Cieely's marriage with him invalid.
Psyche Gay, gay and wealthy young girl. who
is also one of the party, meets and falls
desperately in love with Franklin Fits,
an honest but somewhat erratic young man who
hasn't penny. Naturally there 10 great oppo-
sition on the par. of relatives 70 prevent Psyche
marrying Mr.. Fits Their courtship gives scope
bring the obdurate mother 20 acquiesce. They
are married and are tyrannized over BY the
aforesaid mother. The plot Of the play Ia sharp
and vivid and cannot fail TO interest all
Great preparations are being made BIZ the man
agsmene to have this an unusually attractive
presentation. Miss Alberta viii play Francesca
and Mr.. Whiteear Sidney Norcott. Miss
Louise Kellogg will play the part of Psyche Gay
and Mr. C. III. Gray viii do Franklin Fits.
These are the comedy roles and viii produce
much fun. The following is the caste:
sidney Norcotf .,-...............-W. a WhitecAr
Baron lie Bois ,..-.-......-.. Lorirner Johnstone
Oiyer oupnant-s-.-----.... Love
frankun fItss .Nharles Gray
hsllesiy NAp&eE .--.-...-...-..-.-. Jean NeineF
Iaros tue keeper Waiter fesSlez
frsncesa hefnina- laura Alberta
tsfreiy Main Kaf Dntrifgh