The evening world., 1891-08-21
"ooRoTHY's DILEMMA"

When Miss Coghlan. clad in her regimen
tAls sees the real Jack styles, whom she has
been impersonAting, she bursts into tears and
e1claims: " Believe me, am not . man. I
am girl I am q real girl" and we cannot
help feeling q tri1e amazed at the suggestion
that q woman can thus conceal her sex by
the donning Of pair Of trousers. This is the
keynote OF the play entitled "Dorothy's
Dilemma" produced last night at the Park
Theatre-and fathered In a very impertinent
way by Leopold Jordan, who credits Won
Aoser with the idea-via parentheses-
The play is a peculiar one, for It is not
legitimate farce. farce is an improbable
view OF possible case. The plot must be en-
tirely within reason, but the characters may
BE- 50 whimsically situated that they cause
mirth. "Dorothy's Dilemma" is an improb-
able view OF an impossible case, and, there
fore, say that It is a degree lower in the
scale than farce, without descending to the
dismal abyss or the reeking depths OF farce
comedy. Won Moser, who seems TO have been
designed to furnish American pirates with
ideas" has been very ingenious. Leopold
Jordan in dressing up Won Mosers ideas has
been less felicitous. His work is often heavy
and draggy. He has put ponderous furs
around gauze-clad sylph. He has tried to
paint upon rose leaves with oils.
Miss Helen Barry's version OF the play called
/" a Nights Frolic," and fathered by Augustus
Thomas (poor Won Moser, he Is such a nCnen-
tity where his own plays are concerned), was
at times brighter and more efIeTvescent. The
story Of both dealt with the adventures OF a
young woman, who DISCUSSES herself as a man
10 disgust an old autocrat with his prospec-
tive son-in-law. She herself loves this pro-
spectiye sOn-in-law, and the autocrat's daugh-
ter has given her heart elsewhere, so that the
proceeding seems justinable. The complica-
tions are, OF course, numerous. The disguised
girl finds herself shut up for the night with
the object OF her love, who, OF course, doesn't
| recognize her. The affair becomes critical.
He is about TO disrobe, when she utters the
plaintiye cry quoted above, al am girl l
am a real girl"
There are many quaint situations, and to
all OF them Miss COghlan herself does full
| justice. In fact, nothing but praise can be
given to the charming Rose. The part flts
her like glove, and she makes a vehement
success where Miss Barry fell with the good
old tilne-hOnOred sickening thud. In her regi-
mentals Miss Coghlan was a graceful pic
ture. The people were all good individually.
They did not work well together. They were
slow and awkward in the ensemble. John T.
sullivan made a capital Lieutenant and
Thomas Whinen most artistic NJ. p. Young
Mr.. PEPPER will henceforth be In demand for
juvenile roles, for he did well, and Miss Helen
Russell-well, She was Miss Helen Russell.
Miss Leila WOlstan was a stick and Miss
Adele Palma unnecessarily lndlstinct.
l,n OF II.lo
Barry's claims to Won MOsers play. hate to
touch the question, for It IS humiliating. /
have IN my desk a long typewriter letter
signed by Miss Barry, and talking about law
and legal matters and Miss COghlan, and all
the rest Of 1t. Won Moscr's play was published
in Germany. Bya most lamcntable condition
OF affairs 1t is free to all. Anybody can adapt
it. Miss Barry secured the services OF Angus
tus Thomas, who did the work. Miss Coghlan
was aided by Leopold Jordan, Why, IN the
name Of all that is right and fair, do these
actresses fail TO place Won MOsers name in
big type at the head OF their programmes,
and the names Of the puny adapters In con-
cealed parentheses-anywhere II is a shame
"a downright shame.
suppose sardpu should wish TO present
alabama" in Paris-a ridiculous supposition
by the bye. How would Augustus Thomas like
to read, "First performance OF a new play by
Sardou, called Alabama,' the idea suggested
by one Augustus Thomas" in tiny type.
How would Gillette thc is as bad as any OF the
pirates care 10 see the announcement in
France OF a new play called Held by the
Enemy" by MIR. snOoks, aided by n small.
typed Gillette?
What howl would go up heIei what talk
there would he Qicl DotD, mes JrereS
Meetings would be called, resolutions passed
international complications would arise. Hah
it IL sickeuing, this juggling Of ideas.