The Critic and record., 1891-04-14
ADJUSTMENTS

Praise of Mr.. Daly's Company has lost
the charm of novelty. IL has been part
of their hourly experience for years past
to hear everything nice and graceful and
tlattering I'm the way of comment upon
their performance. They are used TO adj
mirauon they have become indurated
as IL were, under the processes Of praise
there is nothing new for them i'm the way
of compliment. We shall, therefore, en-
deavor to avoid the commonplace and un-
interesting raptures of the average
panegyrst and to make the nearest pOss
BILE approach to originality.
One thing must be said, even at the cost
Of iteration. The DAILY Company deserve
especial commentator for having in
vested with charm play Of large intrinsic
feCbleness. Just why Mr.. DAILY wasted
his own brilliant gifts as an adapter and
the surprising talents Of his company rs
players upon so poor a thing as the drama
he calls "rhe Last Word,n IL Is difficult to
imagine. Save as an evidence that his
company can defy the rules to which
others are subject, the production of this
play must ever remain mystery.
The stage setting is of course exquisite
the business in Days own perfect style,
the acting such as Rehan, Drew, Lewis,
Clarke and their coadjutors have made
famous all over the world, but the play
In the second act the best idea and the
liveliest movement of the whole thing oc-
cur. There we find that delicious COM
edy, that dainty and infectious gaiety and
that sprightly action which belong to the
DAILY Company alone. But the third act
is weak. The force of Baroness YcId's APP
peal to the secretary is frittered away i'm
an irrelevant departure which, from any
lips save those Of Ada Rehan, would have
seemed maudlin. No higher compliment
can be paid the DAILY Company than TO
say that they succeeded in making this
play profoundly interesting and in hold
ing their audience throughout.
Mr.. Rapley has given us charming
mann at his charming theatre during the
season of '00-'0l, and like a true artist,
he has kept the best for his piece de re-
@Stdncc. There is nothing on the
American, or any other stage, that ranks
with Days Company, in its peculiar line
that Of elegant and wholesome COM
edy. He gives us clean plays, inter
preted by ladies and gentlemen. The
moral atmosphere is high and clear, the
artistic standard far beyond ordinary
reach.
"U. s. Mail" at Albaugh's.
The "U. S. Mall" a musical farce
comedy, by two well.known Washington
correspondents, was the attraction at Al
baugh's last night. 1t has been highly
successful since its first Introduction, and
last nights performance scored an addl-
tional success. That the play is a satirical
and mirth-proyoking comedy is the state
ment of the authors, that is fully justified
| by the facts. The incidents of life in
| postoilice and its political surroundings
| form the basis for a great deal of mirth-
| provoking dialogue, the introduction of
| humorous and catchy songs and pleasing
| dances The character Of John Woaey-
ndktr was eXcellently interpreted by Mr..
Dan Packard, and affords a large field for
| u good deal of CariCaturing. Mr.. Odell
| Williams was cast for the part, but he
was i'll and Mr.. Packard had 10 take his
| place on very short notice. He acquitted
himself handsomely.
| One of the hits was n song, "Aint Our
Eagle Got Noble SCreech?' 1t was u
| humorous reference to the Italian ques-
tion, and was written by Mr.. Il. $. Cor
| men, the correspondent. II was excel
lently rendered by 1Mljor .HcG6lneSs and
| Miss Parker. Frank David as III Hdi,d,
the tramp printer, is an old fayorite here,
| and he was cordially received. Miss
George Parker as lack, the daughter of
the postmaster, made a pleasing impress
sion. She sang and danced admirably,
and was warmly applauded.
The remainder of the cast is excellent,
|
and pleasingly present play like the ~.
| S. Mail"
"The Fast Mail" Mt Harris.
"The Fast Mal' scored triumph at
Harris Biiou Theatre last night, if the ap.
plause which greeted il from the large
audience be any criterion by which to
judge. 1t is play of the melodramatiC
order, and owes its success, in addition to
good acting, to the handsome scenic
effects, some of which are admirably
| executed. Realism runs rampant especi.
ally in the railroad and Niagara Falls
scenes, while number of minor effects
stamp the play as decidedly clever. The
Niagara Falls scene is a revelation adj
mirably conceived and executed, and pre-.
sents some of the best mechanical work
ever seen on the stage.
The cast is n capable one, and interpreted
the play in an able, intelligent manner
The performance last night, notwithstand
ing the intricacY of stage settings, etc.
went very smoothly, and showed the com
bined result of care and skill in its pro
ducuon.
Kernan's.
The City Club Vaudeville and Bur
lesque Company opened their week s en-
gagement at Kernan's Theatre last night
in the presence of a large and well pleased
audience. The company made adecidedlS
favorable impression when here last sea
son and is strong and well balanced
company. The curtain was rung up OF
Harry Morris and Fred Soomon's spec
tacular "Studies in Black" introducing
the entire company. 1t was an amusing
little sketch, interspersing musical selec
tions and witty sayings with Matt Nor
gan's celebrated pictures of Partisan art
Lowry and Evans, the electric lights
were well received, as were also Bryant
and Wells in their jolly comedy flashes
The honors of the evening were about
equally divided between the great Seftor
and Phillys Allen. The former is alway.
funny, while therei is not better vocalis
ON the vaudeville stage than the latter
She was repeatedly called TO the foot
lights, and the oftener she sang the NOR,
enthusiastic became the audience. vii
liam and Fanny Everetts are excellen
German comedians and Charles BRYAN
and Gus A. Saville do an amusing musi
cal act. Cad Wilson and Madge Dayen
port are fascinating skirt dancers. Tn
performance concluded with a burlesqu
entitled THE O-Home-in-Stead."
Wilson's Minstrels.
Mr.. Bert Davis, agent of George vii
sons Minstrels, is in the city. Th
troupe will be at Albaugh's all of mex
week.