The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-03
"THE rDLKR..

"THE IDLER."
stiii Another Brilliant Performancs By
the Frohman Company.
The Idier,' the fourth performance of the
Frohman's Lyceum Theatsr Company At the Sc
attic opers-house showed more fcreibly than
any Of the previous plays the power OF the COM
peny IN tragic acting The story, of which the
scene IL laid in England. il not pleasant one,
put II contains many intense situations Marx
Cross, "The Idier,n Is I'm love with Helen Merry
nssther who mArries Sir John Harding while
tross 10 travelling in Italy. The frxt act opens
some months after the wedding In Lady Hard
ings drawing-room- Mark Cross comes back
20 ma his love the wife of another Then
simon strong, an American. appears on the
scene In search OF an Engiishman Gentleman
JACK, VINO, In mining camp some years before,
nsd shof and killed strong's brother. In the
oia"lns-room Strong meets Cross, who had once
saved him from drowning IN America In Sir
John Harding, Strong also recognizes the Cen
tienian jack for whom he is looking. scene
follows, IN watch Strong warns Harding that in
few days warrant Of arrest for murder will
De issued, though Sir John persists that the
shooting was accidental.
Meanwhile Mark Cross meets Lady Harding.
who besesehes him 70 tell her what trouble 10
impending. He relates the terrible story, but
promises TO make an effort TO save her husband
OF Lady Harding viii come alone 20 his rooms
the next night at 10 O'Clock. II he dissuades
strong from the prosecution then Lady Harding
must ny with him TO Europe
on the fatal evening Cross urges upon Strong
the ooh CATION Tor the rescue from drowning,
ana gets strong 70 write to Sir John generating
MIN from all blame. This letter Cross shows to
lazy Harding when she comes, then sending
70 her husband, he urges her TO
o"itn him a. once and never leave him. She
refuses, and though nladdeued with passion
winch ne calls love, he locks the door She
nevertheless resists, and In q highly emotional
scene pleads with him until he allows her 70 go.
just as she Is starting her husband enters, and
y thanking Cross for his intercession, when
Lsdy Harding's fan Is discovered lying on
cnalr sharp words follow, Lady Harding sp-
pears but IL spurued by her husband in most
exciting scene.
The next morning Sir John comes to Cross
rooms with pistols and proposes that they fight
du Ell then and there. The two antagonists
about to fire when Strong appears 70 prevent.
his interference causes a delay of few mo-
ments until Lady Harding and Mark Cross
mother enter. Then Cross confesses his shame
fuI conduct toward Lady Harding, ana she and
Der husband are reconciled.
These emotional scenes are relieved by bye
plot OF comedy. in which old Ar. Merryweather
makes love tothe widow, Mrs Cross, and Simeon
Strong woos Kate Merryweather, Lady Hzrding's
young sister.
The cast was "A follows:
Mark Cross n KeIcey
Sir John Harding. NJ. P.......N. wheatcroft
Nj Aerrywsather. -.....-....-...W. J. JeMoyne
Bennett " King
Lady Harding, Helen Miss G. Cayyan
Kate Merrywesther .-........ Miss E. Shannon
Mrs Cross, Marks mother Mrs. c. Waleott
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ......... Miss H. Crosman
While the play stretched probabilities into
possibilities, and would have been rather poor
reading, IL was still an admirable one for acting
The dialogue was bright, the movement rapid
and the situations strong. 1t must be said,
however, that the loye-msking OF Mr. Merry
weather was wholly extraneous. not IN any
sense part OF the real plot. Yet this work was
admirably done by w. j. lie Moyne and by Miss
II. Crossman, who took with much spirit the
role of the dashing widow
Miss Georgia Cayvsn rs Helen exhibited In all
| her hnes-particularly In her pleading with
| Cross and the reconciliation at the snd-a force
and depth of feeling which were more than
cleverness or talent-actual genius. Nelson
Wheateroft was brilliant. perhaps at his best, in
| Sir John Harding, but Mr.. Whestcroft can play
any role he chooses and play II well. The epithet
"The ldler' could be more fifty applied to Her
| bert Kelley In some OF his other roles for
last night he shook OF the languor
which characterizes much of his work
ana was strong, even merry. Miss shannon
Kate was piquante and graceful Mr. ormonde
and Mrs. Charles walcott were more than good in
| their parts.
The large audience was enthusiastic through
| out and applauded generously.
Tonight THE Charity BALI viii be repeated.
NERVES TOMORROW NIGHT
| Tomorrow night the company will play, by
! special request their delightful humorous farce
| comedy entitled NERVES" This play satirizes
! in q comic way the effect on the men and women
/ who feel themselves affected by this
fashionable malady. The story of many
amusing complications is worked out
/ of the theme of nervous" young
wifes attempted Irritation with a confectIoner
/ merely 10 arouse her husbands jealousy Il
! sets going perfect whirlwind of comic and ex-
| ciringiy humorous situations in which nothing
/ ID cleared up until the final curtain falls To
see this admirable company Saturday night in q
| bright farce-comedy win be a treat The play
ran last season in New York Tonight the
| "Chsrity BALI and Saturday matinee wife"
| viii be performed Nerves will end a mem
orabe dramatic week.