New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-22
HARRIGAN'S THEATRE.

new play by Edward Harrigan produced last
night in Harrgans Theatre and 1t observed with
interest and rewarded with applause by company
OF spectators as large could be assembled In that
place The name OF it is HThe Last OF the Hogans,'
and ms is usual with the compositions OF Mr.. IIarri
gan 1t Is farce Of humble Bfe among the local Irish
and negroes who wildly oomminged and contrasted
The method pursued by Mr. Harrfgan, in the making
Of his plays. is the Photographic method. Under
ordinary circumstances the results would be common
place, coloress and tedious. The manufacture Of
maps requires skill but II does not require dramatic
art and II does not address the sense of that art.
The circumstances under which Mr.. Harrfgan applies
the Photographic method however. not always
ordinary and therefore he has sometimes produced
results that peculiar, zestful and pleasant. The
Irish are singular peope-often presenting character
istc attributes and the amusing oddities OF eccens
iric conduct Mr.. IIarrgan does not copy without
discrimination but he selects what he will copy; and
since he possesses keen sense OF humor and trained
Judgment OF effect his selection is generally fecltous
The Ibsen Zoa- Free-Theatre crazy deusOn that com
mon and dirty facts. exactly reproduced. will make
play has not oppressed his mind and il not exemplhed
in his works for while he is sometimes commonplace
he is never bore. His plays and many scenes in
them are breezy with fun; and once in awhile he i'm
parts the thrill OF tender humanity.
In THE Last OF the Hogans' he has again exerted
his faculty OF quzzlcal satire Of the absurdites Of
the lower orders Of his Irish race-a theme that ap
pears vastly 10 anuse MS Fancy anu one thaJ ne II
not afraid to treat with good-humOned fidelity and
frank merriment The play is comprised in three acts
and there is set scene for each of them. Forty two
persons are involved in the exposition OF It's story,
beside auxilaries. The scene is New-York and the
time to-day. Mr. Harrlgan presents in vein OF
rich and sympathetic drollery Irish magistrate,
and much sport Is derived from display Of compiled
tons Of circumstance duplicating about dozen rep
resentatves Of the numerous family Of Hogan many
tha NJ he
apartments Of Judge McKeever proceeds In floating
church. at the front Of the city, and terminates
in festive retreat called the Gull Club House six
new songs, by Mr. Dave IHaham, interpreted
along its course bearing these titles Danny BY NY
side" Take a Day on, Mary Ann" The Last Of the
Hogans" The Knights Of the Mystic Star" The
Rainbow Road L" Hats OF To Me-" Particular de-
crptOn Of the incidents cannot be attempted Things
rolcsome to see may become merely stupid when
specified IN print There is eplenetic and v0cifer-
Gus lawyer in quest Of the last Of the HOgans and 1t
is understood that this muchcoveted person will be
endowed with estate when found. There IS a
willy negro-t treasurer Of "a coOred church, keeper
| Of a Faro Bank, and founder OF q Mystic shrine-who
| possesses the parchment pedigree Of the llogans,
whereby the last of that race can be Identified. and
who purposes 10 utilize his possession. There is Il
sale Of the coIored church," to wealthy spInster
| whom Judge McKeever intends to wed. There j. q
| tang,e of cro,s-purposes in which this dame and
There Is confusion about the OF Angelina. There
is comic opposition of the begerent negro and Irish
elements, in the realm Of domestic service. There l.
one mob Of Irish and Of negroes. and both have
been so well taught that whether In fight CONCERT
their action is perfect. There is Infusion Of the
prize ring and Judge McKeever, always sport, has
hacked d favOrte in this branch OF modern industry
There is abundance OF song and dance Of ante ard
foOlery OF merry nonsense and other comic trash. Al
his first entrance, and In response 20 summer storm
! Of cheers Mr.. Hariean made short speech wherein
| hs was understood TO declare that In making tins
| piece he had followed IN the groove in which be
| thought the public wished him TO wOrk-that oi Joke
and song and sequence and that he hoped the OBJ
iect would be attained that object beng laughter.
Mr. johnny Wild, chief negro npOn his frst entrance,
also made speech and echoed his cheftalns remarks.
Mole OF this matter h neodfui to rcatee1oept 10
.ay that the object Of Mr. Harrigan's ambition and Of
the publc's desire entirely fulfilled. The people
grlnned and rOared al all they saw, ana II We OBJ
Served that they made Just as happy BY rough
| and-tumbie row By an ebullltOn Of Como char
I arter or an effect Of legitimate hunior-suci the
acting OF Mr. Hargan not lnfrequently provides and
-uch as shown IN the alterations Of feeling anon
the negro performers, many Of whom are surprisingly
| good, 1.-THE Last Of the Ho;ansh VIII be more en-
| ioyabe when IL has been clarified. IL has method
In its merry madness but this l. now obscUred some
| what By an Of Incidents and words. The piece
had the precisc that expected for ~ ana
| for Mr. Harrtgan, Mr.. Wild, Mrs. yesmans, Emns.
| Pollock and Ada LeYis there was tina enthusiasm Oh