The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-14


ShaUghraun" at the Alcazar one Of the
most notable phases is the love passage be-
tween Captain MoiineuX the English officer
(Mr. James Z. Wilson,. and the fiery
spirited Irish girl, Claire FfoIiot Miss
Ethel BTandon). Il is a case of love at first
sight, and also an illustration of the old say
ing, when obstacles inteTpOse between two
hearts, each seeking its mate, that Glove
finds the way" Nobody but Boucicault
could have wrought this situation out to its
satisfactory conclusion with such deli
catesse. Claire is filled with resentment
against the Englsbman, Out whom she
loves as a man, because he IS the represent
alive Of what she believes to be tyrannOus
government and has put her brother in
peril of his life. Molineux comes TO
her with a double burden "a stern
sense of duty, and heart overlooking with
affection. He pleads his case against these
tremendous odds. A man less earnest
would have been Tepelled by Claire's
manner and angry words; but with m as
cOlIne strength and a lovers tact, he re-
moves in a gentle way all impedimentS, and
the curtain falls on Claire's complete sur
render, weeping on the breast Of the con-
queTOr, with her WOman's love in the fore
ground, her patriotism and her brothers.
peril in perspective. There never was a
more perfect illustration of feminine
human nature-of the Irish type especially.
The actors in this little love duet grasped
the idea Of the playwright fully. II was
the best acting we have seen Miss Brandon
10 Tor some time; 1t was also one of
Wilson's happy opportunities, where the
occasion fitted the man.
Mr. Frederic Bryton
Arrived last week under engagement to the
Alcazar management as a stock star" He
viii appear as Jack Diamond in Clay Dig
Greene's play Forgiven" on Monday, June
I'D. Mr.. BrytOn has won distinction in this
part, which he created, as we'll as in many
others. The story of . Forgiven" tells of
the love Of gambler for a pure, high-mind-
ed girl; Of their marriage and Of the Socia
OstTacism, the hardship and mental anguish
the woman suffers after that marriage; Of
her temptation under the wiles of a false
friend and her triumph in overcoming that
temptation Up 20 this point there is art in
the drama, then art fee steps in 10 please
the gToundlings and prolOng the agony. a
forgotten coat, an ambiguous letter, and the
husband thinks his Tepentant wife has turned
traitor again. For ten years he pursues
her with a loaded revolver and his
hair turns gray before the chase is
finished He learns the truth at last,
his yillainous friend is killed in a
quadrilateral conflict. and the gallery boys
(nad with the scent Of guup0wder, bless
'em , cheer till their throats ache. But there
are glimpses Of pathos and reality even in
these closing scenes. Jack Diamond, the
hero, professional gambler, who lives by
the folly and shame Of others, is depicted as
a man Of noble traits, affectionate, geneT-
Ous self-sacrihcing. The morality Of this
may be questioned, but it is indsputable
that such paradoxes have existed in nature,
especially in new and partly settled neigh
borhoods. Moreover, Jacks faults are not
concealed. He is hOt-tempered, quarrel
some and dictatorisl. A strain OF not un-
pleasant humOr proceeds from a character
serving as a foil to the hero, one Denver
Dan, an old reprObate, with a fund Of
h0mely wit Dir. Bryton is a young and
handsome man, with a sort of easy grace in
his manner and the slightest touch OF reck-
lessness. He might sit for a portrait of
Jack Hamlin, the unconventional idol that
Bret Harte wOrships in several of bis Cali
fOrnia stories