The morning call., 1891-07-21
THE THEATERS.
Chambers the IdIer' - as Pre-.
scented at the Baldwin.
a Good Piece and Strong Acting" City Di.
rectory"-" The Celebrated Case"-"A
Royal Pass" 0livette."

''The Idler." produced at the Baldwin in
the presence of a large and fashionable
audience, is very enjoyable play. Chiefly,
because 1t Is original i'll its construction, its
situations ale strong and the text is full Of
telling lines. Mark Cross Herbert Kelcey)
is the central figure. He is not naturally a
bad man, but is put 10 false light by the
overmastering power of love-a disap-
pointed love so strong, however. that
though its object is the wife OF another man,
the passion still sways his entire nature,
and the play hinges upon his efforts to re-
connect her life with his own even at
the sacrifice OF all that upright and honor
able men hold sacred In working to this
end, Kelley is more marked and powerful
in his acting than in any PRESERVATION we
have seen him assume heretofore The OBJ
ject of his passion. Lady Harding Miss
Georgia Cayyan). wife of Sir John Harding,
M. z. (excellently well played by Nelson
VIII eatcrofE, is also given occasion, by the
fine dramatic instinct of the author, for
brilliant displays of her dramatic power,
and although the various scenes were wit
messed by rather stolid audience-fir
nighters at this theater appear 10 be habitu-
ally in this frame Of mind-applause was
compelled, albeit from reluctant hands.
THE LEVERAGE
Mark Cross has in attempting to carry out
his designs in regard to LADY Harding,
with whom he was originally in love as
Helen Merryweather, is the fact that he
sowed his wild oats with her husband in
early life at place called Golden Valley, a
mining camp in California, where Harding
was known as "Gentleman jack" aud
where he shot a man named Strong His
brother, simeon Strong, now millionaire,
mas vendetta against the murderer and is
hunting him down. He recognizes the man
he is pursuing in Sir John Harding. The
latter insists the killing was an accident. but
Simeon is fixed in his purpose to turn him
over to an American jury for their decision
in the matter. When Lady Harding learns
the terrible secret her agony is heartrend-
Ing, aud the scene at the close of the second
act, where she counselS flight and throws
herself into her husbands arms, is one of
the most intensely dramatic in the whole
piece. Here the dramatlSt gives Mark Gross
his opportunity. Cross, while in the min
ing camp, has saved Simeon from dr0wni ng
in freshet lie is bound to him by grail
tude: Cross promises Helen TO save Har-
dng's life if she will come to his room at a
certain hour.
IN HER DESPAIR
She agrees to do so. Cross has, therefore,
two cards to playa life for a life and a life
for a love. He claims that Simeon shall
give him Harding's life for his own which
uC kOlOSSJ Satcus anu, dlJtE ROCu utdi OIL
resistance, Simeon does so in letter. which
is dispatched TO Harding unaddressed, after
his wife has come to Cross rooms accord
Ing to her pledge. Here ensues a scene that
IN mad intensity of passion on Cross part
reminds one of the interview between the
Minister of Police, Scarpia, and La Tosca,
when the latter seeks that official to
plead for the life of her lover.
Lady Harding defeats Cross; but, in
the meantime, her husband has come to
Cross room to thank him for his friendly
service on his behalf. The end of this scene
is thrilling in the extremn. II lding de-
nOunceS his wife, and insists on Cross fight
ing duel with him, no witness being pres
ent. In the last act this affair is prevented
first by the interference of Strong, and Sec
ond by Helen. whose explanation, refused
by her husband on the previous evening, is
now accepted as satisfactory. Cross, aban-
out; but finally consents to lead an eXpedi-
ton that Simeon Strong has projected to the
North Pole.
THE COMEDY.
Some very smooth and enjoyable light
comedy between Mr.. Merryweatber (Mr. w.
j. LIE Moyne) and the two widows, Mrs.
Cross, Marks mother Mrs. Charles Wal
cot, and Mrs Glyn-Stanmore Miss Harriet
CrosmaD). relieves the sterner features of
the drama. and this relief is further en-
HANGED by little love-making between
Simeon Strong (Mr. Eugene Ormonde) and
Kate Merryweather Miss Effie Shannon)
Mr.. Ormonde. who made his appearance for
the first time this season, was not very sat
isfactory. He is crude and inclined to be
stacy. The Idlers" will run for this week.
"The City Directory"
A revised edition of THE City Directory"
tod al ~;