The morning call., 1891-07-28
THE THEATRES.
cold Heads and Young Hearts :"
Proves a Great Treat.
The New Opera at the 0rpheum-" The stran-
glers Of Paris" at the Alcszar-Busi-
ness Elsewhere

that so quickly and completely won its way
to the liking of an audience as did the re-
vival of Dion Boucicaults comedy, "Old
Heads and Young Hearts," by Daniel Froh-
mans Lyeaum Theater Company at the
Baldwin last evening. This comedy was
first produced in London in 1874, and at the
Park Theater. New York. on January 9th
the year following. 1t is needless to say
what run the piece had both in Europe
and America. That forms part of the
history of the nglish-Speaking stage
for the last half century, Careful as its
Industrious author was in all his contribu-
tons to the stage, it is to be questioned
whether he has in the long list of his works
turned out more flushed one than this is,
NO matter from what point we view it, the
verdict OF cont leteness must be given. The
perfect dictiOn of the text, its crisp English
and brilliant repartee, the faultesS con-
structlon OF the plot so neatly preserved in
all its surprising involvement and its gradual
Unfolding to the end of the last act, when
the whole story, its whole idea and purpose.
is summed up and emphasized in the brief
but exquisite epilOgue spoken by the old
parson, Jesse Rural
MR. FRoHMAN's PLAYERS
Did ample justice to odd Heads and Young
Hearts," Some stress has been laid upon
the fact that the dramatiS persona would
enhance the Illusion of the scenes by wear
ing the fashions Of fifty or sixty years ago.
Tie effect WAS good, both as regarded the
ladies and gentlemen; but in the case
OF the latter there was an oversight in
dressing the face. The mustache, ex-
ceptng for the military. had not come
in vogue half century ago. yet Mr.. Little
ton Coke (Mr. Kelcey) and one or two
others last evening wore that cherished
the mustache is tondled ana pruned.
even at the expense of dramatic pro-
priety, by the modern actor! Parts
have been thrown down on the stage
directors table and situations thrown up
IN the managers office rather than part
with that beloved fringe which prevents
the dust finding access to the nostrils.
THE LADIES LOOKED CHARMING
In their oid-fashioned dresses. Take Miss
Georgia Cayvan for example. the willy
widow, Lady Alice, in her f1ariDg Legh0rn
bonnet with its nOdding plume, her ample
IN on Lady PompiOn. She came into the
heated drawing-room like draught OF fresh
air, and her evening dresses, now OLD
enough in fashion to be picturesque in mod
ern eyes, had the effect of making her ap-
pear like fully petaled, blushlng English
rose. The girlish Effie Shannon, too as
Kate ROchet, was dream of beauty in
her pretty gowns, the fall Of lace around her
graceful shoulders, and the abundant ring
lets in which her fair face was framed. Such
portraits We have seen of aristocratic types
in the old English ANIMALS, or, as their pub
fishers sometimes called these souvenirs,
books of beauty" But, all this being
said, we would at the same time beg TO in
qulre where the uniform worn by the soldier
In the last act came from.
THE ADMIRABLE CONSTRUCTION
OF "Old Heads and Young Hearts" was
immediately recognized by the audience,
and they settled down to its steady enjoy
ment after the short first act was passed.
The play is full OF points, SO full that some
of them passed unrecOgnized. There is the
quarrel of the Coke brothers, Tom and
Littleton; the laundering kindness OF the
Rev. Jesse Rural; the flirting widow caught
IN her own tolls; the pOmpous Lord Pom
piOn; the animated pepper-pOt, Colonel
Rochet and his charming daughter Kate,
who disregards the old East Indians fiery
speeches and manages him by MS good
heart; and the escapades of Bob, Lttleton
Coke's offlce-boy, who is funner than can
be described. In the role of Jesse Rura,
MIR. LIE MoYne IS the type of an old clergy
man who has almost reached Senility, but
whose affection for the brothers Coke is the
main purpose OF his life. He made a finished
picture of the character. Mr.. Nelson Wheat
croft, as Tom Coke. the hard-headed sensible
brother OF Ltttleton, easily carried ali the
scenes IN which he appeared by the even
ness OF his acting and the perfect way in
which he spoke the English midland county
idiom. 1t is the best thing Wheatcroft has
done, and his work this season has been
commendable in every respect. Mr.. Charles
Walcott Was remarkably efficient as the ex-
plosive Colonel Rgchet, ami Miss Ef1ie
Shannon as his daughter Kate made Won
dertuly pretty picture and acted her
ingenue part admirably. Walter G. Bel
lows realized the idea Of the Earl of Pom
pion up to his neck in politics, who, how
ever, had his little affair in early life, out OF
which the iDimitable Bob (Fritz WIlliams)
in his disguise as Crawl, an electioneering
Layvan, as the gay widow Lady Alice, had
only TO be seen to be admired. She has
caught the idea of the character perfectly
and realizes it with most delightful perfec-
ton. The comedy will have run.