Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-12-17
OPERA HOUSE GOSSIP.
About the Plays and Players
That Come Here.
LILLIAN KENNEDY'S BIG SUCCESS IN
"sHE COULDN'T MARRY THREE
"UNCLE's DARLING" LAST NIGHT

The truth of the old phrase, "adver-
tising pays" was proven last week
Freeland does not give hearty welcome
to companies lacking a local reputation,
and it usually requires something more
than name to fill the Opera House.
The managers of Lillian Kennedy SEEM
ed to be aware of this fact, and the ex-
tensive advertising done by them the
past six weeks had a telling effect on
Thursday evening, when 'She Couldn't
Marry Three" was given before the larg-
est house of the season. Messrs. Has
senforder have a good company and
good play, and are not afraid to tell the
public of it.
The scene of the piece is laid along
the coast of Cornwall County, Eng, and
the portrayal of the Cornish dialect, so
familiar once in the mining regions, was
perfect. The representation was a
pleasant change from the monotonous
characters with which the stage is
crowded, and the successful efforts of
the actors were fully appreciated. OF
course Miss Kennedy was the star, but
she is surrounded by capable company,
and divided the honors with her brother
John j., and f. P. Sullivan. Two of the
other members, Messrs. Williams and
Irving, were seen here before, the for
mer in the Irish Corporal" and the lat
ter in Mountain Pink"
The scenery used was excellent, but
the audience was denied the privilege of
seeing some of the best portions. owing
to the inadequate stage facilities of the
Opera House. More than one-half of
the scenery, including the fine repro
duction of the Dingley Tunnel, had to
be omitted on this account. The same
trouble has been experienced on previ-
GUS occasions, and will probably have to
be endured until Freeland has an opera
house IN which plays of the character
Messrs. Fowler q Boyle would like to
book here can be appropriately staged.
Another subject of general complaint is
the poor light furnished Considering
the eXhorbitant price paid per night by
the lessees it is strange if the proprietor
cannot afford to make gas that will burn.
"Uncle's Darling" the Alaskan drama
in which Hettie Bernard Chase is star
ring, gives that lady abundant oppor-
tunity to display her talent, and she
made excellent use of it last evening.
The play and plot are of the regulation
Sort containing the customary william,
hero, etc, and ends in the good old way,
but instead Of their trials and troubles
being enacted in drawing-room they
are located in the ice-bound fields and
coast of British Columbia and Alaska.
The realism of the scenery serves to
strengthen the piece throughout, and
some picturesque scenic effects were
shown. The animals introduced play
only small part in the show, and their
appearance is made at the most appro-
pirate time. The tabeau at the conclu-
sion of Act l was the finest yet pro-
duced on the stage here. The acting
was generally spirited and the audience
well pleased.
Irish comedy-drama is a perennial
source of profit to theatrical managers
who know how to cater to the public de-
mand for the article and one unfaiing
attraction in this line is the BLACK
Thorn" in which Joseph ]. Sullivan has
been starring successfully for some sea-
sons past. The play will be given here
for the first time on Christmas Eve, next
Thursday evening. The performances
of the "Black Thorn" have come to be
regarded by the play-going public
throughout the country as something
akin to Joe Murphy's or Scanlan's sue
cesses-everybody must go and see them.
There are few more truthful or amusing
representatives of Irish character than
those presented by Mr., Sullivan and his
co-workers in their performance 1t was
played this season at Philadelphia dur
ing the week commencing October 70,
and the Inquirer had the following to
say of it,
Large audiences were present every
evening when the musical comedy
drama, "Black Thorn" was presented
by the funny Irish comedian, Joseph J.
Sullivan, and his talented company.
The piece was as amusing as ever, and
Mr., Sullivan, as Denny DOlan, was ex-
cruciatingly comical, his singing and
dancing exciting great deal of merri-
ment. The other characters were well
sustained, particularly good work being
done by M. M. Murray as the jealous
husband and Yankee More as the Grim
inal. Miss Bella Vivian acted amusingly
as KITTY FdrreH and sang and danced
with much acceptability Miss Lea
Peasley did well as Rose Leaf, her sing
ing being received with decided APP |
plause. Little Helen Mantelle was very |
clever as Rena. All the otherro roles were
well sustained. The play was well
staged