The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-01
THREE NEW PLAYS OFFERED.
"7HE DANCING GIRL" "NI0BE," AND
"1HE CLUB FRIEND"

"oFpt CT tOrStvcn hcrO-FreSh
Fun at the B!joW and the Star The atres.
The rsopeninG OF the Lyeeum Theatre last
evening did not bring the attached company OF
that house back for tho season. but merely
returned young + II. Sothsrn for another
term on the same stage where he had been
transformed from crude and immature actor
into n very popular star" Therefore tho
circumstances which raised the occasion into
high interest had to be remarkable. They
wore such. moreover. as to make expectation
futter between success and failure. II. A..
Jones's THE Dancing Girr' had been chosen
as the play Everybody who reads tho news OF
London thea,rcals knows that this is u
serious drama. and not q one. part medium for
tho exploitation OF a single comedian: 40 it
seemed strange that 1t should be devoted TO
the service Of Mr.. Sothern. Again. tho chatRc.
ter assigned to him was that Of n sinful man.
whose vices arc set forth wildly AMI
bluntly by the author. and it is not
usual for favorto comedian TO figure
In that kind OF role. Tho audience which
assembled was ready to DO enient In It's judc-
ment Of tho actor. II lie should fail in the
now role, and 1t was very glad. mani
testify. wheu it found that he could be
applaudod honestly for having acquitted
himself very well. That award OF COM
mendation was made mt the end Of the
third act. when he was called out with consid-
srable Enthusiasm 1t was not n great tri-
umph. but his performance wns quito re-
spectacle In quality. anil the engaging person-
atty OF Mr. Sothern hoped it into q good de-
groe OF success.
A preponderanr proportion Of tho dramatic
strength In The Dancing Girl Is coucen-
trated in the third act A Grl Of Quaker rear
inE has COMO very fur AWAY from her child.
hoods path Of rustic innocence. and be-
como danscnse in London. She IS
not led astray. for so goes the wrong
way OF her own clear hoice. vciously and
Tanonly She rcyossf in wha: should hs her
A contrastiugy right minded girl. gentle
a"saa Sto cripple has all" HSss
Worthy maiden. Who loves him.; and
al on the d"n tan sr us Wien INK hc has has
lHt to sanarder upon the shs
9Hs Gbssar' ~, NJ ss,hSF, ha. made
the outset Of course. Quo OF those Young men
Tor whom plenty Of money; leisure. and good
congenIaI acting Tor his al WAYS lkeane com.
edlan. but he has contri,cd to seem Just worth
The world has given me many kicks" he
mafs n as and dat festive he will TlSs
sSs ,hra is ss g"c fsHs, c1 chs res sss
and then, whe" the m u! raises the poson to
his lips; the nmsG stays his hand. Alter
lion. ana ne .tnIortakos to become her we'll
set SO MANY London pens 10 inoraizng. II is
an uneuually meriorous work. essentially
and dealing with no new or strange theme 1t Is
likely to repeat its London vogue here. nj rast TO
ably Approved iYccum bSc can Mr. s sotern
doesn't fail IN it. because Virginia Harmed IS a
heroine. and because It. is offered in the
artistic manner ch4rGet.ristc 4 this theatre
hanGings and Otherwise for the reoreninc,
and It had Nd most pleasing and untheatriral
de%S from The dom. to bsn SS ee et"a aS
although stil out OF sight. they Were for the
siEst time within a1Erceab, hoa,nT The as.
house. and they gave much distinction to the
outset OF the Lyceum's preliminary season.
The Star Opens With New Play.
A clever comedian OF tho younger school.
Roland Reed. achieved the lest triumph OF his
career last night when, in presence OF
crowded and extremely boisterous audience.
he produced for tho first time in New York
Sydney Rosenteld's comedy. Tho Club
Friend" With this signal success the STIR
Theatre opened its new season. 1t will need
no other play for two months. Tho drolory Of
Reed and the crisp humor OF Rosonfed's story
there will be enforced laughter while The
Club Friend " stay among us.
The drift OF Mr. Eoseu: cid S play Is OF alto
gether farcical. for there is at the outset an
element OF probability aud Of seriou, ness in
the plot When SiugreSat ElJert was twenty
years younger and corresoondingy poorer no
had been bewitchei By tho golden hair and
hazel Dyes OF n lass whose parents had order
ed her to reject him. She had done SO and
is yrh ltl.a nj hnrnns in ND
he had Gone away sad and grown rich.
returning to New York million
airs he meets Mt tho club Abram
Oaks. who takes an Immense liking to
the genial. sonE-sin.nG storytelling Million
to @eet a IdH Just abonp h I tins o ,oo
Fitbert encounters NJ the home of another
friend briGn Tir wh9;e his is golden AMI
TO him. The resemblance is mark-d. but the
Of course. is the daughter q his old name
That old lame, meMnwhlle. has become a
AZ No. 09bs inno%,nIy announc s1 TINT b" Is
@ad e$as me mHyian G 7 las s." 49,
ssres OF cross nar"ses ZONE tie t nao
nlications that IT,. ne Art time nlnpGe
dsphs Of farce Whs "a%. ds |a .. to ak
tlltrrfs indul@Hnce, ITO mllon.Irc.s other
yEl0uuS UTIuE nm 10 mrs. ''HE"' Il u Win ntF
he IL discovered in to-a-t'te by the quickly
jealous OAKS when the latter returns. The I'M
rayei OF the tanse is simple enough. iH-
bert declares his love Ter III. daughter: rrS
Daks is relieved II her anxiety. uahs = his
jealousy, AMI The club iiirni is rowarcL
by tho hani OF the .it!e Eri with lhn golden
hair and the hazel eyes, There has al this
time been IN Progress also cUunto plot
based upon he love OF Mrs. DnhS ph, scipn
Tor his Needless patient and concerning his
attempt to win her unwor,hiv bv compronlIs-
ing her But hers too. tUbrt il useful heroic.
and quick-wittei 1. HIS generosity and hi, hard
sense averting II scandal ami thoroughly dis |
committing the doctor.
1t will be noted N this argument that sgd |
ipey RosenfelG has touche,! uuon 10 nc~ theme
Indeed. there are several charar!or sketches |
and many bits OF dsogUe that ,ividly suggest
Tho Senator" and one persona.e in partic.
ular-avapid young club man was 30 enacted
by Its representative in Reed company
rs to AXE the rssemi lance to Robson Itrtte
palpable to the degree OF plagiarism.
Reed himself has several Of he iuul j. and some
Of the merits OF Robson. His voice il high
keyed. and his assiduous cultivation oil the
squeak of the older comedian has long been
marked. But there arc also onts to lraiss
warmly IN Nee.'s WORK. Lis d lol!erN Is NJ