The record-union., 1891-10-24
MUSIC And THE DRAMA.
The Amusements in the Great
American Metropolis.
What Can Be Seen at the Theaters In
New York-Oddities of ssDr. Bin''-
Joseph Haworth's Career-General
Stage Notes.

"A. T. DunIOp, WrlClng from new Ork
under date of October 18th, says: "'Still
Waters Run Deep was revived by the
Kendalls at the Star on Monday. tits a
comedy which young theater-goers know
nothing about, but which older ones re-
member and liked as a pretty, placid little
play of domestic life. 1t is one of those
very obvious plays, utterly devoid of
subtlety, which had vogue before in
tellectual audiences began to prefer that a
dramatist should leave something to their
perceptions, and not explain every move
or motive in plain words, like a lesson in
a primer. Its story is slight, as it tells
only of a scoundrePs scheme to entice a
wife into a liaison and the husband into a
fraudulent business venture, and it had
no success of its own, although the Ken
dalls did not fall into it to maintain their
hold on the fashionable fancy of the
metropolis.
Beautiful STAR produced at Niblo's
Garden, is the most dismal failure that
has been chronicled in New York city
within a decade. 1t was written by VIM.
ii. Day, and Manager Gilmore performed
that kindest of theatrical offices which
consists in supplying the backing"
MIR. Day had never before been known
- playwright. He was a designer of
scenery. and he has been good enough to
lecture on the importance of his peculiar
art and its close relationship to the crea-
tive clement in the drama. But 'Beauti-
tul Star did not illustrate the truth Of
any of Mr.. Days theories. 1t was the
worst of bOtches; a nightmare of badly
managed scenes; of awkward balletS, con-
EentionaI IN movement and monotonous
In color; of wearisome bombast parading
t1snl s1hc
elective climaXes. Its fiasco was sad to
contemplate, because it suggested once
more and with greater force than ever
that we are seeing the last of Niblo's, the
old home OF American spectacular tri-
umphs.
The only other play new to New York
was Two Old Cronies' at the Windsor.
IL makes no pretensioR to be anything
more than a string of absurdities varied
by some sentimental ballad singing and
skirt and clog dancing, but the score or
more people who take part in it are, with
few exceptions, well fitted to the busi-
ness assigned to them. The women are
comely, graceful and full of spirit, and
the men not lacking in eccentric ability.
Ada Deaves, the cleverest of the lot, cre-
ated quite sensation by her marvellous
Inake-ups, and caused much laughter by
her explosive manners"
ODDITIES OF "DR. BILL"
The world loves to laugh 1t is a sad
age. Every Serlous-minded person seems
TO possess within himself or herself the
mechanism for sorrow, so arranged that
1t can be turned TO the full force of NOR
bidness at the slightest suggestion. 1t is
upon this truism that Hamilton Aide,
the adapter of the French comedy lie
DOcteur Jo Jo' into English as "Dr
Bill" relies for success.
The young and fast doctor who, from
the irregularity of a bohemian life in
London which made him the intimate
companion Of the theatrical profession,
steps with a big legacy into the bosom of
q respectable family, loving rich Young
wife well enough to forswear his old
sports, and, with a mistrust in his pow
erS OF Self-protection sufficient TO make
him dread any chance of meeting his for
mer-time boon companions, retireS for
safety To private life, literally lying in the
arms of his wife like ship in harbor,
afraid to venture out a meddling faith
er-in-law who hates idleness, despairing
OF coaxing his newly-made son-in-law
back 10 his practice, of the dangers of
Which he Is ignorant, resorts to strata
gem. He orders and nails sign to the
physicians front door without his knowl-
edge; he sends circulars all over London.
especially TO the theaters. without his
knowledge; he makes him the hero of
pulling newspaper item without his
knowledge, and, as result, up Jump
several OF his old companions to make
things lively for him.
One of the features of the CDR. Billn
performance that is said to command at
tention is the kangaroo dance, a terp-
Slchorean diversion introduced in the
1lrst act. 1t is performed by one of ''Dr
Bllps" ballet-girl patients, and is start
ling and unconventional. The young
woman dances in street dress, so that her
pirouttes take on piquancy that would
bc absent were the costume fashioned
like a coryphee's.
JOSEPH HAwoRTH's SUCCESS.
Much interest is being aroused over the
great success that Joseph Haworth seems
10 be meeting with. He is an earnest,
ambitious and magnetic actor, who has
served long and faithful apprentice
ship, and who, strange to say, is singu-
1arly free from the customary enemies
who smile with derision at ambitious
ventures and hail defeat with significant
shrugs. Mr.. Haworth is catering to two
classes OF theater goers. The class that
appreciates romantic tragedy and the
other and more numerous class that en-
Joy good play, tinctured with iudicious
Sensationalism. Reports indicate that he
IS doing the most remarkable work of
his career in Anna Katharine Greene's
dramatization of her own novel THE
Aeayenworth Case" The chief role, that
OF James Truman Harwell, Leaven-
worth's guilty Secretary, is said to be
singular one, quiet and intense, and with
but two opportunities for explosive force
throughout the play. An interesting
feature of the lengthy reviews the per-
7crmance has evoked, is the manifest in
ability OF the critics to classify the play
or leading character. Some have com
pared Mr.. Haworth's character to that of
Slr Charles OVerreach, while others de-
scribe it as a combination of the charac-
acters OF lago and Mr.. Hyde. One thing
Is evident, II is a novelty, it is a departure
from conventional paths of dramatic
writing, and IS said to be intensely alb
sorbing. In ''Ruy Bias" Mr. Haworth
is also said to be meeting with success,
while his revival of the late E. l.. Daven-
ports drama, ''St. Mare" soldier of
fortune, is style of play especially pop
ular with the ladies.
KEENE COMING WEST.
Thomas w. Keene is now on his way
TO the Pacific Coast, and his appearance
here viii be hailed with pleasure by thea
ter-goers. He has been here before and
Is thoroughly appreciated by discrimi-
mating lovers of 1.-THE legitimate Mr.
Neene is the last great exemplar of that
grand school of historic art which had for
It's arch apostles David Garrick, Edmund
Kean, Junius Brutus Booth and Edward
Forrest. To-day MIR. keene stands with
out peer as Richard H., Macbeth, Shy
lock, Richelicu and Louis &I. 1t is an
intellectual treat, TO he remembered with
delight for lifetime, TO see him interpret
one OF these grand master characters.
STAGE NOTES.
'Donnerwetter" is the name of the
newest farce comedy.
Charles Gaylor, the veteran dramatist,
is seriously i'll in New York.
The Leopolds have resigned from ''Boys
and Girls and returned to Europe