The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-30
A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE.
The Famous New York Lyceum Com
many In ssThe Wife,

BRILLIANT FEhfOhmANCE.
The Famous New York Lyceum Conn
pany in "The Wife,
Daniel FrohmAn's New York Lyeeum Theater
Company opened its weeks engagement here
with brilliant performance of 'sThe Wife,"
performance which fully sustained the reputa-
ton Of the company. The Seattle opera-house
was filed with one OF the most fashionable au-
diences Of the season, and there were a number
of theater parties, including many of the prom
inent society people OF the city. The enthusi-
asm OF the audience reached a high pitch, for
applause was frequent and curtain calls fol-
lowed every act
little Of "The Wife" II is one of the best pro-
auctions Of Belasco aud DeMille, whose success
gs playwrights has long since been established.
No one can see 1.-THE Wife" well presented and
marvel at its popularity. 1t is a beautiful play,
full OF human feeling, full OF poetry. Those
who have witnessed its production IN the larger
theaters OF the East can never forget the rich seem
ic settings. Yet the play depends 50 little upon
mechanical effects that on the small stage where
Il was impossible TO mount the scenery, "The
Wife" lost scarcely any of its charm Had the
stage been bare, the pathos, the love and the
laughter would still have been there to touch
mems hearts.
company of stars. All the parts are clear-cut
and instinct with life Helen Truman,
beautiful girl, Is in love with
Robert Gray, while John Rutherford,
q United States senator, man considerably
older, who has known her since childhood, Is in
love with her. She, in turn, loves Robert Gray,
while Lucille Ferrant, hot blooded Southerner,
is passionstely fond of him. Helen Truman is
secretly engaged to Robert Gray, but in the first
act, while some private theatricals are going on
at Newport, Lucille Ferrant tells Helen that
Gray YVES pledged TO her, Helen breaks the en-
gagement and marries John Rutherford, who il
ignorant Of the attachment between her and
Gray.
In the second act. a ball at Washington City,
Lucille Ferrant sets in circulation rumors that
Helen, now Mrs. Rutherford, is still in love with
Gray. Lucille is seconded in her efforts by
Matthew Culver clever, polished but utterly
unprincipled newspaper writer who had also
aspired TO Heleu's hand. The rumors reach
Gray's ears and there is quarrel in the ball
room between him and Culver. Senator
Rutherford shows his contempt of the
stories by asking his wife to dance with Gray.
But scene follows at the senator's house where
the senator learns that ON the day of their we'd
ding his wife was still in love with Gray.
In the fourth and last act there comes recon
Citation between Senator Rutherford and Helen,
who has really outgrown her giriish passion for
Gray, and has come truly to love the senator.
These characters were cast as follows
John Rutherford, U. S. Senate 49,. Fl. Kelley
Matthew Culver, In Politics 49, n. wheatcroft
Robert Gray, Attorney at-law ..... E. Radcliffe
siias Truman. OF Produce Ex. ........C. Waleot
Major III. o. Putnam, e. A. r., Whose Faint
Heart Never Won Fair Lady ..........
Jack Dexter, Columbia 'ss F. Williams
Mr.. Randolph, Rutherfords Private Score
Helen Truman. an only daughter -.
Lucille Ferrant, from New Orleans $50. - ~
Mrs. Belamy ives, in charities. -.
.......... ..-.... Mrs Charles Waleot
| Mrs. Amory, Junior member of Truman & Co.
................-... Mrs. Thomas Whiffen
Agnes Helen's Maid .................Eli Eliza Logan
1t is needless to say that the Lyceum company
furnished an almost ideal cast in many ways
better even than the first company which started
on the road with the beautiful Mrs. Berlan-
Gibbs 40 Helen. Georgia Cayyan has won
national reputation az an actree OF rare beauty
and rare skill. She has a superb figure, she wore
elegan gowns and looked the senator's wife to
perfection. But more than that she brought
out all the psthos and depth of emotion in the
character In her breaking with Gray in the
first act, her confession TO her husband in the
third, and in the final reconciliation at the
close she passed from remarkably clever acting
to something better
Herbert Kelcey's fine physique made him in
| bodily presence an ideal senator: but while his
playing IL intellectual ne lacks sympathy.
Wheatcroft took an ungracious part with much
spirit, aud though bis lines were so disagree
able as TO win him comparatively little
applause, nevertheless he did some of the most
effective work ever seen here Radcliffe pre-
sented the passionate Robert Gray with skill
and force. walcot was the doting father to the
life, and W. J. lie Moyne was delightful as
Major Putnam.
Miss Crosman was handsome and impetuous
| Lucille Ferrsnt; Eiiie shannon as the ingenue
| won all hearts, and Mrs. walcot was excellent
/ as the charitable Mrs. Ives
/ "Thc Wife will be repeated at the SATURDAY.
| matinee. Tonight Pinero's charming sssveet
Lavender" will be given with the following
| cast:
Horace Bream, young American.
Herbert Kelley
Geoffery wedderburn, of wedderburn. Green
Hoskett, bankers, Manchester -.
| $685.. ............ Charles Walcot
Clement Hale, his adopted son, studying for
.ne par ............-.-. Z. j. Radcliffe
| Dick Phenyl, q barrister w J. LeMoyne
Dr. Delaney, fashionable physician. -.
;...>; .........-..: Eugene ormonde
Mr.. Bulger, hairdresser and wigmaker...
| =. ,.......... .:-.--.-... walter e Bellows
Mr.. Nav, solicitor. .............. &C. W. King
Minnie Giihllian. niece OF wedderburn
| ..,........ ............. Miss Georgia Cayvan
| Ruth Rolf, housekeeper and "laundress"
| at Three Brain Court Temple ........
| .,....... Mrs Charles walcot
Lavender her daughter Ellie Shannon
| Mrs. 6ilhl.ian, a widow, wedderburn' sister.
Mother o. Minnie ....-.....Mrs 7. Hiffen