Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-18


A double bill that excited some consider
able hopes was set down for performance at
the Alvin Theater last night. A simple
and effective dramatization of Dickens
idyl, ''Boots at the Holly Tree Inn," was
the curtain-raiser. This trifle, adapted by
Mrs Frances Hodgson Burnett, was acted
with great skill by Master Wallie Eddinger
und Little Ethel Black, children of tender
years, the latter not more than 6. The
self-possession and expressive power of
these two children were altogether extraor-
binary, and the tender yet laughable story
of the babes elopement almost kept the
charm and humor of Dickens language.
w. II. Thompson of course made
Co55s figure that might have
stepped out of one of Barnard's illustra-
tions Mr.. Thompson has mellow vein
of humor which crops out naturally in such
q characterization. The prcttiest bit of
''Young Loves Dream is the final tab
leau Harry and Nordh, the tiny bride and
groom, the former with her beloved Ara
minta, a doll as big as herself, clasped
tight, have fallen asleep together in the big
arm chair in the fire light, and, as his father
stoops 10 wake his truant boy with a kiss,
the curtain falls. 1t is all very sweet and
pathetic in pleasant way.
''The Family Circle, I" which follows this
pretty little thing, is comedy of a decided
" iarcical stripe, written by Alexander
Bison and adapted by Sydney Rosenfeld.
1t would be interesting to know if Bisson's
work is all there; for unless good deal has
been left out the French playwright is re-
sponsible for very thin plot and mon
otonous strumming upon one string. In the
hr1n
matte, the handiwork of Mr.. Rosenfeld is re-
cognizable, and perhaps the humor of the
situations is to be credited to him, for it is
too mild in flavor surely to have been CON-
pounded in Paris. The story of ''The Fam
ily Circle" rs far as it is essential to the
journey of the play, can be very shortly
told. Two amiable, mIddle-aged married
folk give their daughter to certain young
man, by name Jack Brdinerd A mischief
making old fool tries to prevent
this match, and failing, still seeks
by proving that Jack Brdincrd has killed his
first wife in Jealous fit, and is disposed to
make away with wife No. 2 in like man.
ner. The foundation for this charge is that
another Braiue,,d actually did murder his
spouse, and Jack is mistaken for the mur-
derer. The busybody tells the brides
father and mother, and they, to
thwart the groom's alleged homicidal
plans. accompany the pair on their
honeymoon. Jack is watched every
where; his preparing pistols for
shooting match gives color to the suspi-
cions. and his. rather hazily accounted for,
rehearsal of a speech to be used by him in
a murder case in which ne is engaged as
counsel convinces his parents-in-law that
they nave bloodv-minded Bluebedrd to
deal with. The landlady of the boarding
house where the murder was committed
arrives and adds fuel to the flames, but
eventually dispels the cloud over
Jack by explaining that he is not
the central story, and two or three lesser
love affairs are awkwardly muddled in with
it. The plot is Just about strong enough
for a one-act piece. 1t is a lunch, and it is
offered as a full dinner. Everybody knows
in the first act exactly how it is going to
end; the mystery is only in name. Prob
ably in the French it had q salacious sea-
soning that made some excuse, if bad one,
for its length. A naughty play is apt to be
stupid with the naughtiness left out. That's
how 'sThe Family Circle" strikes us.
But it is admirably acted. Thomas
Burns, who played the Major SO cleverly in
"Wilklnson's Widows" here last year,
makes almost az much fun out of the char
acter of Hudson Lorrhner. the suspicious
father. Mr.. Thompson had little to do as
the mischief making old man. except to
say d inappropriately and impolitely,
but still made the character comic.
Frank Borbeck.s rendering of the ill
used hero was natural and ingratiating.
Miss Kate Mayhew's makeup, and to a
smaller extent her creation of the landlady
of the boarding house were unique. A tip
tilted nose of such pronounced elevation as
Miss Mayhew's in this part is seldom seen
out of burlesque, but her acting was
capital; thorough study of a some
what novel type. The pleasantest
part of the performance to several of the
actors probably centered about Miss Nam
ette Comstock, who looked amazingly and
freshly pretty as the bride Several of her
companions were forced during Act II. to
kiss her frequently-13 separate osculatory
acts were counted-and the audience evil
IDENTIFY sympathized with them, to the ex-
tent probably of being ready to volunteer
for similar duty. Miss Kate Meek, as the
mother-in-law was also good, and Miss
Lena Merville's grace ana clever simula-
tion of Mysteries were neat little ornaments
to a colorless character. Without these
clever acts "a Family Circle" would be
very weak consomme served tepid. 1t was
staged in the lavishly rich style We have
learned to expect at the Alvin. The audi
ence laughed good deal and applauded
temperately.