The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-27

but 1t seems to be generally conceded that
not in many seasons has New York city
had such u generally dull and unihterest-
tnGly colorless theatrical opening as the
presene6ne.
The production to which attention has
been most forcibly directed is "The Ken
lucky Colonel" which had its premier Mt
the Union Square theater. The interest
manifested in this play was as greatly at
tributable to the fact that it was a dram
atization of the novel by Opie Read, the
humorist. as to the unusual circumstance
that it was enacted by the nearest up
proach toAn "all star" cast that has been
seen in New Work for many days. Mckee
Rankin, Frederic Bryton, Mr.. and Mrs.
Sidney Drew, Robert Fischer, Harry C.
Stanley and Clarence Handysides certainly
ought to make play go if there is any
go In it, and the fact that 1.-THE Kentucky
Colonel" dragged along YEARLY is the best
evidence producible that good actors can
not make good play out of bad one.
1t would be remarkable if there were no
good bits In 1.-THE kentucky Colonel"
There are, but these GASES only Serve to
bring into more dazzling prominence tho
enormous waste OF plat ;utlinous desert,
and to emphasize the iiSiGnificunce of the
puny little rills of Notwithstanding
which trickle through the play babbliDg
monotonously OH their aimless courses
THE Kentucky Colonel" is either an ar
tistic failure or an inartistic success. 1t is
certainly not IL dramatic or literary gem.
1t lacks something-iu fact, most things
and the only we'll defined impression which
| IT leaves upon the auditors senses is the
odor of mint julep or the aroma of toddy
The play is unreal, the characters are over
drawn, tho comedy lines are forced, the
heavy speeches are blatant, the situations
are stilted and the curtains" are thor.
oughly inartistic, while as character
study the play is an absurdity, the rilicu-
lous dialect attempts contributing con-
spicuously to this end.
1.-THE Kentuckyv Colonel" may possibly
be whipped into money WINNER" but l
seriously doubt it, for there is not sufficient
| literary merit to please the occup pants of
the orchestra chairs, enough blood and
thunder to compel the admiration of the
gallery contingent, or the proper quota of
lovesick heroics to wiring tears from either
the frequenters Of the back rows of the
first balcony or the matinee girl.
Two Irish plays have recently been pro
duced in New York city, Killarney" at
the Star theater, with Katie Emmett as
the heorine, and mora Machree" at the
Peoples, with Sadie Seaman as the star.
The concensus of opinion seems to be that
Killarney" is good play in it's way. but
that it doesn't weigh much
Sadie Seaman and her play may be
summed up. in almost the same words
They will both give satisfaction to those
for whose patronage they cater.
A farce comedy, THE Kid" by Henry
White and Laurent Howard, of Brooklyn,
seems to have made distinct hit on the
| oil Of cot ntti IL l.
| lem. 1t Is of course merely humorous
thread containing few knots to enable
the stage me hger to introduce pretty girls
and interesting specialties
Mrs. Godfrey Hawlcy Chapman, who
was shot and dangerously wounded by
6earvant, the male nurse of her demented
husband, will probably adopt the stage as
q profession. Unlike most beginners who
have been thrust into prominence by a
series of unfortunate circumstances, and
have drifted thereafter toward the foot
| lights, Mrs. Chapman does not expect to
eclipse Clara Morris all at once. In fact
she does not even claim that she will ever
become a great star. She only declares
that If she has enough dramatic ability to
enable her, with conscientious work and
hard study, to master the dramatic art
she will some day get to the top of the lad.
| DER. HrS. Cnapmans IrSt pubic appear
ance will be made at trial performance
of one act play at Proctor's Twenty
| third Street theater IN the near future.
If she should not come up to her own ex-
pectations on that occasion, it is within
the possibilities that she may then and
1888 :, M
~ ssTG S5YHA