Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-11-27
THE PLAYERS IN "AR1sTooRACY. "

marked common sense, to be 80 dazed
and impressed by what they see OF
fashionable life as to behave all three
like crazy children. The daughter
marries man whom she despises and
detests, the wife allows the same rascal
to entaugle her In dangerous intrigue
and the father is so taken up with the
glamour of the great people he meets
that he cannot see the impending mis-
cry and danger that surround him and
his. This is, perhaps, the weakest part
Of Mr.. Towards play. But there are
other aspects Of the behavior OF the
chief personages quite as curious.
When, for instance, Stockton discovers
that the Prince Won Haldenwald has
been makiBg love to his wife, and that
she had not repulsed him quite as she
ought to have done, GOODNESS springs
between the husband and wife, and
they are supposed to see little OF one
another for several months. The Prince
has disappeared and is supposed to be
In Paris. Mrs. Stockton is pentent and
fearful. Stockton declares, however,
that so long as the Prince lives there
must be a shadow between them. But
upou receiving the cable dispatch an
nouncing the death of this estimable
gentleman, he cries out with great JOY
and opens his arms to his wife, exclaim-
ing: "Now, Diana, we may be happy
once more-the curse of aristocracy has
passed out OF our lives"
IL - II IalA
wald should make any difference ia the
feelings of Stockton toward his wife or
of Mrs. Stockton toward her husband
/ am unable to see. II Diana was un-
worthy of her husbands love before the
Princes death why was she worthy Of
1t after his death. Evidently Mr.. How
ard has omitted to give US the explana-
tion necessary to the understanding Of
this curious state of things.
Whatever may be said concerning
such unsolved problems In the behavior
of Mr.. Towards chief personages 1t re-
mains to be said, II at times illogical,
they are always interesting. Moreover,
the half dozen minor character intro
duced in illustration Of various types OF
society here and abroad-the exagger-
ated Anglomaniac, who Is more Eng
lish than the Londoner and more pain
full; the extraordinary Frenchman, who
loves his friends wife partly as duty
he owes to his friend; the frivolous girl
Of New York society, dazed with the
social grimcracks Of the London world;
the empty headed scion of our oldest
Knicker booker, to whom everything In
life is summed uD In family and clothes,
&c.-all these people are sketched in
the most delightful manner and so as TO
keep the audience constantly amused
when it is not absorbed in the behavior
of the leading personages.
Moreover, the company which Mr..
Frohman employs in "Aristocracy" Is
an admirable one. Mr.. Wilton Lack
aye as Stockton. Mr.. w. II. Thompson
as the elder Laurence, Mr.. William
Faversham as the Prince, Mr.. Frederick
Bond as the French Duke, Mr.. j. w.
Piggott as the Marquis OF Normandale,
Miss Viola Allen as Virginia, Miss
Blanche Walsh'as Mrs. Stockton and
Miss Josephine Hall as Catherine Lau-
renee are all competent players, and
some of them do the best work Of their
careers. Mr.. Lackaye and Mr.. Faver-
sham especially distinguished them
selves. The danger in playing such
a part as Stockton is In the direction
of exaggerating the California traits.
Mr.. Lackaye played it with just enough
Of the oducherie of the newly rich man,
and in the scenes following the discov-
cry Of his wife's weakness his rage, In
dignation and passion quite took the
house by storm. Mr.. Faversham gave a
most finished and delightful picture OF
the Prince Emil. II is not often that
the admiration Of an audience is openly
expressed toward so despicable villain
as this gentleman, but had opportunity
offered Mr.. Faversham would have re-
ceived at his final exit on Monday night
some of the heartiest applause OF the
evening. Mr.. Frederick Bonds Duke
was a most amusing and spirited bit OF
caricature, and Mr.. Thompson and Mr..
Piggott also deserve more than the word
Of mention that l am able TO give them
here.
or the ladies in the cast the most sur
prising was Miss Blanche Walsh, who
played Diana With q delicacy aud yel
with . boldn1s and certainty Of touch
that must haye amazed every one In thu
house. It marks treme ndoua step *