The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-07
"Mrs. wiIkinson's widows"

Charles Frohman's comedians from New York
begin three nights engagement at the opera
house Monday. February -, in William Gill
lette's masterpiece "Mr Wilknson's Widows"
10 De given for the first time in this city. The
farce is adapted from the French OF Alexander
Bissons "Feu Toupinel" Gillettes transfer of
German farces to the English stage, such as
''The Private Secretary aud "All the Comforts
OF Home, has been welcomed, and also his great
war drama, Held by the Enemy" Their sue
cess goes without the saying. It's patent every
where. "Mr. Wilkinsons Widows" has been,
however, his greatest winning 1t is his latest
and best play, and has already enjoyed run OF
go nights in New York city Mr.. Gillette
claims he has cieansed the play entirely, leay-
ing not the slightest Partisan indeIieacy, and in
this respect his work is highly creditable to both
his skin and good sense. There are two widows
OF the late Mr.. Wilkinson according to
theistory, He has been regarded in his lifetime
as sedate and discreet London gentleman.
His wife in that city had been adecent and
sober eonsort, while another wife in Edinburgh
had been OF contrastingiy giddy nature. His
death happens before the opening of the play,
and the women are introduced to the audience
as brides anew. The English widow becomes
the wife of an author, the Scotch one marries
composer, and the two pairs have gone to live
IN London apartment house. There the per-
plexities of the four singularly related per-
sons and the merriment of the audience
DeSln almost simultaneously. The dis
closure of Mr. Wilkinson's matrimonial
duplicity is gradual, and attended by many in
oidents which make folks laugh immediately.
The company has been assembled for the sole
purpose OF performing this farce. The roles are
ell IN the hands of persons best adapted to
them, and the result is ar excellent cast not
only as to principals, but also in the subordin-
ate parts. The names OF the players are: Mrs.
George Drew Barrymore, Miss Matte Furgu-
son, Miss Emily Bancker, Miss Annie Wood
Miss Adelaide Gray, Mr.. Joseph Holland, Mr.
Thomas Burns, Mr.. Thomas II. Riley, Mr.. John
W. Thompson, Mr. Edward Coleman and others
Gay1or as "sport llcAllfster."
There was not the slightest doubt in the
minds of the most critical in the very large
audience which attended the Academy last
night, says a recent newspaper, that Bobby
6aylor is certainly the most genuine Irish CO.
median on the stage. In his new comedy, "Sport
McAilister," the comedian has achieved pro-
nounced success, and kept his auditors in a con-
slant ripple or laughter while he was on the
stage. Gaylors support was adequate and ex-
cellent After the horseplay which has held the
boards OF the Academy since its opening,
the advent OF Gaylor was refreshing. The
chief charm about his work is its naturaness
ana the absence Of noisy and meretricious de-
vices to cause laughter. His style is clean,
wholesome and irresistible; his humor is
unctuous and refined and does not depend upon
yulgarity in the least sense. The verdict OF the
audience was unmistakable, and everybody was
thoroughly pleased. HcAllister is Gaylor's
funniest creation. The company which sup
ports Mr. Gaylor is unusually good Miss
George Parker danced gracefully, and the rest
Of the company were equally satisfactory.