New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-16
" UNCLE CEUEc11\ q"

AS II is lard TO teach an old dog new tricks and
1t has been commonly declared impossible so is II
hard for actors 10 assume unaccu,tomcd type, Of
character In orders Il plays ami 10 do gracefully
things which they have never before done at all.
Especially IS it difficult for performers uscd to rough
ana boStcrOus farcical operetta In which The hmor
is tumlling and the Wit is slang to assume the light
ness and finish that necdful for a refined kind
OF fun making. The proSes is not unlike recognized
hopeless task in the making OF silk purses So some
OF the Casino company last night played their part, IN
Uncle CclcStin" quite they used ~ do I'm their
many comic operas. marriug much that might bc
brightly entertaining by OVERRIDING IT, ~ they have
learned from their youth up - Oyc,IO everything.
"Unclc Celcsn' has been played for some weeks
ont Of town. that there of the hc,itan~y
Of a first night. The piece j., a comedy. farce.
with clever plot and ngcnious construction ana say
muse by Audran. The characters IN It are Lunor
Ou~y conceived. the pcrpleNcs n which they lu-
VOWED are genuinely mirth provoking. and even
chanical coItrvances a.c made 10 Contribute lcgti
matcy to the fun one 81 these last Is aufDrlatic
piano. which viii play "Thc Nc1uiifu Blue Danul". 90
whether anybody j. near il not. and VIII not play
anything else. even - obge the great Herr Redcr
powsk The acting In such piece should ~ I'm ac-
cord with the bright and clear SPARKLE OF the humor
provided by the Hbretists and the horsepay should
be held firmly in check. Sometimes this IS done. and
sometimes. unfortunately. Its not
Mis- Annie Meyer, and Miss sylvia Gcush are a."
most nearly correct in their understandings Of their
tasks. Neither OF them has ever done pfccr bii OF
acting here than that last night. Mis- Gerrish make
an attractive looking boy AMI her hashful love duct
with Miss Meyers both being in the dsgu,e Of stupidity
merry peasants, altogether the most acceptable
thing Of the evening and received the demand, ior
IcpctIiions that II deserved Mis- Jennie RdfTnrh
a. Ms Jennie Weatersy were almo,t rs good but
their parts not prominent or Of 80 pleasant
a SOFT. The men 81 the company wem le,, happil
suited with chaIacter and II i necessary to that
Jefferson de Angels. Whose name headed tho list, Va
further out Of his element than almost anybody else
lie failed because he did not knox when 10 sop. lIc
can be most amusing when his efforts we'll directed
and he from time to time last night When le wa
not IL wa, because the attempt WIS oycr,traincd
Harry Macdonough, acting NOR, within legitimate
hounds gained some excellent result, while tie bc,
OF the men Wa :. ". M1hin. who had OIlY httl'
part but showed clear comprehension Of what OHgh;
u b" done with IL.
In he first at Mis-, Mabel Stephenson sang, or
viii lied some 81 her really remarkable bird songs,
10 which Il +, always extremely pleasant t. listen.
Miss Loie Fuller later gave an equally remarkable
dane. surrounding herself with Ea1y and changing
clouds of whJrlrg skirts. part OF the dance Wa
suggested by Miss Lefty Lind. but That dos np
matter. \ worse model might Well b" chosen win
II, rs faults "Unce Cclcstin" is Of tlr most p'asn;
Performance given In the Casino I'm long tne, and
IL ought 10 succeed