The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-12
JEROME K. JEROMES PLAY.
ADMIRABLY ENACTED BY CHARLES
FROHMAN'S STOCK COMPANY

A Fise fteee OF Literary Work for tho
Stage. In "The Councillors WIFE,"
Treated with Cousun mate SIKH In the
Very Artistic Matinee.
tits very rarely that a single afternoon dra-
ratic performance affords anything like tho
genuinely artistic satisfaction which. ut tho
Madison Square Theatre yesterday. was on
joyed by somewhat astonished and greatly
delighted audience. 1t was expected that tho
new play. Tho Councillors Wife" would
possess original merit rs literary compost
ton. for its author was Jerome X. Jerome. 1t
was anticipated. too. that the piece would DO
cleverly acted. for it had cast from
Charles Frohman's stock company But
that Mr. Jerome had written almost
MASTERPIECE OF true comedy. or that
band OF players accustomed to forceful
dramas would treat such q comedy brilliantly.
was more than there had been reason to hope.
1t may be that this quite Robortsonlan play
could not make n long continued success OF
the popular kind. which Is the same as saying
that probably 1t would not bring in money
enough to meet the expenses OF It's proper
representation for any considerable period
But it was worth while. for the sake OF Jerome
and tho Charles Frohman company. to put
them both forth as was done yesterday. and It
will be pity II ut least few other New York
play thus played.
Judging Tho Councillors Wife" for it's
possibilities OF interest with indiscriminats
assemblages. II has the serious fault Of lack
ing central interest. The weakest portion OF
tho plot Is that which directly concerns the
nominal hero and heroine. and neither In
Characterization nor In scenes were those two
personages helped into high regard. They are
| q brother and sister. specimens Of impover-
ished gentility. and tho ways in which their Ill
fortune affects their love affairs are not greatly
to their credit although the author may have
meant otherwise. SO 1t happened yesterday
that William Morris and Sidney Armstrong.
the leaders OF the company were not the lead
ers in tho performance. although they gave
very careful attention to the scant matter Mt
their command. The two whom circum-
stances placed foremost were James o. Bar
rows and Odetts Tyler. The primo mover
in the evil OF the play is n hypocrite
who covers his business swindles for while
with a pretence Of philanthropy. He Is a
Dickens character. we'll written and adroitly
managed. and he was played by Mr.. Barrows
with SO much breadth and depth OF satirical
humor as to win the first honors OF the occa-
sion. Miss Tyler was able to distinguish her
self almost as emphatically. for her dash Of
style enabled her to be Just right us q concert
! religionist Ito get into Responsibility"
and who was at length instrumental
in exposing him. She was like an
| amalgamation OF Ladv 7sdzle and Polly Eccles.
| Cyril Scott. felictous light comedian. and
| Orrin Johnson. with his sincerity OF manner.
had been assigned to congonial roles. Well
placed. too. was that embodiment OF natural
ness. Agnes Miller. Tho most sympathetic OF
| the characters full of pathos incidental TO the
unrequited: seli:sacrilcing love Of middle,
| feeling by W. II. Crompton. An eccentric old
| woman was made n yeritable study in deline-
| alton by Kate Denim Wilson.
Mr.. Jerome had made his individual 8. eX-
oepting in the two important cases mentioned.
sonable and natural seen es, whether fearful or
pathos and humor; The actors rendered these
| good qualities with rs much precision and
| certainty as though the play had been q stage
classic. with fixed usages for guidance. instead
Of q new work: Enacted save BY themselves.
This reward Of applause WAS for merit only. as
few hands were clapped at the first entrances
called after their exits from successful scenes.