Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-28

~ M q asia1sd win =. l
- work can write A
successful play, especially high comedy"
THIS has been accepted as true by most OF
the rank aud Gle Of the vast army 0: aspir-
Ing playWrights, aud the violent upset
which the pet theory OF our most promi-
nent theatrical purveyors has received il
bound 10 exercise a beneficial effect upon
that torpid chrYssllIs irgeverently referred
e. ss the American drama
Friends Wa produced AZ the Standard
theater. New York. last spring. and al
though It was the maiden effort OF the
author Mr. Royle, it was pointed out with
unnecessary energy. after success had oeen
achieved that that gentleman had been an
actor Tor many years. The temple Of the
dogmatists had not been desecrated by the
vandal hand OF the novice, and after bad
scare the Old sbsurdity once more settled
itself comfortably upon the self erected
throne.
But Captain Lettarblair" was on his
way TO sweep away the misty cobwebs of
uncombassd prejudice which have very
nearly choked up the wellsprings OF Amer
lean dramatic Inspiration, and, mirabie
dictu, be WAS started on his journey by
the weak hand OF woman, an ex-teacher
In the New York Normal college, who pos
sessed little or no knowledge OF the stage.
And the name OF this unknown young
lady who has cut the Gordian knott
Marguerite Merringtonl
II Captain Lettarblair" were a strik-
ingly original story il = aboUnded in sit
uations appealing 70 the violent emotions,
II it catered 70 the eye through the medium
Of elaborate stage setting or ingenious
mechanical effects or il il involved some
new principle OF dramatic construction by
a bold departure from the trodden paths,
the cobwebs might still remain, for the
success Of the play, no matter how pro-
nOunced, would DO attributed in the re-
freshingly vague manner OF our great man
ayers, 70 "acvenltious circumstances.
But Miss AerriDgton has cut the ground
from under the very feet of these condemn
tn-advance critics. She has written a play
in which scarcely line is spoken above
an ordinary tome OF voice, the scenery re-
quirsd could be supplied by any village
theater ia the country. there Is not sin
gle manifest bid for applause, and the eli
MAKES are quiet, the curtain in one case
falling after the heroine has put her head
upon the knee OF her trustee and has
begun % SOD gently. The plot of Cap
tain Lettaroiair" Il of about the caliber II
most Of the BelascO-De Mile comedies, the
same general lines are followed, the sub
ject Il treated practically in the same man
ner, the comedy is evolved by similar
methods, but at the risk OF being consid-
ered AMBIGUOUS I assert that in every re-
spect Miss Merrington's play is equal in
subticty. deHeacy of treatment and fnesse
ID any Of the recent American society
comedy successes, ansiis superior to most
OF them.
In other words. this lady has met the
old. experienced playwrights on their own
ground. fought them with their own weap-
Ous. and without a scintilla OF preliminary
training has held some at hoy and van
pushed the others Miss Merrin gton's
future a. dramatist OF the best type is as
sured II she viii bnt steer clear OF the
tempting pitiall OF writing pot boilers.
Her dialogue Is positively Sheridanesque
in It's incisfveness and clean wit, and the
climaxes are worked mp to as gracefully
aud effectively as Bronson Howard's She
has all OK Miss Martha Morton's dramatic
instinct and sense Of stage humor, besides
possessing greater subtlety and immeaS-
urably superior style Captain Lcttar-
blair" viii be r. r. Sothern's principal
play during the present season, and. By
the way be Is better In this piece than in
any ia which have seen him.
OF the other New York openings the
most notable perhaps is Lady Lii. - with
Lillian Lewis in the title role. Lady Liz
was written Cor the star bY her husband.
Laurence Msrston. The play is a sort 81
Camille ont -Camille,l, " OF La Tosca out
Ia roscaed. +" but II possesses remarkable
strength. thrill 70 every paragraph. and
gore, OF suggestions Of it. in nearly every
scene Mr. Harston in his other plays has
shown that be has read Les Miserables"
and works Of a similar nature. and there
are those who assert that the same fact
peeps out Coyly and periodically IN Lady
IiL"
Jerry" play in which J W. sum
raers Is said % have appeared more than
1000 times in the British provinces. was
done az the Windsor theater. The hero :
a trump. and outside Of the opportunity
Gerry" efforts Mr. Summers 10 do some
very excellent acting she piece is unworthy
Of comment
"Flmo Romani." a horrible coucoctiou
like ths brook opened che season at the
Peoples Charles A. Gatdner's engage
ment st the Uuion square. in his new play.
"Fsther'and. was brought 80 abrupt
close after one week. broadway didn't
-esr to want Mr. Gardner
'rha White squadron produced AZ the
F1urreeuth street tneater is a series Il
-i4horafe anil extensive stage pictures.
The scenery beautiful and the groupings
sftsue. Although The White squadron
viii rec stand a crisicsl TEST as e logical
p.sY and rs literary merits are few. the
strong SPIRIT 20 patr.ofism wairh pervn,es
it and the approximations III action with
watch Be fairly hrissIes have served 90 draw
large sudisnces it IS reasonably GER
t,.n -o be n great popular sncress from the
box ofFiee standpoint when .f gnes on tour
Nsrvyn Dalss Rouse on che Marsh
proved 60 Do a dresry heavy melodrsnls.
fairly presented
tc tr fhe present time che rapidly open
fnc Sew York theatrical season has uot
ban exceptionally BRILLIANT 81 only che
plays new 60 he United States be- consid-
eret OcrAvrs CONN.
STAIRS asARREL OF aoNsY~