The record-union., 1892-07-05
ADJUSTMENTS.

At the Metropolitan Theater this even
ing Gustave Frohman's company will
present for the 240th time the latest
New York dramatic success, The
Witch" The play is based upon the
witchcraft superstition Of Salem, Mass,
under which, if one was charged with be-
ing witch, she was taken out and
tested by being thrown bound into the
lnillpond. If she sank and was drowned
she was no witch, because ''the devil
takes care of his own: but if the unlor
tunate suspect hoated, then she was taken
out and burned or hanged, because by
the interposition OF the devil she was
saved from drowning. The witchcraft
panic was at its hight IL 1872, and at that
tragic period the time OF the play is fixed.
The piece possesses this decided novelty
Of interest. to-wit: il Introduces us 10
scenes IL early Puritan history that we
have eli read about, but only the very
few have seen depicted under dramatic
possibilities. The setting of the play, the
costuming OF the people, the scenic sur
roundings, have all been made appropri-
ate to the period and the subject, we are
assured, to ''the minutest particu-
lar" Two of the scenes especially
receive the praise of the press
the one representing the common in
Old Salem, and the other, "Gallow's
Hip at daybreak. The play is rebuke
to bigotry, hard hit at hypocrisy, and
that as the demand for witches in the
latter part OF the seventeenth century
created the supply, so to-day were there
not the toleration there is under the
benefcence OF free government, there
would be victims in plenty for all de-
mands for heretics TO the faith OF others
Miss Marie Hubert Frohman is the star
OF the troupe in the character of Mar
gurite, young and beautiful girl, who
was prosecuted as q Witch. Miss froh-
man it was who made so great hit in
MAY Blossom" and aiterward in king
Rene's Daughter" Snow Bound'' and
False Charms" The New York
Egene3tg World, critieising the play.
says it is a genuine drama, telling
pathetic love story with a wealth of
picturesque and apparently accurate
coloring. 1t puts us upon good
terms with ourselves, for it shows us that
with all our little pet supersti-
tions, enlightenment in two centuries
has swept away thousand degrading
beliefs. The play is one of the best we
have seen in months. 1t is intensely
dramatic, but told without any undue
sensationalism. Its composition is an
artistic piece Of literary execution. as fine
as any seen i'll this city during the pres
ent season. The company comes here
San Francisco. Tomorrow night will be
the last here, as the company leaves
Thursday afternoon. This evening hap
pens to be the second anniversary of the
play, and plan of celebrating it adopted
after the first anniversary, says Manager
Jurgensen, Is to be carried out, and the
place falls to the lot of Sacramento. Asa
souvenir of the occasion every lady hold
ing q reserved seat coupon this evening
viii receive a solid silver oxidized
handle witch spoon, the cameo on the
handle being the figure of a witch. the
word Salem" and three witch pins.
The design was copied from original
drawings in the old Town House of Salem.
by Daniel Low, the manufacturer of the
souvenirs.
THE Police Patrol'' played here Fri
day night was very pleasing affair, and
we recommended it as worth seeing. and
the people in it as specialists and actors.
as well, for the most part. This iudg-
ment was based upon the representation
of Friday night. To those who attended
Saturday night upon our representation,
we owe this explanation. 1t appears that
the company was anxious to leave for
Portland by the Oregon express. and
thought it necessary to ''rush'' the per-
tormance to accomplish it-and it was
rushed-so much So that it was concluded
nearly an hour earlier than on Friday
evening. Much OF the scenery was taken
down and away and not shown. and
there was about the whole performance
nervous haste that so much marred it as
to disgust the audience, though il conld
not be said that any material lines were
cut out; but it would have been better to
have cut right and left, and have plaved
such as remained with deliberation
and care. The theater-going public
Of this city has suffered this sort of impo-
sition long enough. 1t is running the
second night business" of honest, con-
scienious managers, who do not "hurry
up" because the people are coming to
suspect that all second night companies
are to catch the Portland express. In
deed, it is operating to the injury of first
nighters also, as now and then single
"Oregon train" So far as the RECoRD-
UNION is concerned, it will hereafter take
pains to ascertain whether troupes are
bound north from this city, and in every
case will present the fact to the people.
and let them take the chances. The mat
ter might be remedied by beginning the
play at sharp, instead OF dawdling
along until $40. a few years ago the rule
was for the orchestra to strike upu at IS
minutes before 8, and the curtain to rise
xactly at Nowadays it has become
fashionable to wait until 6:l5 before send
ing the orchestra up. AS San Francisco
manager puts it, ''the orchestra never
strikes string at the Baldwin before 8.
and it wouldn't do to try it earlier in the
interior" But it would and must be
done If troupes bidding for the money
oil the sacramento public propose to