The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-15
FOUR THEATRE NOVELTIES.
WEN COMEDY. A NEW OPERA. A NEW
1C1RkSs, AND 4 NEW HOUSE.

VEN CDNEDl, n NEV SFhNhs n UNIV
1C1RkSs, AND a NEW HOUSE.
u-,,.o, Towards "Aristocrscy'' Proved
IN he = Cnreiui Social Study ne Well ns
.yerytiever Entertainment-AD Depletion
Of American Wealth md Character.
Tho play at Palmer's Theatre last evening
was remarkable in various ways. Tho author
was an able and ambitious American play
wright. Bronson Howard. whose previous
works had included some celebrated sue
cesses. and there had been such n long inter-
val between Shenandoah and "Aristoc-
racy" that considerable sagerness Of expec-
tation was engendered. Again. Mr.. How
nr,l had let 1t he known that In
tho new play no would deal with the distinctly
American theme OF wealth in society. and. as
he was said to have studied tho subject pre-
tractedly for tho purpose OF this work. there
was special interest additional to that of mere
amusement. Tho crowded audience mingled
Intellectual and fashionable people. All tho
characteristics OF a great theatrical occasion
wsre observable. and OF triumph. too. At
the end OF the third act. ur to which point
the interest had been steadily cumulative.
the author was called out repeatedly until ne
acccded to the demand for a speech lie sniu
that he had cndeavorcd to preach sermon
dramatically. and he thanked tho audience
for accepting 1t In tho form OF amusement
He spoke OF his obligations TO Mahh.tis
Al Enymnn md Charles Frohfnah. WIZ
he remarked had not only mounted tho
plnv unanimously. but had enabled him TO PICK
M. n cnst from the large Frohman army OF
actors. Thus he paid to this company 'he
angular compliment OF declaring that ne nad
left It TO the members to do. to cons,aeFaoie
extent, "a they pleased with the characters.
Thus the characters. as ehactou. were IN
nlcasu"c their creations
Mr. Howard did not present things in ex-
r,c,cd ways in "Aristocracy." He demon
stra,cd his belief that IN arsorratic society
really exists in New York city. and his exam
rIrs IN the play denoted unoanivocally in tho
I'LL. too. rs American aristocrats") were
iomruc" family. OF mingled Puri-
tan and kaickcsbockcr blood. anl quito I'M
eXrcptionnLc in culture and conduct Thcy
ware II father. mother. son. and daughter. zach
q peg. onicatioa Of good breeding and high
In contrast WIN the four Ameri-
can ari,tocrats. Mr.. Howard had created for his
comedy or copied from lie. four specimens OF
UlI World aristocracy-prnc lgnobls-
az Austrian prince. II French duke. IN English
marquis and an English earl. A third quar-
tet u characters rurport;ng to be typical
were Eewy rich Californians. consisting
OF a seventy millionaire. his young wife. his
daughte err. md his SON Having thus prepared
his scts OF illustrative individuals. the drama
list had plotted play for the exhibition OF
their characteristics. The enormously rich
III. seeing that all his power
Of money was not sufficient to place
his family among tho New York nristo-
Gratis by direct process. resolved to get them
there by first buying recognition with tho
foreign nri,tocrncy. This scheme proved
practicable in the end. but not before enough
hal happened to provide the matter
for full play. and very patriotic
one. too. Mr.. Hovarl's positive and en-
phatic Wow Of the subject. as expressed
In tho play. was that the foreign aristocracy is
morally rotten through and through: that our
exclusives are contra stingly decent.
an! that even our folks of larid milii9Eair.ism
are ust as Likely as not to be Us good us Those
lurn rich.
Ethical considerations had not led Mr.. How
II play that w"u!! "ngr".s aud entertain in
people. The Cn.itornians seemingly
timris pIIan OF hiring nankrp.t English peers
h. called mot III" lest hut the highest"
daughter was presented at the queens
I: III: ,Sy%fn f Ss's and %ess
Iincc became the wife Of the desricable Aus
,an prince Tina, /, Vas va rnt o, the ~ love ,s
ttrs trek iSculariy by tho au,hor. l;ut "Ars;
s srsss tsrcca "' '' n "H To sraEey
t ns r 10 tSe r i"?" n'f titled onai.
cared no.ling for his bride. but set his heart
uuon her young sirpmoth"r. and i!;o third act
on the woman. her resort (" her husband for
projection. a spirited encounter hetwee tho
men nnI finally s ;t .GswSen 'n9 n"sh Thil
natura in it's emotions. astonishing
Ter. ami ns rousing MS moiolrhma in it's iniu-
ence iron rapt audience. Aone OF Nj. low
ss pi":es has no GonHined moro ars%"bng
racy." The two before it had been
Iirh in hpmot satire character drnIwins;
IL was cumrnrattvrly weak. The principal
fault in them all. and it seemed greater be-
was 'mn omy orr Of so Mnt
actors told too much directly t" til" audience.
No PLAYWRIGHT can keep his personaces from
use OF the device is the hest usc. But Mr..
Howard had written II brilliant comedy, ex-
losing ono S ,i, evils. providing nnnse,
need not seek for flaws in work containing
81 many PROJECTIONS.
spa,ing hand ms to dollars aud an artistic
hand a. TO- their expenditure. In all tho ma
terIal outfit tasteful richness was seen; For
forces had been made. Once more i was
proven that with such u latitude for choice.
ana Win "m. .Ms,r nt OF severe Sh L
The ma mes in last nights bill incIuhe,l Wilton
THOMPSON. Paul Arthur. William Favershnm.
Frederick h ON Helen Tracey. 5. Miller Kent.
Opening or the MANHATTAN Opera House