Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-24

Drs~is accurate work and pleasing results
we're due IN A greater measure 20 the mag
nincenE setting DE received az a msm0er
or Daily . com pany than % any TRANSCEND
eat ability Of nLs own Therefore when
be bfanched ont a. tLe principal aItrae-
ton Ia a company organized by Charles
Frohman thousands Il Mr. DTew's friends
had serious mlsgi wings al 10 the outcome
q the experiment.
The vehicle selected for the exploitation
of Mr.. DTews remarkable abilities Was
.srhe Masked Ball." a farce with mo-
saf az light as down and plot as volatile
a. ether. The play adapted by Clyde
Fitch. author q Beau Brummell' and
Frederick lie MsiJre." from the French
of Bisson and Care, who seem just now 10
be the only authors from whose works Mr..
Charles Frohman cares 10 have drawn the
airy nothings ike settled Out OF Court"
sThe Family Circle" and others OF that
TX with which dc l. ia my opinion surfeit-
hz the public
Bur The Masked Ball" as presented by
John Drew and company at Palmer's
theater New York. recently, WAS a sue
Cess. The play Is feathery" in fact
but IL amuses Wi lour too seriously VIC
hating the propPi-ties. except ia the last
act, where a scene Participated IN by the
entire company-exceps Mr.. Drew fortu-
nateiy-was about ON a par with the lowest
order Of modern so called farce comedy"
Imagine a number OF excellent actors, each
armed with a tin pan and large spoon,
pounding noisily for the purpose Of swarm
tng bees which have escaped, and you will
have pretty good idea OF this remarkable
and. Co me, inexpdcable horseplay. which
unquestionably marred what would other
wise have been an unqualified dramatic
success
have heard the hope freely expressed
that Mr.. Frohman may soon supply Mr..
Drew with play In which he will have
greater opportunity 20 display his I'M
douted versatility than in The Masked
Ball" As a fareeur, pure and simple, Mr..
Drew does lead, but Mr.. Joseph Holland is
% nearly hts equal that il requires an ex-
perfenced Judge TO decide between them.
But test these two excellent actors in
dozen characters. embodying every line OF
dramatic work, and Mr.. Holland will sink
into Lilliputian nothingness beside the
Brobdingnagian immensely OF John Drew.
had imagined that Mr.. Drew's acting,
now that be is free from the leading strings
OF that able manager, bat ridiculous mar
tinet, Augustin Daily, would have taken on
added dash and vigor. but this has not
been the case. The same impression OF re-
serve force and quiet dignity under the
most hilariously trying circumstances still
characterizes Mr.. Drew's work. Another
point and most important one in favor of
the probability OF success OF the latest
stellar addition 10 the dramatic armament
Is that despite the ovations which he has
mp TO this time received at every perform
ance at Palmer's theater he has not APP
peared to have acquired what Is known in
the vernacular as big head" He is as
thoroughly natural as ever. He plays for
the audience. not TO IL. And for this COM
mendable but unusual practice Mr.. Drew
Il entitled to the fullest measure OF credit.
From John Drew TO DAILY company, just
across the street, Is but a step, and after
the brilliant success Of the one l was pre-
pared for dazzling hit on the part Of the
other.
To say that was disappointed, however.
but mildly expresses IL. Little Miss Mil
lion" was the play on the opening night. IL
Is ono Of Mr. Days numerous adaptations
from the German, and perhaps his worst
Ihs first acc Is tame. talky and totally tire