The record-union., 1892-03-12
ADJUSTMENTS


proved a success, and the audience was
thoroughly pleased, and manifested it by
appreciative applause. The piece took so
well and is of such merit that the man
agement has wisely resolved to forego
original Intentions and to repeat the play
tonight as well as tomorrow night. For
the matinee to-day the farce-comedy sue
cess, Fun in a Boarding School," In
The Lightning Rod Agent" Mr.. Ellie
ford proves anew his capacity as a
comedian, and in the scene with
Mrs. Lang, the housekeeper, Marie
Bishop, and Ferret Vaughn Jessie
Norton, especially, gave proof of his
comedy talent and his ability to bring his
auditors into close sympathy with his
merry humor. Miss Norton appears in
the piece to better advantage than in
anything she has undertaken here, and
in her duet with Elleford won rounds of
applause. Mrs. Bishop was very happy
as the housekeeper, and Miss Carmen, as
Florence, personated the character with
strong feeling and intelligence. Mr..
Craig, as in all he does, was thoroughly
good, and Mr.. Benrimo and Mr.. Fergu-
son and Mr.. Wood afforded good support.
The play is a mixture of humor and
melodrama, in which the hghtning-rod
agent is a detective in disguise, who
brings villainy to punishment and vir-
tue and innocence to reward. For Man
ager Norton's benefit Monday night Guy
DurreQ and Josephine Friel are to ap-
pear in dramatic readings; Harry Walton
in speciality; Bryant and Root, the musi-
cal team: Mr.. McGraw in a speciality act;
Clark, the contortionist, and the company
in 1.-THE Fellow Who Looks Like Me-"
and the second act of Fun in a Board
ing-School," all in addition to Wash
Norton's six-change speciality act.
There was fairly good audience in the
Metropolitan Theater last night to see the
new play, ''The Merchant" by the Girls
mer-Davies Company. The company is
well-balanced one of practiced people,
fully equal to the demands OF the piece.
The lady having the low comedy part
was, by sickness of the original in the
cast, called to the part suddenly, and had
to read her lines, which cut out the s'bus-
mess" of the role and considerably
marred the production.s But she sends
word that she will be letter per-
performance, on both of which
occasions "The Merchant will be re-
peated. Mr.. Grismer's and Miss Davies
methods on the stage are too familiar to
the people TO require any reference, fur
ther than to say that they were level with
the reputation these actors have estab-
lished. Miss Davies part is much the
tional, and the lady made it almost pain
fully SO. Scott Cooper has stropg role,
college professor of little worldly wis
dom, but plenty of good sense A. Liv-
ingston was also especially happy in per-
sonating better type OF the young Eng
lish aristocrat than is generally repre-
sented upon the stage. Mrs. Sara Stevens,
one OF the best all-around stock actresses
in the State, made excellent work with
slight material as a maiden lady of adj
yanced years, much money and young
heart. The other support was by Miss
Deming and Messrs. Wier, Hermance,
Collins and Middlemiss. As TO the play
it is the story of a merchant speculating
with capital unwisely drawn from busf-
ness, living in luxury, meeting with re-
verses, concealing the fact from his
wife, trusting friend and guest
who deceives him, sinking to the
verge of ruin and rescued only
by the loyalty of his wife, and the sturdi-
ness of true friends. Saving and except
ing the character of Vanderstyle, the mer-
chant, the piece is of wholesome tone
and surcharged with good lessons. 1t
may well give warning to reckless and
careless spectators, and ought to serve
as a sermon on the text, ''Business is a
jealous mistress and will brook no rival.n
The plot is strong, the interest well sus-
tanned, the comedy vein light, clean, but
not too prominent, and the situations all
vigorous and probable. But the mer-
chant, the hero of the play, is blind fool;
he is an unreasonable and senselesS
friend, and is so weak and unmanIy that
the wonder is that his wife does not de
spiSe him for his cowardice. He refuses
to forgive, though he had much to be
forgiven for. He does not prove as manly
as the friend, his guest, who, in weak
moment, made love to his hosts wife.
but deeply REF cited it and sought to
atone for the insult. But the play is a
drama of strong human interest, q we'll
told, probable story, and excites lively
debate and division among auditors in
the pauses, as to what the outcome will
be-nearly always the sign of play that
wins attention deservingly. The prices
for to-day's matinee are reduced. The
supposition that 'FernclifIe'' would be
played tonight is error, but "The Mer-
chant" is to be given this evening.
Hanlon's "Superba" is announced for
the Metropolitan Theater, TO be produced
four nights next week, commencing
Tuesday and concluding with a matinee
next Saturday. Seats will be on sale
Monday morning at $3.50. sSuperba'' is
Hanlon's latest and by many is thought
to be their best and most attractive spec
tacular trick pantomime. The Hanlons
have established, in fact, school of
spectacle and pantomime peculiarly their
own, marked by unique and original
tricks, scenic effects and striking and hu-
morous situations and tableaux. ''Su-
perba'' is on its second tour, but has not
been seen in Sacramento. 1t moves
upon the plane of its predecessors,
but varying in treatment. 1t is claimed
for it that it follows the charac-
teristics of the pantomime of the last
generation, only made fresh and en-
tertaining by the mechanical genius of its
constructors. In it, it is said, will be
found the wedding of all that is most
wonderful in stage magic and scenic
illusion to that which is most simple and
amusing in romance and fairy tale, and
that the result forms combinations it is
said, which has as much interest for the
younger element as the adult theater-
goer. The former has all the ideas inn
bibed from his nursery books realized.
and to the latter it is a mental relaxation,
a frolic of the fancy which makes HIM
feel young again. The Omaha Bee pro-
nounces it the most brilliant stage spec
tacle ever shown there. The Albany
argus thinks it's tricks cleverer and
more successful than any other the Han
Ions have given. The San Francisco
Bulletin says .'it is a splendid mechanical
and pantolnimic production" and it adds
that the San Francisco audiences were
unanimous in expression of approval of
and pleasure in it.
Strong Witness.
Judge-Haye you any witnesses for
yourself?
Prisoner-Yes sor. meself.