The morning call., 1892-03-15
The THEATERS
A." The Heir at-Law' as Presented at the
Baldwin.

"The Heir at-Law'' rs Presented at the
Baldwin.
Rain does not agree, in San Francisco.
with English comedy. Otherwise, the Bald
win would have been crowded last evening
to see Mr.. Joseph Jefferson in his inimit-
able personation of DR.. Pangloss, the GEN.
trail character of Colman the younger's
"Heir-at- Law" instead of an auditorium
only fairly filled. In our opinion there is
more delicate and true acting in conveying
the character of the impecunious and
superfcially learned tutor than there
is In sustaining that Of Bob Acres.
Pangloss. LID. and ASS. Fellow of the
Royal Society of Arts, carries 1.-THE Heir
at-Law," and no one can so we'll bear the
burden as Mr.. Jefferson. Those who were
privileged to be present last evening will
bear us out in this opinion. There was no
coarse applause. no boisierous merriment,
but ripple OF laughter pervaded all of
PaDgloss' scenes, showing, on the part of
the audience. close knowledge of the drama
lists text, and thorough appreciation
OF the manner in which the accom-
plished comedian presented it. Briefly
stated, the comedy is this: Daniel Dowlas.
an old GOsport tallow-chandler, from the
supposed loss of the son of Lord Duberly.
succeeds to the peerage and estate of e15,-
600 per annum. He engages DR.. Pangloss,
poor pedaut just created by the Society of
Arts-Artium Societas Socius-as an in
structor to himself at salary of
$500 a year, and, subsequently,, as
tutor to his son, who is a law clerk at
GospOrt, and who knows more in a minute
than PanglaSs knew in his whole life,
about the situation into which fortune
has forced him, and who, instead of being
tutored by the doctor, promises the venal
pedant $500 per year additional if he will
act as minister to his vices, and which he
consents 10 do. The scene at the Blue Boar
Inn, London, is perhaps the best in the COM
edy. Here we have assembled Dick Mir, j.
III. BarneS), old Dowlas' son: Ezekiel Home-
spun (LOuis james,. and Cicely Homespun
Miss Viola Allen, all just come up to Lon
don from GospOrt, aud all unaware of the
Dicks father, till the arrival of
DIR. Pangloss, an ambassador from the
newly made Lord Duberly. makes Dick ac-
quainted with it. This scene is study in
human nature-a better one never was
written. Dick, who is a friend of ZekiePs
and lover OF Ciceiy, Sh axes them at once !;
but he finds subsequently, when old
DOwlas loses his wTOngfully ACQUIRED title
and estates, that poor Zeke Homespun is
the better man of the two, because he has
his turn of luck in the shai e of a prize lot
tery-tickeI, and he makes Dick ashamed
of himself by standing his friend when the
latter comes TO grief. Mr. Barnes PLAYED
Dick better than be did Captain Absolute,
ana Mr.. Louis James gave us good Zeke
HOmespun. although his Lancashire dialect
was a struggle. while Viola Allen was neat
as the country girl Cicely. Mr. w. +.
Owen was broad and we'll defined in the
low comedy character of Lord Duberly, and
the rest OF the characters we're we'll sup
ported. This evening ''The Rivals" will be
restored TO the stage.
lNoTE-in answer 10 some queries we may
STATE that CGlman, the aui hOr OF this comedy
added "lbe younger" 10 his name after the CON
demnation OF his play The Iron Chest" LEST
my fathers memory" lie said, may be injured
by mistakes, aud In the Commissions 81 AFTER
time the translator OF Tegauee' and the
author OF Tile Jealous Wife should be sup
posed guilty OF The Iron Chess | shall. were
4 10 reach the patIiarchal longevity OF Me-
thuselah, continue I'm all my dramatic publlca-
tions) 10 subscribe myself George COlman the
youureF"l