The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-25

Drew's accurate work and pleasing results
were due in greater measure to the mag
nificent setting he received us a member
of Days company than to any transcend
ent ability of his own. Therefore when
he branched out as the principal attrac-
ton in II company organized by Charles
Frohman thousands of Mr.. Drew's friends
had serious misgivings as to the outcome
of the experiment
The vehicle selected for the exploitation
of Mr.. Drew's remarkable abilities was
''The Masked Ball." farce with mo-
tiff as light rs down and n plot as volatile
as ether. The play was adapted by Clyde
Fitch. author of Beau Brummell" and
'Frederick lie Maitre," from the French
of Bison and Carrie, who seem just now to
be the only authors from whose works Mr.
Charles Frohman cares to have drawn the
airy nothings like Settled Out of Court"
1.-THE Family Circle and others of that
fix with which he is in my opinion surfeit
ing the public.
But 1.-THE Masked Ball." rs presented by
John Drew and company at Palmer's
theater, New York, recently, was sue
cess. The play is light-"feathcry'' in fuct
but it amuses without too seriously vio-
1ating the proprieties, except in the last
act, where scene participated in by the
entire company-eXcept Mr.. Drew fortu-
nately-was about on n par with the lowest
order of modern so called farce comedy"
Imagine number of excellent actors, each
armed with tin pan and large SPOON
pounding noisily for the purpose of swarm
ing bees which have escaped, and you will
have pretty good idea of this remarkable
and, to me, incXplicable horseplay, which
unquestionably married what would other
wise have been an unqualified dramatic
success.
bnv ri h,
that Mr.. Frohman may soon supply Mr.
Drew with a play in which he will have
greater opportunity to display his un-
douted versatility than in The Masked
Ball" AS n farceur, pure and simple Mr.
Drew does lead, but Mr.. Joseph Holland is
SO nearly his equal that it requires un ex-
perienced Judge to decide between them.
But test these two excellent actors in a
dozen characters, embodying every line of
dramatic work, and Mr. Holland will sink
into lilliputian n.~hingness beside the
Brobdingnagian immensely of John Drew
had imagined that Mr.. Drew's acting,
now that he is free from the leading strings
of that able manager, but 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 hiariously trying circumstances still
characterizes Mr.. Drew's work. Another
point and n most important one in favor of
the probability of success of the latest
stellar addition to the dramatic armament
is that despite the ovations which he has
up to this time received ut every perform
ancc at Palmer's theater he has not ap.
pearcd 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 it, And for this COM
mendable but unusual practice Mr.. Drew
is entitled to the fullest measure of credit
From John Drew to Days company, just
across the street, is but n step, and after
the brilliant success of the one was pre-
pared for n dazzling hit on the part of the
other.
To say that was disappointed, however,
but mildly expresses it. Little Miss Mil
lion" was the play on the opening night. 1t
is one of Mr. Days numerous adaptations
from the German, and perhaps his worst.
The first act is tame, talky and totally tire