The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18


der. The crowning achievement of the
modiste is worn by Miss Cayvan in the first
scene. 1t is Of rich velvet and opalescent
silk, with the daintiest hued chiffon in
green to soften its richness The design
combines the empire puffs-mOre generous
than overland the directoire lapels. The
bodice, in gold hand embroidered, is in fine
taste and exquisite harmony. Mr.. Froh-
mans admirable actress is lovely picture
as the heiress who tests her lovers SINGER
ity by pretending that she is very poor
One must not look too carefully at the
"new" plays on our boards this week. Mr..
Willard, the English actor, for instance, is
conspicuous at the Star theater in drama
which his manager has put forward as a
genuine novelty. 1t is called a Fools
Paradise" but one doesn't require very
long memory to recognize it. Five years
ago or 50, when the Abbey-Wallack stock
company were bringing to a mournful and
weak close tie brilliant career Of Lester
Wailack's theatcr-it is now Palmer's-I
saw upon its boards a play called "The
Mousetrap" 1t came from the pen Of that
polished writer and caustic wit, Sydney
Grundy, who is never quite so clever as
when he is putting into English some
French drama with particularly unin-
viting theme.
In Mr.. Wizards Fools Paradise" |
recognized The Mousetrap." 1t has since
been touched up" and every playgoer
who does me the honor TO read these lines
will easily divine what that means, for
"The Mousetrap" was a most dOlOrous
failure. It's cast contained Florence Gerard
(who may not be generally recognized as
Mrs. Henry L. Abbey Henry j. Leth-
court, Annie Robe (now Mrs. d. p. Girls
wold, wealthy and in retirement) and half
q dozen other good players but they could
not impart interest 10 the play
Mr.. Willard and Mr.. Grundy have
profted by that failure. The writer has
added a light touch Of comedy to relieve
the gloom, and the actor has put into bold
relief a role which AT first was akin to COM
monplace alike in conception and in execu-
ton. The story Of the drama is not intri-
cate, though there IS use OF the familiar
element of mystery. 1t concerns the at
tempt OF a wife--a semilunatic-to poison
her husband and others around her. The
good genius, interpreted with rare skill
and finished art by Mr.. Willard, is a
famous London physician. His knowledge
Of human nature, his ready wit and his
kind heart make him an admirable aud
lovable parsonage. Marie Burroughs is
the erring wife. The scene is in provincial
England, and the play requires no uncom-
mon display of canvases or costumes.
Mrs. james Brown Potter, aided and
abetted by Harold Kyrle Bellew-who is
the son of a Mr. Higgins, a worthy elOcu-
zionist and eX-preacher-is engaged at the
Union Suuare theater since Monday night
In an endeayor to convince this public that
she is worthy Of support as an actress.
This public has often been deluded, as we
all know, and il will ever continue to be
the weak prey of INSCRIPTIONS spectators
aud charlatans Of divers sorts. Thus there
Is reason TO expect that the promoters or
Mrs. Potter's venture will meet with some
encouragement. But surely drama which
makes no preteuse to decency, which ex-
ats libidinous love and has for its main
episode the disrobing Of newly married
couple in their bridal chamber-surely, |
say, drama thus deplOrable in incident
and theme and inexcusable in its bold de-
fiance Of the community's mOdesty cannot
be assailed too severely in the public prints.
Mrs Potter's relation to this responsible
exploit is that of the plant tool of her
"backer." She draws large wages. / am
told, and Mr.. Bellew, too, shares in the
gains. When her play, "Therese Raquin,"
was first acted in Boston it was quickly
and eloquentiy condemned by the critics.
Nevertheless the public crowded the the
alter for several weeks.
The nrsss verdict here has been no less