The evening world., 1893-10-13
VALLEY"

A star actor mast, In the privacy OF his
own heart. feel awfully greedy. There
must be moments when he pitics the
members of his company, from whom
he excludes all opportunities, while the
fat upon which he feeds himself must
occasionally sicken him. Sol Smith Rus
sell. now at Days Theatre. presenting
a sort of monologuc. by Edward L. Kid
der. called Peaceful Valley" is a fear
full instance of stellar egotism. blindly
led astray. Throughout the three acts
OF this recitation Mr.. Russell Is like
little Jack Horner. perpetually putting
In his thumb and pulling out a plum.
He gets all the plums-everything; the
company is left to famish. or to act
as foils to the star.
Mr.. Russell Is n quaint and delightful
actor. lie has a personality that Is UNI
usual, and his humor Is dry and pene-
trating. He has lone some excellent
work.. and there Is 10 reason why he
should not be as popular In New York
as he Is in the West Yet Mr.. Rus
sell must be even fonder of himself than
his Western friends can be. In Peace
full Valley" he has accepted a play that
sacrifices everything-plot, interest. char
aCters. dialogue-to the star. He Is like
the end man of the minstrel show. He
has to make all the funny remarks. while
his poor people rave to PROFOUND the
questions.
The story Is simple. dealing mainly
with the love of Hosea Howe, who
says what he means ana means what he
says"-and gives nobody else a chance
| ear NIrgin punI go mani of xvnn11n-
hood How a city girl like Miss Rand
could fail In love with such IA tedious
country lout as Hosea the playwright
does not attempt to explain. lie proha-
bly, relies on the well-known fact that
love and logic do not fra'rrnt Sc. And
Hosea Is tedious with Il vengeance. He
almost sends one to sleep, with his
drouing, drawing acce lts and his
interminable m~onologues. You are even
obliged to watcn him as he shaves. and
there Is scarcely a moment when he Is
not before you. In spite OF his semi
imbeciilty he Is exceedingly good. He
drops the villain into the valley and
rescues the heroine from his clutches,
He has all the situations" of the piece
and everything else.
No actor has a right to subordinate
everything to himself. Mr.. Russell Is
probably anxious TO secure a quainI
character sketch after the style OF The
Professors Love story WIZARDS grea'
success, but Nj. Willard has not sough'
to emphasize himself TO the exclusion
Of everybody else. He has a character
part, worked out deftly In its lights anC
shadows as much by the other peopl,
as by himself. Hosea Howe is utterl!
absurd. He utters Jokes and reeks will
wltticisms, designed TO, tickle an audi
ence, regardless Of truth-iike the irrele
want songs in a farce-comedy. Every
body caters to him, He Is constant.
interrogated. So that he can be faceti
tiously responsive. The result Is that b,
the time the second act Is over yol
loathe Hosea Howe and set him down a
an abominahle nuisance.
The play Is very neatly STAGED. TIL
e poo puppets who dance when Mr.. Rus
sell pulls the string do not seem happy
The best of them are Miss Minnie Rad
= cliffe. who is charming ana worthy O
a better fate, and orrin Johnson VIII
l Is also wasted. ALAN DALE.