The morning call., 1893-06-06
AT THE THEATERS.
"Lady Blarney" Puzzling
but Pleasing.
"The Golden Cross" at the Tivoli,
Clarence T. Arper at the Grove
Street-Concerts to Come.

Alfred henne0y'S Lady Barney" as
produced at the Stockwell last evening is
embarrassed with riches so far as the
quantity OF material with which it is
made up IL concerned and in the rapidity
with which unexpected disclosures are
made and the incidents succeed each other.
So swift are the changes in the dramatic
story that it is trifie confusing 10 follow
them in the first two acts. 1t requires the
closest attention, and then there is a
chance that some connecting link may
have escaped you. Two sittings will be
required by the average theater-goer 10
master kennedy's work. and even then it
will be an open question as to its merit.
The gist of this American comedy" as
it is called, is that Lady Barney Miss
Annie Ward Tiffany. a hearty, pleasant
Irish woman, comes to the United States
from Tipperary to see her foster sons,
Gerald and Jack Laughtrey. for the first
time in fifteen years. Her boys have pros
pered in America-at least Jack had, but
the money. at the time of Lady Blarney's
arrival. had slipped through his fingers,
and he endeavors to conceal the loss by
nefarious practices, no matter at whose
expense. his brothers included.
Jack is broad-natured. honest fellow,
n
the same girl. Jack is preferred and a
great deal of Gerald'e work is directed to
breaking him down, because Ethel
Clifford, the girl in question, is an heress
and Gerald lnoks to hor fortune as the way
out OF his difficulties.
Then there is conspiring woman called
Lydia Chasmer Miss Lillian Lamson) who
wishes to marry one of the brothers-it
does not appsar clearly which-and she
comes in now and then N the most unac-
cnuntable way. Once it appears she holds
the whip hand over Gerald, and then. at
the demand OF her father. confssses she
has received jewels from some one, quite
plainly from Gerald. as the price of her
honor.
Before this Lady Barney has impaired
to Colonel Mart Creighton (Mr George
OSbourne), CAV old boy. that she brings
with her from Ireland fortune Of ESQ, 600
TO be divided between her foster sons,
provided they have a clean bill of health
as TO character. After a series of uues-
tons she believes in Jack but doubts Ger
aid. She doubts him still more when hs
requests her to take up her residence else
where than in his house, as lie is ashamed
of her. her brogue and her Irish ways. 1t
comes out in the course of the second act
that the father of Lady Blarney's foster
sons Is an old convict whom Jack has got
place in business house, where he COM
mits a forgery, that Gerald attempts to
fasten on Jack, who leaves the country,
after plightiDg his troth to Ethel Clifford
which was unnecessary, IS there was
quite good understanding between them
in this regard early in the first act. But
this is one of the pecularities of Mr.. Ken
nedy'S work.
There is n use to say the play is written
especially for Miss Tiffany, as its oddities
and contradictions are nearly all due to
kennedy's ever-pTesent desire TO make a
place for her all through the business
She is instant in season and out of season
The tangled skein Is eventually unraveied,
and dramatic justice done.
There are some bright things in LADY
Blarney's text, and many that have n
chestnutty flavor; but her odd way of saw
ing them provokes almost constant laugh
ter. Osbourne makes good Irishn,an as
Colonel Mart Creighton; John Jacks
heavy father Is in his usual vein: Bertha
Foltz is pretty ingenue as Ethel, and the
rest of the characters play their assigned
parts smoothly.
From Sire TO Son"-the first in the
Milton Mobiles series of plays-was offered
to good attendance at the Grove street,
with Mr.. Clarence L. Arper in the lead.
This young gentleman is recent aces
sion to the stage, and gives promise of
being an ornament to it Mt no distant dav.
drama in which he has made his debut.
and it is only fair to him and the rest of
tho company TO say that it was rendered
quite as we'll as it has been in Mr.. Mobiles
hands.
The Tivoli began Brulrs opera. "The
Golden Cross" to Il very full attendan 20.
1t is a well-vritten work with a simple
story, adorned with excellent music ana
II Of
quired on the stage, and judging by the
way IN which they carried themselves, DAT
ticularly in the scenes where the baIlet
d'action is required. they have been well
rehearsed. The ensemble singing was well
sustained, and the dancing picturesque in
the opening act. The stage setting en-
braced cataract, q rustic bridge. an
old mill with tho wheel in motion, and a
road up the mountain-side, along which the
conscripts with guard OF regular soldiers
wended their way TO the wars 1t was
quite a picture. The story of the opera
was given in Sundays CALL. Miss Tillie
Salinger has some exigeant music, and ac-
quilted herself well, and Miss Liddiard
shared the applause with her on account of
the manner in which she sustained the role
of Theresa. Arthur Messmer as the Young
French nObleman, and George Olmi az
Barbadon, sergeant OF the Old Guard, were
quite acceptable.
The Symphony Amateur Orchestra
sixty performers, under the direction of
Louis E. Knell-will give the first concert
of the first series at Metropolitan Temple
Tomorrow evening at o'clock, assisted by
Miss Charlotte Gruenhagen, volinist, and
d. de V. Graham, barytone. Miss Gruen
hagen will play H0llaender's "Ballade."
with orchestral accompaniment, aua MIR.
Graham will sing Handeps "Where'er
You Walk"
A grand musicale and entertainment is
announced by California No. /. N. s.
u. W.. July II, at Odd Fellows Hall.
Leila France (Mrs. l.. F. McDermotO is
writing new song, a Lullaby" which
will be dedicated to Mr.. Raymond Moore.
Tomorrow evening at Metropolitan Hall
concert rendered to the California Kelley
Club by the Bandurrista Club and other
artists will take place.
Ii. a. Ragan gave his last illustrated lee
ture at the Metropolitan Hall last evening
to a good attendance. His subject was
"Glimpses of Scotland"