The morning call., 1893-12-28
AT THE THEATERS.
MidWeek Notes Of the
Holiday Time.
Unpleasant Weather Affected the
Attendance -The Attractions at
the Various Houses.

Oscar Wilde's LADY Windrrmere's Fan"
now being admirably handled al the Baldwin
by the A. NJ. Palmer Stock Company, Is a
praiseworhy production In many respects, but
there are in it fanlts of construction that oeca-
sIona lily lead 10 forced situations. The idea on
which 1t is based-a daughter who believes her
mother unknown to her IN such relailuD) 10 be
rival IN her husbands loye-is certainly an
original one, aud measuTaby well worked ont.
But TOO much is required of The mother for
dramatic purp Oses. by the author, and TOO much
also from lie nus band of her daughter. They
are both Impossible characters as modern so
cieiy goes. The mother. Mrs. ETiynne. is a
woman OF the world VINO has deserted her
child. Size knows this child, has married
rich man in Lord Windtrmere. and she black
mails him without mercy. lie pays all her de-
mands. and on her insist ence keeps The secret
of her relationship 10 his wife. The result is
that Lady Windermere comes within hair of
making sbipwreck nf her life with Lord Oar
lingion through mad JEALOUSY OF her own
Windermere. knowing Mrs Erlynne's true
character and sill! loving lis wife, her daugh-
ter. SO ardently, does not make clean
breast Of IT, as sensible man would do, save
Lady WindermPre from the torture of suppos-
ing him unfaihful 10 her aud AT the same time
himself from AIRS. Erlynne's exactiOD? BUT
this common sense proceeding would have
ruined Mr.. Wilde's drama.
The text OF the plot Is studied and polished
for the sake Of making 10 episrammatic. and IL
smells OF the laipp all through. There Is reg
tons bachelor quarters. where the gentlemen
assemble after they have been closed out OF
their club al O'Clock IN lie morning, 10 spend
the rest OF the Eours till daylight. IL appears
that every member of the group has stock of
laroncs. and while they a;e not half bad In
their way, they seem, taking the lime and con.
ditioDs into account, TO be ODDLY misplaced.
We venture TO assert That a party of clubmen
do not converse In This precise and measured
fashion when they propose making night
OF II.
Ii is In Ibis scene where the feliaIe fan Is
brought into play. Lady Windermere. driven
TO desperation. has sought Lord Darlin gtou's
rooms. She IS followed by Mrs. Erynne, who
persuades her 10 return To her husband before
he knows Of her absence ana before Darlington
returns. She goes. but leaves her fan behind.
The club party Lord WildeTnere among them,
come IN before Mrs Eriynne can get away, and
she hides herself behind q porIieTe. The fan
Is bounced upon by one OF the epigramnlaiists,
who charges Darlington will, secreting one OF
The sex in his rooms. Nindermere takes the
fan and nnds IL belongs o lis wife. Then there Is
furious scene for moment, when Mrs. En-
lynne steps from her concealmen; and claims
The ian one size had taken from Lady Wtnder
mere's by mstahe. She saves her daughter,
but adds another stain to her already some
what dlScolpred reputation. Still, IL Is case
OF self-sacrifce.
All Tie actors do their work In finished style,
but there are one or TWO Miscasts. Bell has In
Lord Windernere better character than the
Trading man, Lackaye, IN Lord Darlington. Miss
Brooklyn as Mrs. Erlynue eclipses Miss Julia
Arthur as Lady Wiudermere. The lady nrst-
J.. Bowers the mischief makng Duchess of
Berwick makes a hue distinctive preservation.
'The Dancing Grip is in preparation.
Hoyps "Trip TO Chinatown Is a holiday sue
cess at the New California. In fact, II would
seem that anything ia the way of Durlesque 10
which the name of Charles Ii. Hoyt l. attached
acts as an "Open sesame" 10 tile affections OF
the public. There Is much greater INFER 81 felt
In the performance OF this "liitle NONSENSE
now than when IL was produced at the Bush
street for the first time IN this city. Tue. II
was a little crude IN places then. ana Hoyrs
improvements since have made II much more
presentable Harry Conor, George A. Beanr
Jr.. Miss Effe Chapng and julius Whtmark
do good work In the piece.
"Sinbad." an ideal entertainment for The
midwinter holidays, is running 10 a packed
attendance at the Grand Opera-house. The
performance Is maze I'D OF a right proportion
OF those elements that 90 toward frightening
fun and enjoyment. Plenty OF good music is
the rule. an abundance OF joity and up-to-
date comedy, particularly In Ed Foy's case
who seems 10 have letter-of-narque to cap
ture every good thing afoat and bring it into
poIt at The Grand. There are also galleries OF