New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-14
SOL SMITH RUSSELL.

The customary Contemporaneons method OF max
ing play produces a tissue of coloGuy uiViced
into lengths, each of which is calculated TO oc-
cupy from thirty to forty minutes in delivery
That colloquy develops little 10 character, IN
wolves dramatic incident, and stimulates no
action The result OF ii Is talk. and the writer OF
II appears TO think that he has made play. Dc
cause he has provided the raw material Of con-
yersat:on. TO that deluded fancy the pubic owes
many burdens. Scores of persons who nave no
natural faculty for pay-writins viii, never'he.esS
persist in the manufacture of colioquy, anc at IN
tsrvas the product Of their industry gets itself
launched on the stage. \ specimen of that sort
of fabric, albeit Of a rather superior order was
displayed last light In Days Theatre under the
name Of April Weather" The author OF Il Is
Mr. W. c. Fitch. and the principal part IN II was
borne very admirably. in most respects, by Mr..
Sol Smith Russell.
AnrjI weather is supposed to consist Of sunshine
and rain and by parity of reasoning this play
IS supposed TO consist OF smiles and tears. n man
who wanted to marry presumable widow, ana
rad succeeded in winning her promise of marriage
found out that she was no; a widow, but was
already married-her husband having been In I'M
nerited disgrace and supposed to be dead He
resortei TO deception for brief while TO keep
that secret, but at last he accepted the inevitable
situation, and the wife and husband were again
united The general posture of circumstances thus
indicated is, manifestly. one OF the most common
hction. An air of novelty was. however. thrown
over 1t in this case by certain eXtravagant varia-
tons Of the usual facts. and by the remarkable
skill and the incessant genality OF the central
actor. The structure OF the play is made to rest
upon the violent assumption that an afectionate
and devoted young husband would. suddenly and
without word Of explanation. desert his wife and
their young children,-leav!ng them TO the cold
mercies Of the world-in order to shield the repu-
tation of his rascal father and his mother
from the knowledge of disgrace. Such conduct Is
out Of all reason. Once admitting ii as legitimate
basis Of story, the sequence is sufficiently pract-
cable; although even then it has to be assumed
that loving wife.-believng her absent husband
innocent. and always remaining fond OF him.,
ro s@py an 10 eoon on ersme Such are
the foundations of April Weather" II was de-
ton When reached is excellent There are many
trivialties in the, treatment. and The action Is
ludes Of prattlethe excsIon of which would greatly
accelerate. and benefit the piece, The expedient
happy lover OF another mans wife, is very well
devised. and the game at Kings and Queens with
The introducon O Of illusions to Mrs Browning
and Rossett by the lady who is about to &c destroy
to ridicue-but Miss Radcliffe saved the moment
Mr.. Russell. apart from his playful tendency to
quiz and chat. is a comedian of authentic talent
voH VOICE and the
tric comedy II natural attributes mean anything.
ought to include Jacques. Strop., Shakespeare, g
Launce, and Ben Jonson's Abel Drugger. lie
shows comical play of feature and a versatility
Of demeanor and motion, such as used to be ad-
mired In Burton and Warren.-the latter OF whom he
especially recalls, By sweet comminglins OF
gentleness with sparkling animal spirits and wag-
gish fun He has deep feeling. but he is not for
parts that require either passion or sentiment AS
the serio-comfc lover. last night. he was delightful
but as the sentimental lover he lacked authority.
He was more like Jefferson in Asa Trenchard,
at certain moments THAI any actor except Jeher-
large audience followed his performance with
frequent plaudits rand called him out four times
after the last curtain and oDnge1 him TO speak
which he did, with grace fnd feeling. The full cast