Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893-04-27
mace rne piece a success, 1t would nave cas-

mace Jne piece success, 1t would nave cas-
lily run out the season.
The Leavenworth Case" Anna Katha-
rine Green's decentralization of her celebrated
novel OF that name, is an excellent play.
Like everything that was ever written for
the stage, there are of course some things
that might be cut out to the advantage Of
1.-The Leavenworth Case" but take it all in
all it is strong, virile play chock full of &C
ton and Astounding in intense situations.
This is, believe, Miss Green's first attempt
in the line of dramatic literature, although
the artistic, finished climaxes which end
the different acts make this statement seem
almost incredible. The story is as coher-
emily and deity told in the play as in the
novel, and if it should fail of success it
will be simply because the American pub
lie is distrustful of serious plays which
come to them without the prestige of long
New York runs.
The company which saw interpret 1.-THE
Leavenworth Case" in Brooklyn is, on the
whole, very bad one, at least for that par
ticular play. There are of course some
bright exceptions. The most notable of
these is Mr.. Charles Rohlfs, the husband of
the authoress. Mr.. Rohlfs enacts the role
of the private secretary, who, overwhelmed
by the depth of his love for Mary, murders
her father, who would have disinherited her.
Any one who has read the novel will at
once recognize the possibilities of this
character in the hands of competent &C
tor, and Mr.. Rohlfs is more than that--he
is very great actor. lie surprised me at
first. thought that he might have man
aged by diligent study and rehearsal, aided
perhaps by some natural ability, to make
the opening scenes appear particularly
strong, but made up my mind that, as
the actors say, he would "let down. before
the end of the play. However. he did moth
ing of the kind. Instead he increased in
force, and unless all signs fail it is perfect
ly safe to predict that Charles Rohlfs is
destined to take high rank among the cele-
brated actors of America. There is no ar
tificiality about Mr. Rohlfs' work. His
sincerity carries conviction, and his entire
freedom from petty theatrical tricks for
effect serve to make the auditor forget that
he is only acting after all.
Mr.. Rohlfs' name was rather unfamiliar
to me, but knew that was looking at an
actor of experience, and investigation prov
ed that was not mistaken He was years
ago playing important parts with Booth
and several Others of our well known per-
formers. After his marriage seven or eight
years ago he retired from the stage, to
which he has but just returned, this time,
am told, permanently. He shows the result
Of his excellent earlier training.
On the stage in the character of the pri-
vate secretary Mr.. Rohlfs strongly reminds
one in personal appearance of Richard
Mansfield as Baron Chevrial in "a oarisian
Romance" His methods, too, greatly re-
semble Mansfields, although he is evident
ly not an imitator. But even if he be he
has shown excellent Judgment in the Sc
lection of a prototype. At any rate, the
stage is a great gamer by Mr.. Rohlfs' re-
turn to it.
saw Dixey's new 'Adonis" in Brooklyn
the other night, and on its merits purely
the present version" ought to be as sue
cessful as the old one. Dixey is unquestion-
ably better than ever. His methods have
been mellowed by time and his experiences