Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-04
THEATRICAL ropscx

James ~ <etH was Srretcd with TAR
sixed audience In tho Powers last even
ilig. la '-foni<nelIss he demonstrated
the farf that be has in his repertoire a
part that poseesees tile qualities that
have made Monte Crisfo" success on
The stage a. well ~ in print. The drama
az last night goes back % the time of
Louis AV. an era " hieh Dumas himself
recognized ~ full Il interest 90 the mod
efn reader. There IL romething - IN
hersntiy tragic in the conditions which
illuminated In the revolution and the
direcforste. something with an almost
sinister attraction 10 this country, whose
birth gave = strange impetus 20 the
work 81 Danton. kot~spierre aud Marat.
and while the era Of -Fontenelle" ante,
dates the revolution. il has an under
tone q tragedy that is euriously sug-
eestive at the cruel. riotous sayagery
that was 10 follow that age. Tho play
Itself e well adapted 10 the powers I'll
Mr.: O'Seill. who inheriss the traditions
and methods Of the Fechter school of
dramatic work. -Fontenelle" ID well
eonccived tn the dramatic character II
its :'rituations' or denouments MIR.
oNeili's Interpretation II the role which
he assumes II Tar above any that has
been given by him in thu past. and Is
really admirable in - many points that
II justiiies the abundant and almost ex-
travagant applans<, that followed each
act The supporting company ~as very
good
The Misses Gage and Benedict's
HANOI IN Powers Thursday and Friday
will include typical Irish. Scotch,
Egyptian. Holland and the picturesque
Saltarello dance. liz will open with the
dances Of the season-spring. in It's deli
cate coloring. the warmth Of summer
and the glorious autumn will be depict
ell and enhanced by the beautiful dance
OF the beeN flowers. and butterflies.
This viii be preceded by prologue Of
the court jester, John Brewer The
other attractive features will be the
Tennis, the Mirror dance" song by
Lena Belle Bridgeman. and the last and
one OF the most beautiful dances will be
the awakening Of the Statues The
box Office sale OF tickets will begin at Q
O'Clock this morning.
Possibly 400 persons assembled in
Hartman's hall last evening 10 witness
the Living Whist" given boy Twenties
No. IL and Is. for the benefit OF the ST.
Cecilia building fund. The musical pro
logue was rendered by Miss Bessie
Walker. III. Parker Robinson. Mrs. An
drew Fyfe and Miss r. Maude Hughes.
The dancing was acceptable, almost ar
tistic in several instances. Much OF
the awkwardncss displayed was the re-
suit OF insufficient training perhaps,
rather than lack OF personal grace;
but on the whole tho performance was
creditable to the persons that partici-
pated and To the society for whose bene-
tit it was given. II will be repeated to-
night, when 1t is expected full house
Will be out.
The attendance at Smiths last even
ing was affected by the interest in cleo
ton results. but there was satisfactory
crowd present to witness the bright
vaudeville bill provided for the week.
OF course the "Japs' were easily the
most attractive feature. Their wonder
full balancing. perch climbing. slack
wire dancing and juggling is thrillingly
interesting. In the olio a number Of
especially bright turns are given TO
the delight Of the auditors. Harry
Woods "a High Old Time" is charac-
teristically funny, and closes program
OF exceptional merit. First matinee to-
morrow.
Because man can write an interest
ing novel which will claim all our sym
pathies and deeply work upon our feel
ings, il doesn't hold that he can write
play. For playw.iting a man must 60
through a special training. The more
literary man is the less are bis chances
for success in the dramatic world. As
an example, look at the failures achieved
by the literary plays produced under the
direction OF the New York Theater Of
Arts and Letters. AS everybody knows
by this time, the literary interest is a
secondary affair in play.
Trixy Hamilton is bright little elf
She lends 20 the Devils Nine" sensa-
ton play now current in The Grand.
much, il not all, its brightness and
merit. The first matinee will be given
today.
g.