Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-02-12

NW%NTv
New YORK, February 11.-Willlam
| Gillette's Ninety Days" produced at
the Broadway Theatre on Monday, after
a weeks delay, was the only new play
produced this week In Gotham. 1t Is
one of the best spectacles ever seen In
! this country, and is booked for long
run. The story told is OF New Yorker
who dies, leaving large fortune 10
country cousin, subject TO the condltlon
that she marries the son OF his dearest
! friend. This young man is mission
ary in Burmah, and thither the young
woman and two friends 90 in search OF
him. The dead mans sister, who Is
the next heir, endeavors to prevent the
marriage, but is foied, and at the end
the heiress brings back her missionary
in triumph. Around this Mr.. Gillette
has woven q network of adventures,
running through seven acts, and sur
rounded each with striking pretty seen
ery, any one OF which seems strong
enough TO carry any production OF this
| kind.-"Lady Windermere's Fam"
first produced in Boston last week,
served on Monday to open the regular
season at Palmer's Theatre. 1t Is the
work of Oscar Wilde, and distinctly a
a society drama. The skeleton in the
closet is the central point upon which
hinges the whole action. Upon this
ground work has been reared,
with remarkable skill, super
structure of caustic wit and brill
liant persiflage which never permits In
terest to lag. The lines of the play are
almost invariably bright, and II Mr..
Wilde has shown in his treatment OF the
theme that he takes superficial view
of the motives which sway modern So
ciety. he has evidently determined TO
allow his audience to forget that the
external polish is finished and artistic,
whatever may be the inner feelings Of
his characters. Mrs. Erlynne, brill
iiantly played by Miss May Brooklyn, is
the central figure. She is an adven-
I turess. but the mother of Lady Win
dermere, and this fact is only known TO
Lord Windermere, who supplies her
with vast sums of money, in order, as
he thinks, that she may re-enter socie-
ty. Scandal-loving friends, however,
tell Lady Wlndermere that her husband
is an ardent admirer OF Mrs. Erlynne,
and urged by noble profligate who
professeses to love her, Lady Winder-
mere leaves her husband and child dur
ing a ball at her residence. Mrs. Err
lynne, who has been invited to this ball
by Lord Windermere against the wishes
of his wife, finds that Lady Windermere
has gone, leaving letter 10 her hus-
band. and follows her to the roOms OF
Lord Darlington, who returns shortly
after both women have entered his
apartment, bringing with him a party
of friends, one OF whom is Lord
Windermere. Both the women are
In hiding, but Lady Windermere'S fan
is discovered and Lady Windermere is
about TO search the rooms when Mrs.
Erlynne advances from her place OF
concealment claiming that she took the
| fan from Lady Windermere's house oy
mistake. Lady Windermere takes ad-
vantage of the diversion to make her
escape unseen. During the play Lady
| Windermere does not learn that her
husband has been giving her mother
money to save her from disgrace, and
she firmly believes that Mrs. Erlynne
has saved her solely on account OF the
generosity OF her nature. Neither does
Lord Windermere learn why Mrs.
! Erlynne was in Lord Darlington's
rooms. He believes her guilty woman.
Mrs. Erlynne, however, becomes recon-
ciled TO her admirer Lord Augustus
Lorton, who was one of the party in
Lord Darlington's room when she was
found there, and everything ends well.
The play was splendidly acted through
out, and will undoubtedly have long
run, but with due respect to Mr.. Oscar
Wilde and London society, be Ii said,
that there is not redeeming character
In the play, not one parsonage for whom
the auditor can feel single thrill of
pity. Even the wife who believes her
| self wronged, fails to elicit sympathy.
II London society is such as Mr.. Wilde
pictures it, it is a very bad lot indeed,
and the only purpose the play will
achieve, besides the weekly royalty to
the author. will be the more intense
dislike of Americans for English people
in general and the "smart" set in par
ticular.
Messrs. Lit and Davis. the proprie-
tors of the greatest of ali English melo-
dramas, "The Stowaway," which will
be seen in New York soon, are also the
projectors OF the following successes:
Miss Annie Lewis in the comedY-drama,
"a Nutmeg Match" the Swedish dia-
lect drama, "Yon Yonson," and the ma
val play, The Ensign" All of these
| plavs have been more than ordinary
successes. Manager Lift also controls
three OF the most popular, best paying
and and handsomest theatres in the
country, viz: The Bijou Opera House,
Milwaukee; the Grand Opera House, 81.
Paul, and the Bijou Opera House, Min
neapolis.--J. X. Emmett has made as
big success this week in St. Louis as
he did last week in Chicago, and both
of these great Western towns agree
with New York that be is the best Ger
man dialect comedian in America. His
business in both towns has been enor-
nous.
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