Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-02
THE THeATeR.


Lasl NlguL
Although the bittor cold weather had
the effect of keeping many away from
the thcntcr last evening. when tho rur-
tam rose ON the first act OF "FOntpucllp'
lnrEc and fashionable audience CONE
iortubly filed the house
The play is the Joint work OF Hnrr-
son Oircy l'isko. editor of the New Norl.
Dramatic Mirror aud his wife Minnie
Muudern fisku, who IN her maiden days
was one of the most accomplished In
Eenues ON the stage, from which she rec
tired after her marriage. II deals with
the time OF Louis Nv. ana the scenes
anu costumes arr drawn from pictures
OF the day. while the plot is founded ou
sufficient historical facts TO render 10
AN accurate though necessarily sbctchy
picture Oi the times and costumes of
France under the reign of her dissUlute
and plpasurc-lOving king. 1t Is rO-
mantle melo-drnma, strongly built. and
SkIlliully constructed To- maintain the ii-
tcirst from the rise of the curtain tu It's
fall. There are no long monologucs eX-
plDuutOry OF the events upon which the
scenes of the play hinge, and the action
Is quick, smooth and easy. The plot uu-
folds gradually thp events occurring In
natural sequence While not as strong
as Monte Christie ID 5 almost equally
as absorbing IL has the distinction OF
being the only melo.druma of the ro-
which has achieved success, aud that
ONeill and the play made a hit last
night was attcstcd by the fact that lac
received two curtain calls while the APP
plausc was uustutcd
Mr.. O'Ncill handles his role in pleas.
ing manner aud il IN admirably suited
to his physique, voice aud methods As
usual he has surrounded himself With a
very clever company, while no pains or
expense have been spared I'm the mount.
inES. HE costumes are rich aud costly
and are made of the genuine article they
are supposed 10 represent, and have none
of the fake features so common. The
stage settings are unusually elaborate
and the calcium effects we'll handled.
This is one OF the secrets Of Mr. O'Ncll's
success; lac VIII produce nothing that
is not deliberately staged.
After the curtaid had gone down ON
the second act n Guzctte reporter sought
Mr. O'Nclll and enjoyed few minutes
chat with him while he WAS waiting for
his cue. or the new play Mr., ONeill
expressed himself us well pleased, and cs-
pcciUlly with the favor with which it
had been received by the public. He
does not doubt IL is good for a run Of
four or five seasons, but he IS contcm-
plating a new departure next scusOn,
aud will brig ont a revised and greatly
strengthened version Of Monte CristO.
with elaborate mounting and stage eff
fects and will also essay the legitimate,
producing Hamlet aud "ldchlicu,' MS
well as Monte CristO.' He IL DESTROYS
of doing better work. and feels that ne
can handle the legitimate ms well as the
romantic drama successfully Like all
good actors ne Is ambitious ula CON
ctuutly striving for something better and
for advancement in his chosen profess
sion Rcsnglmg "FOutonellc' he said
he was glad il had been u success, not
ONLY for his own sake, hut Tor that of the
authors. who he Is confident will yet
bring out other plays that will be- even
more of q 20 than this one. In regard
10 the house last night lac said he had not
expected many people out, and had heard
no remarks or any thing 20 Indicate the
attendance, aud when he first stepped
upon the stage aud east his eyes around
he was agrecubly surprised. Everywhere
ne has been he has been greeted with
crowded houses, and the run Of "FOn-
tencllc" thus fur this season has been n
better one financially than "Monte
Cristo" had had for the corresponding pc
RODS IL is possible the people of Fort
Worth win have an opportunity of seeing
him In the legitimate as well rs the 10.
manic role next season. and IL is safe
To say they will give him warm wei
con q.