The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-13

ia. % o'Nenrs ..Messs crisso. .

Mr.. James O'Neill had every reason to
feel proud Of the unsxceptionabiy crowded
house that greeted his return to Seattle
last evening in his great characterize
ton of Monte Cristo" after IN alb
sence of Eve years. and his grand
conception Of Aiexanders Dumas
creation. 50 often repeated, was again 70
ceived with . heartiness and enthusiasm
that showed how firmly Mr. O'Nsili's fame
and popularity was established In the
hearts Of Seattle theater-goers. Mr..
O'Neiil and his company arrived from
Portland ct $50 last evening. which left
them but little time to transfer and
erect the car load Of special scenery which
Mr.. O'Neill carries for the production Of
Monte Cristo." The result was that the
rise OF the curtain on the hFst act was
little later than usual. The audience,
however. was . good-natured one and its
patience was fully rewarded by . finished
entertainment that kept alive the interest
Of the audience TO the last drop Of the
curtain. Every seat in the house
was sold By the time the per
Torrance commenced and the house,
crowded from top to bottom, boxes
and all, presented an animated scene most
that recalled the good old days Of money
and plenty The size of the audience was
Complimentary to the intelligence Of Sc
attic people and is proof conclusive that
first-class attractions. either Of the roman
tic or legitimate school of scsing, always
meet with . hearty recognition In this
city. Mr.. ONeill has been SO
closely identified with the romantic
part Of Edmund Dantss that one name
10 always suggestive Of the other. II il
doubtful If any other actor has ever given
the study to one part that Mr.. O'Nsill has
to "Monts Cristo" and he has succeeded
in rounding the part until It now
stands out q mastery creation whose
force and reality sinks the actor and leaves
in his stead . living avenger Of terrible
wrongs suffered. Mr.. O'Neiii 10 said 70 find
new beauties In the lines of "Monts
Cristo" with every representation: these
develop to his analytical mind new read
ings, action or situations 90 that, as
he says, the repetition of Monte CYisto"
10 never mechanical, but becomes beau
tifui study in which he enters heart and
soul with the object Of still further i'm.
provement. This was noticeable last
evening and, though in the main
it was the same smooth, fascinating
performance given by Mr.. O'Neill years
before. yet it possessed an easy grace and
po,ish in the lighter parts and magnetic
force in the dramatic parts that electrified
the audience and secured for the gentle
man, beside any amount Of spontaneous
applause, . number of repeated curtain
calls. which at the close Of the third act
compelled him to bow his acknowledge.
ments four times in succession before the
enraptured audience would be satisfied.
The story of Monte Cristo" 10 too well
Known to need repeating. 1t would be
difficult to point TO any one scene in which
Mr.. o'Neiil 10 greater than another.
though perhaps the third act IL the grand
est, where Edmond Dantes - the Able
comes to the inn and learns the where
abouts OF Mercedes and her son.
The splcdnid scenery is marked feature
~ the production. and every scene
throughout the i've acts afforded . novel
and pleasing feature.
Mr.. O'Nsiil's supporting company II ex-
ceptionally strong and the individual
work done by these talented people ma
terially adds TO the finish and perfec-
ton OF the performance - a whole. Miss
Lillian Daily - Mercedes gave q quiet
digniled representation of most difficult
part The other leading characters were
equally forcible and the performance
pleased ali present
Monte Cris,o" viii b repeated tomor-
row night