The evening world., 1894-03-14
ID

nuisance, anyway. He ls, moreover, ir-
redeemably selfish. lie gloats over the
fact that you can remember events as
many years back as he can, and he
taunts you with his easy reminiscent
superiority, and looks upon you with un-
disguised disdain. There Is no generosity
about him. He will not. he cannot pity
your youth. your incxperience. Ills Idea
IL. Of course, that "milkcn streams. an
age before, flowed gently through the
land" He can recall all this. You can
not. You are obliged to capfne yourself
to the impure water of the present.
The old theatre-goer was out in abun-
dance last night at the Star Theatre,
where he went to see "Rosedale." lie
was everywhere. There were punches
Of him all over the house. There was a
luxurious crop Of him upstairs. He per-
vaded the lobby, and buttonholed me
there. He cornered me in the smoking
room and puffed blue reflections In my
face. He asked me how I liked the per-
formance. and didn't wait for an an
swer, so anxious was he to get In his
little fine work about the golden age
long before you were born. my boy"
He made me feel very uncomfortable-a
sort OF a grovelling insect. No fellow
likes to look upon himsaelf AS an insect.
"You like the show ?" cried the Old
theatre-goer in disgust. My boy
with tears in his eyes,. "you haven't
seen It. How can Judge when. in
1863, there was n superb performance in
which Lester Wallack appeared? You
should have been there. Positively you
should have been there"
But how could I have been there 20 !
asked In irritation. 1T Is all very well
to say that ! should have been there,
but I was n babe in arms, and babes in
arms wouldn't have been admitted"
"Oh, then he said. with a shruS OF
scorn, and a most irritating laugh,
opinion now? It's puerile-nothing
else"
l told him that was my business, not
his, and I tried to escape, but there
were more OF him everywhere, and there
was no peace available. All. well !
suppose that 1t will be the same with
us all in n couple of decades, IL we are
here. We shall be reminiscent on back
numbers, nosing around the past, and
seeing nothing worth seeing In the pres.
ent. Changes to us wi. not be improve.
ments. We shall not believe that
Through the ages our increasing pur.
pose runs. and the thoughts of men are
widened with the process OF the suns"
To judge by the vast applause last
night, 'Rosedale' still p~leases. The peo-
pie like the old. romantic story with IT.
kidnapped child. its h~e.ress. Its villalr
and Its eloquent gypsy. If It were pro-
duced for the first time this season, we
might deplore some of its artifciality,
and smile at a little of its antique flavor,
Uhere were no chestnuts thirty years
ago.. but we should still feel bound to
admit that 1t would find Its admirers
even today. We might ~prophesy that
those admirers would be In the vast and
tractless ''out of town"
As 1t is, there is no reason why thi.
revival should not be very popular.
Added to the approval OF some parts OF
the play. there will be tradition-and
that goes n long way. Folks want to see
what their fathers and mothers enjoyed,
and flial reverence Is anxious to find
reason for that liking. sun, those who
cannot enjoy "Rosedale' to-day, need
not be unduly annoyed. They can buoy
themselves up with the sweet consola'
ton that-old-timers Notwithstanding
we have made rapid progress In the last
thirty years. Everything Is better to,
day than 1t was then, Just as everything
will be better in 1924. than II Is In 1894
The stage does not stand still. 1t |:
losing its artiiciallty all the time. ant
becoming more and more a true ant
| n artistic reflection NJ tho enirit Of III,
times. 1t has other aims besides thos
OF mere amusement. 1t has developed
into an educational influence, admitte,
by the most advanced thinkers.
There may be some good reason
for the gloating OF the old theatre
goer when he compares the choice cast
OF the early productions of "Rosedale
with that now supplied by the Bosto
Grand Opera-House. Joseph Haworth
a f~orceful actor. Is not a very convinc
ing Elliott Grey. He lacks distinction
ease. and the necessary polish. As 10
the Lady Florence May OF Miss Ann,
Clarke, 1t Is absurd and cruel. Mis-
Clarke Is an excellent actress, a worth
artist. a most popular woman, but sh
IL in every way untitled for this par
When Elliott Grey declares that he RI
members her as a child, the audienc
filters, for she looks old enough to b
his mother. Boston can forgive tina
New York cannot. Mark Price Is wea
and st!lted as Col. Cavendish May. an
Miss Isabelle Evesson. most aggressive
lnsipid. though there are one or tw
portions OF her work that deserve prai.
more especially that dealing with Ii
Lord Bateman" song. The sta pc
l formers are Frank j. keenan,. who Is a
mirable, n Miss Kate Ryan. who
exceedingly clever. William Mestayer
not %unfunny, and there is a cunning lit
child called Olive Smith.
The old theatre-goer can't reasonab
object to these few remarks. II, how
ever. he doesn't like them, he must Il
and bear them with fortitude.
ALAN DALE.