The record-union., 1894-02-13
ADJUSTMENTS.

"A Celebrated Case' is a drama Of ro
mantle character that has been frequently
played in Sacramento and by some of the
best people OF the stage, and always at
dollar prices. We have not seen it better
given than by the Clunie Opera-house
Stock Company last night, a troupe main
tanned at dime prices. In the first place
il is finely mounted, all the scenic effects
are superior, and all the accompanying
detail fittings and accessories are excel
lent, and testify to painStaking by the
scenic artist Duran and the stage hands
under Parker Three of the scenes are
wholly new; one military camp and
one a garden landscape are very hand
some. But the third, boXed-in draw
ing-room, is the best Artist Duran has
yet painted of an interior. 1t drew
warm applause for Mr.. Duran the
moment the curtain went up. Next,
the play introduced a new leading man
to the public, Frank Armstrong. He is
Of good stage presence, graceful carnage,
of strong, resonant, but not strident
voice, and he reads and acts with spirit
and intelligence. He is an acquisition by
the company that decidedly strengthens
it. The cast also introduced another new
man, Frank Cooley, cast for heavy part,
one too heavy for him, but which he as
sumed with the faithfulness Of a conscien-
tious actor. He did not let his Lozare be-
come weak, by any means, but 1t lacked
in the elements of ease, polished self
possession and of self-assertion that, it
must be presumed, distinguished so
precious a rascal as LoZare. Andrew
Waldron was the ideal Sergt. o. Rourke,
Miss Jennie Calef an excellent Nalen-
tine, a part into which she threw deep
feeling and earnestneSs, and Misses
Weideman and Seabrooke were happily
cast In the parts of matronly women.
Mr.. Sambrook was the Duke D' Aubetene,
a character he could much improve by
instilling into his method something
more of the vital ana taking from it
good deal of the monotone of the pathetic.
A bit more of crispness and vigor Will
lift up the part and the actor in the esti-
nation of the auditors. Mr.. Bacon
had light part without tinge of
comedy color in it, which made him ap
pear just little out of place; put, never
theless, he was correct. manly and intelli-
gent in his work. Miss Annie Mif1lin
had the hard work of the play. To say
that she has done nothing better, would
be only commentator with the qualifica
ton of comparison. But to say that her
Madeline and Adrienne were given with
spirit, depth of emotion and refined feel
ing and artistic abandonment, and that
they were of sustained interest from the
rise TO the fall of the curtain
because Of her capacity, is to SIM
ply make record of truth. 1t was
an admirable effort and proves for her all
we have held-that she is a natural act
ress, not one fashioned by patient art.
Little Ada Wilkie did clever piece of
work as Adrienne Of the prologue-some-
thing that only few children could do
equally well. Mr.. Muller. in quiet, un-
pretentious part of half a dozen lines,
presented as artistic an example of an
old, humble and faithful house-servant
as any dramatist could desire. 1t and
the Seneschal of Fred Fairbanks were of
those neat details, success in which are
so necessary to the completeness and
finish Of any drama. "a Celebrated
Case' will be repeated tonight.
Patrons of the opera-hOuse will not be
pleased to learn that Miss Annie Mifflin
is about to sever the relations she has
maintained with the stock company for
the past five months. She will probably
conclude her work here with the close of
the week, says Manager Todd, on inquiry.
She has gained so strong hold in the adj
miration of lovers of good dramatic art
here that her departure will be deeply re-
pretted.