The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-20

ABSOLUTELY PURE
ENTS.
Academy of Music.


The fourth of Walter Sanford's plays to
visit this city this season is my jack"
which opened at the Academy of Music last
night. 1t is a drama of strong interest,
finely staged. The curtain rises on a view
of the beach at Falmouth, H. M. gunboat
Sea GULF just at anchor. A detective from
Scotland yard lets Sir Edward Vacberg, a
rejected lover of Dorothy Prescott, know
that he is in pursuit of her brother. supposed
by his mother to have died a hero's death IN
the Zulu campaign, but really a felon escaped
from the ga1leys. This knowledge enables
the baronet to exert some power over
Dorothy. Meantime a vagabond Greek ap-
pears to his confusion, since the Greek bears
proofs that Jack Meredith, Dorothy's ac-
| eptsd lover, is the rightful baronet. Van
berg attempts to blow up Falmouth light
house, with Jack inside, but fails to Kill
his man. The brother takes refuge in a
deserted house near by, and Dorothy, at
|ewh6 THINKS her unfaithful. In a struggle
| for the possession of papers, the Greek kills
young Prescott, and Jack is accused of the
crime, but acquitted. He enlsts as a marine
in the African campaign, and IS lost with
the Greek on the desert. As the latter is
dying of thirst he reveals his secret, Jack
is rescued, returns, and everything comes
| out right. .
The best actor in the company was by all
means Claude Fl. Brooke as the Greek. TIL
hero, Barry tombstone, and the villain,
George L. Montserrat, did some good work.
The bestscomedian was Charles Frew as Pat
rick Doolan, who made a decided hit. Ethel
Darlington dressed the part of Dorothy de-
lightfu.ly.
The desert scene was the best of a fine
series of stage pictures. The exterior OF the
lighthouse was also well staged. The play
will continue during the week. with the
usual matinees and an extra matinee on
Washington's Birthday. Next week the at
traction will be Hoyt's famous satire, "A
| Temperance Town"
The New Opera House.
That ever charming romance of Grip Van
| Winkle' was reproduced last night in the
! Opera House before a well-6lled house. The
| drama built on the famous story is strong in
parts, and contains many really effective
| scenes. With the addition of a little humor,
| the play is decidedly well worth listening to.
In the title role, Edwin r. Lang displays a
| fertility of invention in his business perhaps,
| not compatible with the accepted character
of the role, but nevertheless his work is
| pleasing, clever and conscientious. Perhaps
there ought to be q little more abandon in
the -good-natured, drunken ~vagabond's man
ner, and when, after his long sleep,
he returns to his native vii
lage. Mr.. Lang might infuse more
| earnestness in his portrayal of a decrepit and
very much surprised old man. However Mr..
Lang's acting is easy and his appearance is
| attractive. As the shrewish Gretchen, Miss
| Viola Rosa makes a good strong feature Of
| this domestic drama. At times her business
| runs ~awkwardly, but it must be remembered
| that her lines are often poor and colorless,
| and it tasks an artist to fill in gaps created
by a clumsy playwright. Miss Rosa's work
is excellent. So, too, is that OF Rips daughter
| Meenie. PLAYED first by little Stella Wood
| and afterwards, when the little Meenle be-
| comes a big Meenie, by Miss Kitty Wood.
The remaining parts were allotted to careful
| and painstaking artists. The scenery OF the
| play is picturesque, particularly that depict
| ing the Catskills and Hendriek Hudson and
| his crew induiging in S~chnapps and skit-
! ties. Altogether Rip is worthy of attention
| and should receive the patronage of theatre
goers.
sasUncle DANIEL, a Messenger from Jarvis
Section opened a three nights engagement
| at the Hoboken Theatre last evening. The
| play is presented by a strong company,
| of whom it may be said every one is an ar
fist. The production of the play is in every
way interesting, and a decided ovation was
rendered the efforts of the company.
The play marks a decided departure from the
| usual order of railroad plays, and is one of
refined sensation. The emotional parts are
relieved, however, by the vein OF humor
that runs through the plot. The engage
| ment viii close on Wednesday evening,
| with a matinee on that day.
Gerinania Theatre, Hoboken.
Sam T.. Jacks Creoles will occupy the
| stage this week at the Germania Theatre,
Hoboken. Last night they opened and
were received by a crowded house. The roper
| toire of the company is replete with smart
| things. The audience was in an uproar the
whole evening. The ensemble in the form
! of a minstrel horseshoe, with the ladies
| scattered about, introduces many original
| ideas. This is followed by a long calendar
ssAunt James Wooden Wedding in which
| terpsichorean diversions are shown. Mile.
Fatnna is seen in the Asiatic dance. Satur-
day matinee.