The record-union., 1894-04-03
ADJUSTMENTS.

Miss Effie Illsler and her excellent COM
pany had very small audience last night
at the Metropolitan Theater-a lament
able thing, because it is reelection upon
the tastes of lovers of the legitimate
drama in this city and their desire for the
better dramas to be given here. But the
company, like the body OF true artists it
is. was as faithful and pains-taking for
the few auditors before it as if the house
had been filled to the walls. Doris" is
an idyl, poem in prose, a more than
charming picture Of a trial in domestic
life, where the fear that true love some
times engenders overcame the better
judgment and withdrew the confidence
the we'll should always repoSe in
one another. 1t is simple story,
without any great intricacy of plot,
but one 30 full of human interest,
so devoid of the sensational and
the extravagant, so modest in its
coloring, so strong in its sentiment and
so warm in Its atfectionate glow, that he
or she who is not moved by it is insenSi-
bic to the influence of healthy emotion.
The author, MIR. Drouet, who also eX-
cellently sustains the leading male char
acter, has ingeniously constructed the
drama, treated it upon probable lines,
and given to his characters naturalness
that comports with the knowledge every
one of intelligence has OF human motive.
Miss Ellsler as the heroine of the play is
delightfully."-, loveably winning. She is
the honest, warm-hearted, simple,
straig ghttorward, but just bit fearful
little woman, who after an unhappy mar
riage, meets true mate for her, and is
severed from her bonds with con-
vict. But she is so jealous of her
new love, so fearful of losing
the respect of her second husband,
that she fails TO make him her full conf
dant and hence unnecessarily suffers.
The little lady has wonderfully improved
since here some years ago. She is a good
actress because she eudeavors to be the
character for the time being that she
assumes. Her art is high, because it is
concealment of effort. 1t is fine art be-
cause it is the close approach to the real
without disclosure of the avenues through
which the approach is made Five min
utes after she appears upon the stage she
ceases to be Miss Effie Ellsler and be-
comes the modest school teacher, wooed
by an honest and manly man, loving
him as honest and lovable women only
can love true men, but fearful to tell
him that she is neither maid nor
widow. From that on she is dor
| isl of the story, woman who has been
repeated thousands of times in real life;
| courageous, gentle, even heroic in all but
| in her fear of losing the happiness that is
her due Miss Ellsler's art deserves rec
! ognition by large audiences all the week.
| No audience, however large, could have
| been more enthusiastic, however, in an
nouncement of approval than was that
/ of last night. 1t gave the company
hands" without stint, and had the cur
tain up again and again. The venerable
| e. w. Couldock, whose very presence on
the stage is a benediction, was the kindly
but shrewd and courageous old clergy
man of the play. His personation of the
patriarchical priest was without flick or
| fiaw-a dramatic model. Frank Weston's
comedy part was in the hands of man
who understands his business thoroughly.
! It is made an artistic character in his
keeping, because it is made natural one;
there is not the slightest suggestion of
| artiticiality in it. He holds mirror up
to nature, and shows us a family physi-
clan who loves his patients wife, but re-
spects her, and him SO much more, that
inspired by his high sense of honor and
his native Irish wit. he becomes the saw
ior of the domestic peace. Ali the others
! of the support were capable. There is no
I weak timber in the company. The piece
was we'll mounted, the stage settings be-
| ing good all through. and in the third and
! fourth acts rich, even elegant, and in ex-
ceilent taste. "Doris" will be played
again Friday and Saturday nights. and
for a matinee Saturday afternoon. To-
night the domestic drama "A Woman's
Power" adapted for Miss Ellsler by