Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-09

seryation of the works of others. The
Lyceum theater has such stanch clien-
telle and Mr.. Sothern is so popular in New
York city that it is possible that even
1.-THE Victoria Cross may not prove a
failure, although from nearly every artis-
tic viewpoint it is wretched. 1t is a pot
pourri, not a play, and Mr.. Potter has
wandered about aimlessly with his scanty
little thread of plot just as he did last
winter with "Our Country Cousins" The
story becomes involved to perplexing de-
gree and the action halts at the most
thrilling points to admit of the lnterpola-
ton, or rather Interpolation, of bits OF
unfunny, machine-ma comedy"
1t would be useless to enumerate the
plays which have furnished the sugges-
| tions for most of the episodes in 1.-The Vic
toria Cross Besides it would occupy too
much space. But the foiling of the female
villain in the last act is such a palpable
appropriation from the great scene in ''Di-
plomacy' between Countess Zicka and
Henri Beauclerc that it makes itself i'm
| mediately apparent to the verlest tyro
am ong theater goers. Each play written
by Paul M. Potter has caused his admir-
ers to make excuses for his work-for no is
a really brilliant mainland to hope FOR
better things, but somehow or other they
don't seem to come. OF course in this
category do not include his beautiful
| Sheridan, or The Maid of Bath" That
| was a gem; but, after al, it was merely
| the result Of very close study and use of
| Sheridan's work. At the time of its pro-
duction this was not known, but it has
since developed beyond cavil.
Mr.. Sothern's work as Ralph Seton, late
| of the Ninth Lanccrs, was practically per-
| feet This young actor, who originally
| possessed such marked mannerismS that
even his warmest admirers feared that he
would never rise above mediocrity, has
year by year dropped his stage tricks and
modified his "gawkiness'' until now he
| is absolutely natural. His part affords him
| very little opportunity for striking work,
| but every speech is uttered as though he
| were not on the stage in the presence Of
an audience Sothern'S fathers name
gave the young man his first hearing as a
| star. OF that there can be no question,
| but it is more than probable that the son
! will leave q greater name than the sire in
| the theatrical world when the grim reap
err shall see fit to cut him down with his
sickle. OF Mr. Sothern's supporting com
| pany little need be said. 1t is on the whole
an acceptable and competent organization,
although Miss Grace Kimball, the leading
lady, while showing considerable improve
ment over last years work, is still far
| from being ideal. She is as artificial as
Mr.. Sothern is natural, and her enuncia-
ton is anything but clear cut Still she
offends less than formerly in these direc-
tions, and hard work and winning per-
sonality may yet make of her fair &C.
| tress
| Rowland BuckstOne, usually excellent
player, who has contributed some very
unique bits to recent stage work, does a
ridiculous part in THE Victoria Gross.
in supremacy ridiculous manner.
SHENANDOAH, the most successful war
drama ever produced, has been revived at
the Academy of Music under the personal
direction OF the author, Bronson Howard,
who has polished up the always bright
dialogue and thereby greatly improved his
already great play. Several spectacular
! features have also been added in the way
of horses and soldiers, all being introduced
| logically. The result has been that ''Shen-
andoah'' has ''caught on" with the New
York theatcr going public as firmly as
when it was first seen in this city. Miss
| Odette Tyler, the young woman who has
received untold columns of advertising in
connection with her engagement to multi
millionaire Howard Gould and the subse-
qucnt breaking off of the match. plays the
principal female character in a sympa-
| thetic but convincing manner. She makes
| an entrance on horseback and then does
"a flying leap to the ground" Most leaps
are of that character, but she does it that
way just the same. So says her press
agent.
Della Fo1, the very short ex-associate
If that very long comedian, De Wolf Hop,
per, is now tasting the sweets of being a
| full fedged and successful star. AT the
Casino, where she is appearing every night
in THE Little Trooper" an operet:a
which is the joint work of at least six
men, that legend, Standing room only -
| that never fails to warm the cookies OF
the coolest managerial heart, has been,
| figuratively speaking on exhibition every
| night since the opening. 1.-THE Little
Trooper" has only little plot, but that
little is very funny, and the best feature
| Vt the skit Is that its humor is evolved by
| complications Of situation, and there is No
horse play. 1t is true that one of the Arneri
| can adapters of the libratto, Clay NJ
Greene. has poked a lot Of up to date slang