The morning call., 1894-06-19
AT THE THEATERS
An Overlooking House
Greets Harrigan.
His Play Received With Laughter and
Applause -" Guilty Without
Crime" at MOrosCo's.

Harrigan came with bis REILLY and the 40O'
to the new California, has taken in the situa-
ton and conquered his audience completely
! the largest of the season, after hundreds Of ap-
! plicants for seats had left disappointed in not
obtaining them. Mr.. Harrigan was so enthusi-
| astcally received on his entrance that he was
compelled TO acknowledge the compliment in a
! few well-chosen words, which Included prom
| Use that he would endeavor 10 do his best TO
merit the good Will OF the public Other prin-
! cpal members were similarly recognized in a
| lesser degree. The play IS we'll constructed for
! Its purpose, which is 70 picture life among the
| lOwly in Hester street. New York, as well as 10
| satrIze Ward McAlister's exclusive 400"
the arstocracy of Murray Hill, with what may
| be called running Obligato emphasizing the
| good qualities and The "shuparority" of the
| Irishmen, especially those from County Down
The first act, which depicts Uncle Willy Reil-
! Iy's pawnbrokers shop on Hester street, is a
picture OF the sGualOr of New York low life.
/ peTmeated by a rough and. at times, CHASTITY
] merTlmenr that, 10 the present generation OF
! Californians was, in measure, revelation;
| but 1t is true picture, nevertheless, and those
VINO had place in il were typical of existing
! conditions on the lower plane OF life
| in the great metropolis. Harrigan, as Willy
| Reilly, the proprietor OF the three balls.
made all The fun. Jews generally made
/ TO stand for pawnbrokers by dranlatIsts,
! but In this case an IriSbman was neces-
! rigan as Reilly, filled the bill, with the
/ eOons the hoodlums and street arabs that came
| to his ''nand-me-dOwD." The picture may be
called coarse, but the cOloring was true TO
nature. There were two rousing songs given
! in this acr THE jolly Commodore and Uncle
Reilly" each With rOusing chorus. They
! were sung with a sort OF "Roll the Man Down"
| heat tiness that would have done no discredlt
| to the Old-fashloned "shantv" of Il ships crew
! hostlng anchor. Miss Amy Lee made an etfec-
tive Mary Ann Dooloy, Reilly's houseKeeper
| IN this scene.
The second act has three scenes First,
! tween decks on the Lee Shore" Old COmmo-
! dore Toby lows (Mr. Frank DOaDe) residence,
| III which Miss Moore made her appearance as
! Layine Gale, lady OF the hau: ton. She WAS
| splendldly received by the audience. and bore
herself very gracefully. The second scene is
Hester street by night, with some OF the cbOic-
| est Slangy TeDaI tee-or ''sLringing," as Reilly
called iI-between himself and ROundsman
Moran (Mlchael heaTny), IN love with Maggie
Murphy Emma Pollock.
The thlrd scene takes place 10 Casey's Hall,
and here we have the chance OF seeing ana
hearing maggie Murphys Home in all Its
original glory. The song has been sung by
nearly every farce comedy company here for
! two years past, but the action that Harrigan
aud his players put into il make the hackneyed
dltty simply irresistible. AT the end of the act
when the fashionable summers come in 10
visit the resort under the escort of policeman.
then the stage-managers genius becomes APP
Varent. From The time that Maggie Murphy
and the negro lady began The dancing contest
until tile fall OF the curtain the stage presented
picture of life such has never been seen
before here. The cOlOred gentleman who sec
Onds the dancer OF his race objects TO the sand
that Reilly throws on the floor, claiming dat IL
may be Iull OF red peppahi'' Then Reilly
''Smashes" him and for FULLY len minutes. while
the Two contestants are cutting plgeon-wings
and gong through all forms OF jIg-Steps, every
body fights. The serenity with which the
dancers Keep up their work, however. until the
neeIess faiuts. Is something wonderful and
fearful TO behold.
The third act deals with the saloon deck on
the Lee Shore. where Willy Reilly, by the aid OF
Com. Tow, has obtained invitation 10 an
aTlstocratlc gathering as an Irish barOneL, with
his sister MARY Ann, his hOuSekeepeD a. Lady
Mary Isabel. This act Is full OF rafting fun,
when Reilly gets even with those who despise
his sou, Ned Reilly, rising lawyer. because lie
Is the offspring Of a pawnOroker. and with Her
man SmeltZ. a retired butcher figuring as one of
the 400, aud originally cook Com. Tows
vessel HaTTlgan'5 engagement has opened
brilliantly enough TO promise solid eight
weeks in which To produce his different pieces.
The chief attraction will be The novelty o. the
matter TO the theateT-goers OF to-day. Harri-
gan'S plays may be called New York In Slices"
Guilty Without Crime" Van de Nols adap-
tation of Mary Elizabeth Braddon's famous
novel, aurora Floyd" drew more than enough
people 10 MorOscO's Grand Operahouse 10 I'LL
every seat in the vast auditorium. AS at the
California. many had 10 go away disappointed.
The piece is strongly melodramatc in its every
feature, and the reading listened to with
rapt attention by all the auditors. while the
fine stage settings were realistic. Miss Ramie
Austin played Stella, the heroine, with a suave
power loving, true and faithful woman.
DOre Davidson had a fine opportunity IN the
eccentric character OF the 'Softy," and made
most efficient use of il. Lucille Laverne inn
personaIed Miss Frances Primrose, companion
of Stella, and her false friend. with mark ed
ability. IL was not an agreeable character
before an audience that unwittingly almost
takes sides with the good and detest the evil
characters in tile dramatis personae; but Miss
LaveTDe was there 10 perSOnate and did so
from the true acting standpoint. Great pTepa-
ratIons are being made for the production OF
"Queena," which succeeds the DavidsOn-A Aus
tin engagement, ana In which Miss May Nan
merry will begin her starring engagement.
Mr.. Robert Dunbar the tenor, took George
Olmrs place last evening az CardamOm In 1.-The
Tar and Tartar" aud sang two songs that were
left out by his predecessor. Mr.. Olmi is very
capable and useful man, and sang the role at
twenty-fOuFs' notice when Mr.. Dunbar WAS
taken III. The omission of the two songs was
due to Olmi's short time for preparation.
Other changes and intrOductOns were made,
improved in every respect. 1t has had fresh
start.
The Orpheum last evening was crowded to
lis utmost capacity.
Meyers Wiswam, under the influence Of Its
young manager, is expanding its area OF amuse-
ment aud is catching on 10 public favor.
Peoples Palace Music Hall-a free place of
amusement. corner EDDY and Mason streets
is now fully in the race for popularity, chang
Ing faces and specialties frequently.
HARRISON INVITED.