The evening world., 1894-05-15
''GUDGEONS.''

The handsome leading mar of the En-
pire had a great opportunity In the new
play produced at hat theatre last night.
and did not let any of II get away HIS
gentleman swindler was "A superb tri-
umph OF acting. Capable and clever as
Henry Miller had been in 80 many parts.
and familiar as his admirers were
with his versatile and always finished
~histrionism. nobody was prepared for
the amazing revelation OF skill and
artistic strength which ne brought to the
Interpretation Of the difncult role Of
James Ffolliott Trehrrne. He VA won
derfully good.
The play 'Gudgeons" was a brilliant
example of comedy construction. II
teem.d with clever things. The dialogue
sparkle and danced along most de-
lightfully through three bright acts:
its characters moved in and out OF the
story in smooth and harmonious ways
and from beginning to end there was
not discovcrable one instance of effort
or straining after effect on the part Of
the men who made the play. The criti-
cal and large fashionable audience en-
joyed IT. and "Gudgeons' may unhesi-
tatingly be set down as another sue
cess for Charles Frohman and the
Empire Theatre stock company.
The comedy has a serious purpose.
and that at first perplexes. but the
gayety of the idea soon gets the better
OF Its gravity. and thoughfulness gives
way TO enjoyment. "Gndgeons' is A
merciless exposure of the methods Of a
certain class of Englishmen, of aristo-
cratic pretensions. who are polished
swindlers and prey on Americans who
take with them when they 10 abroad
more money than brains. The engaging
%scoundrel. whose cunning devices cause
his weak and worshipping wife to every
now and then break out into the rhap-
sodical tribute. james. you are so
wonderful" with a soulful emphasis
on the 'so.' tries to make big profit out
of the rove Of his nephew for a pretty
American heiress. whose father has
made millions IN oil. but the nephew,
who is an honest. manly fellow, of the
type ttat any woman would dote on, dis
covers the unCle's game AMI refuses the
girl unless she will agree to come him
as poor as he Is himself. Tho lovers
triumph, Of course. and the polished
%'swindlcr is checkmated. There Is more
10 the story. hut this explains the theme
and purport OF the plav.
III exquisite draw with which Mr..
Miller characterized his nephew as "a
silly oss" whenever the young fellow
ran counter of his designs was worth
going forty miles to hear. and the Get
up, Gladys at the end of the second
act, when Viola Allen is on the floor in
an ASST med feint, md when the Ameri-
cans, whom they want to get rid of
because the Trehernes have but half
a chicken and a little tinned
tongue in the larder and can't afford to
ask them to lunch. have been hustled
out. was so delightfully."- spontaneous that
the house roared and insisted on bringing
the actors before the curtain twice. Mr..
Miller wears a monocle with agreeable
picture squeness. His Treherne is an ex-
traordinary creation. 1t alone would have
made the success of "Gudgeons."
Cyril Scott started in to dispute the
honors with Mr.. Miller, but the carica-
ture of a former manage Of an Ameri-
can exchange in London became suhor.
dinate to the general story after the first
act. and though he was breezy, cheeky
and enterprising every time he came or
the stage there was some regret that he
did not come oftener and stay longer
Miss Viola Allen as the swindler's
wife was a faithful devotee a
the shrine of his articles: she played the
part admirably, but. of course, the
audience had little sympathy for the
clinging-ivyneas of her nature. William
Faversham was excellent. He and Kitty
Cheatham furnished the romanc tina,
was needed to set off the expose Of
Thehcrneism. A more perfect perform,
ance than the Empire company gave
could not have been desired.
THE Luck OF Roaring Camp which
preceded "Gudgcnns." placed some o
Bret llartc's most famous Western type
on the stage for the first time. Cyri
Scott, as Jack Oakhurst. the gambler
W. H.. Thompson, as kentuck; T.. Y
Backus. as Gel. Starhottle: w. II
Crompton, as Stumpy; Joseph Hum
phreys. as Boston. and May Robson. a
Stumpy's wife, and later, in pajamas. a
All Chez, the Chinese hoy, We're all ex
cellent. There was a decided frontie
fla Vor to the characters. j. j. j.
ANARCHY AND HERO WORSHIP.