The evening world., 1894-05-15
"GtDGEONS."

The handsome leading man OF the En-
pire had a great opportunity in the new
play produced at that theatre last night.
and did not let any of II get away. His
gentleman swindler was superb tri-
umph OF acting. Capable and clever as
Henry Miller had been in so 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 he brought to the
Interpretation OF the difficult role of
James Ffolllott Trcherne. He was WON
dcrfully good
The play "Gudgeons" was II brilliant
example OF comedy construction. 1t
tcemcd with clever things. The dialogue
sparkled and danced along most de-
liEhtfully 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 discovernble 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 1t, and "Gudgeons'' may unhesi-
tatingly be set down as another sue
cess for Charles Frohman and the
Empire Theatre stock company.
The comedy has serious purpose,
and that Mt first perplexes. but the
gayety OF the idea soon gets the better
Of Its gravity. and thoughfuness gives
way 10 enjoyment. "Gudgeons" is
merciless exposure of the methods OF
certain class Of Englishmen. OF aristo-
cratic pretensions, who are polished
swindlers and prey on Americans who
take with them when they go 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 80" tries to make big profit out
of the love 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 trat any woman would dote on. dis
cove's the uncle's game and refuses
to marry the ingenious girl unless
she will agree to come to him
as poor as he is himself. The lovers
swindler is checkmated. There Is more
to the story. but this explains the theme
and purport OF the plav.
The exquisite drawl 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 assumed feint, and when the Amer-
cans. whom they want to get rid of
because the Trehernes have but half
n chicken and little timed
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
picturesqueness. His Treherne In 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 former manager of an Ameri-
can exchange in London became subor-
dinate to the general story after the first
aIAs anu iiouSH was bIttEy, tlltthy
and cntcrprlsing every time he came on
the stage there was some regret that he
did not come oftener and stay longer.
Miss Viola Allen as the swindler's
wife was faithful devotee at
the shrine of his articles; she played the
part admirably, but, of course. the
audience had little sympathy for the
clinging-ivyness of her nature. William
Faversham was excellent. He and Kitty
Cheatham furnished the romance that
was needed to set off the expose of
Trehernelsm. more perfect perform
ance than the Empire company gave
could not have been desired.
THE Luck of Roaring Camp" which
preceded "Gudgeons," placed some of
Bret Harte's most famous Western types
on the stage for the first time Cyril
Scott. as Jack Oakhurst. the gambler:
w. II. Thompson. as Kentuck; L. Y.
Backus, as Gel. Starbottle; w. II.
Crompton. as Stumpy: Joseph Hum
phreys, as Boston. and May Robson. as
Stumpys wife. and later in pajamas as
All Chez, the Chinese boy, were all ex-
cellent There was a decided frontier
IN ha oh OF