New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-27
THE ORA MA.
A WAY TO WIN 4 WOMAN.

In the Ivceum Theatre last evening Jerome +.
. Jerome's comedy entitled "A Way to win
Woman" was played by E. II. Sothern anu MS
company and was for the hrst time III this
CITY Boston and Brooklyn have listened 10 IL anu
looked upon IL before the metropolis enjoyed those
privileges. New-York generally INSISTS upon nei
right decide. above all others, the merits anu
dement's Of whatever may be set before the Ameri-
can going public for Its delectation wheth-
er the play be imported or of domestic origin me
verdict Of Sothern, rendered in the -yceuih iHe-
atre last evening was distinctly favorable. There
is much that fantastic. illogical unreal ana even
impossible in this comedy, but it interests Ihere-
fore II ought to succeed here. Among Mr.. Jeromes
earlier writings was much playful satire upon the
atrcal devices, which were so fancHui lhat orui-
nary people could only cape. Such people couiu
not accept wild stage imagininss as entering INTO
the current of actual existence. But TINS comedy
of Mr. Jerorne's was surely Of such stuff as dreams
are made of. No can take photograph o.
man who is writing a letter. in such a way that
the photograph shall present perfectly clear anu
vivid portrait OF the writer OF the letter anu a'so
SO complete copy of the letter that every worn
of 1t can be decphered by means OF inagnnyihs
glass Light moves only in straight lines Ihere
is nothing devious about it. And yet Mr.. jerome
satirist and nouter Of theatrical trlckery. repre-
sents an amateur photographer as performing tnis
Incredible exploit. The entire plot depends upon
a visionary feat in photography. which no one ever
performed with single camera ana no o"e c'''
can perform while time lasts
But what Of that If the audience taxes the pay
And the audience in the I.yceum Theatre last night
did like this play and gave It genuine ana Jealous
applause. Mr. jerome can Introduce roc eggs au''
Afrtes and djlnns and all the smoky Shapes vi
the weir,Iest tales OF the Orient, II he gives true
pleasure to the people who I'LL the playhouses tie
can put hydrocyanc acid or strychnine or a'ropii'e
or any other deadly drug into glasses which his
beroInes dash from the lips of his heroes II ne de-
sires to do So and all Will be well II auuehceS arc
eratiied as the people in the Lyceum Theatre were
gratined
Nr so,hern is not yet moulded for memorable
triumphs as a serious or emotional actor MS
eyes. his voice. his features do not yet become
overcast with the fire of sincere passion, the thri
OF unalloyed feeling. Jerky movement ana lnsis-
nihcant gri!nace still play too large part IN MS
efforts 10 take an audience to his heart ana suiuse
house with 2 glow of absolute Inspiration But
Mr. Sothern pleases in many things, ana Lyeeuih
Theatre supporters OF the drama not mercilessy
exacting They approve Mr. Sothern's acting. ana
so do many people in many cities Mr.. jerome mas
not written a great play in "A way 10 WIN d
Woman" and Mr.. Sothern is not great actor III
any part But greatness is not really necessary
except in great emergencies. And Mr. Sothern
acting and Mr.. Jeromes play are entirely adequate
for many an evenings agreeable entertainment
Harry Harvard is a poor young barrister' VINO
falls in love with frivolous tiir the only way "a
win the co1qe 6v s NOM out the coqaette
fuses him when he lays his fortune AT her ieT sti
not SCI herself Her lover finally confesses his guilt
and is to take poison when she dlsGoverss 81 ~
sIves him from sef-murder. and declares her eager,
ness to his rit is not known The wicked hero
! is deeply repentant for his wrong1ons, D1s rl
AZ the people VINO would see this play wnen ne Wrose
the last act. The resolve of the guiV man. Wnose
1--we for the heroine has led him into crime to work
| lie
! Guatemala Ecuador-has the note OF cheap "ie'o
| Bmt who cares whether Mr.. Jerome's play Is con
sisteni symmetrical and true T. NE or no' .',r;
- the mighty masters Hts only aim in this play is
! to keep gathering OF amusement attehT W
| for an evening In that aim he has succeeded MI.
Sothern has talent and capacity In sufficient measure
hold the eyes ard the ears OF In nrnfound
sympathy In heart-moving patnos ~ ire MI
en,es The OF dtress and suffering OF Mr. Jeromes
hero with force enough to retain me MR.. ~ '
| house And that Is we'll worth doing, Inc pay 40
set forth must be considered Lyceum rnea''e su'
tbemsslveS a. vel. Whl.e Miss Grace KmbaA as
Madge Carruhers was somewhat ertJ fi,e a' 10
| ,nac,oi nevertheless her acting was eHectl'E ~
a reasonable degree. Miss Bertha Bartlett as End
tPhck MAS delicousy aren ana Teas,c as Pfmea
| n houseraid She carried coarseness ana yugdr.ii
| Too far but she was unquestionably dro- Row.and
! Dan Graham. This was a narrow. nieastt D. On,
| Vincent StSrnroyd was grotesque,y froicsome al
| times in the character of Archie Phi;brick In me
suortlye and gamboilng passages OF the pay a.Ns'
every one in the Overacte1, inc'udns M IN
stone. MIR S,ernroyd and Nj Sothern hmsef. MOI or
ton Se.ten Was Morton Seltsn in the EISase "l '"e
! Hon Neal BAKE. as he in eyyerythins Win
| rut tho summing no Is that "A Way 10 WIN
Woman' p'easei the house. and was praised between
tho acts and after the asst curtain sent the spee'a
tors on their homeward way.
Here Is the cast:
| Harry Iiaward a poor young harriser. Z H. Sothern
tsn ,:r,har hi. friend Rowland Blackstone
Archie Philbrick Grahams ward Nncent Ntet i,,y
Mr. ,,,rruihers country gentleman. W. l. Branscomoe
Mr. Duye an photographer . -
DR. Harvard. Harrys father, country phy.r, 49,,
Servant TO Carruthc:s T. j. StulPnr,
Nadge Carruthers. ~ ',,
Mrs CarrutheTs Mtdses mother Kate fatt tsan S, ,
Pamela HaiwarIS Fanny fht
MAY housemaii Al Or. Halwards.... Ethel Evelyn