The Washington times., 1894-04-08

in London one season and made a great sue
cess financially and otherwise. But he was
not in position to do as Jefferson and
Sothern did, reap the benefits in this country.
He has been working over the old ground
again. and is only now within the last year
or two, nearly meeting with the success he
deserves. l wish to quote some pleasant
things that Minot J. Savage said month or
two ago in Boston about Mr.. Morris:
With the simplicity of finished art with no
trace of the effort which so often goes with the
word acting" all the scenes and characters were
made to live before
As master of dialect have never heard his
equal With a Scotch mother, a Welsh father
born in England educated in France, long a resi-
dent of Jamaica, and now a naturalized and en-
thusiastic American IL may be believed that his
natural aptitudes, well his opportunities,
have been exceptional In the Creole French of
Cable, the rural Scotch of Barrie. the white Vir.
ginian and the colored family servant of Hopkin-
son Smith, the cockney OF Dickens and Anstry,
and the tender human pathos OF Eugene Field,
he is equally master and equally at home. The
same is true also of German and Italian.
This is his first appearance star on the
stage, though he has long been known the
leading man Of Miss Rosina vokes Considering
the "hard times" and the difficulties of the first
year, it is gratifying to his friends know that
he is making SO creditable a success. Those who
know him have unbounded faith in his future.
No man to-day on the American stage Is doing
more finished and artistic work than he He
only needs to become widely known to take his
place at the top Of his profession. Those who
put themselves at his back. So soon as he finds
the play which will furnish scope for what he
can do, not only his artistic but his popular and
financial success will be assured Even with his
three short plays, know of no more satisfying
entertainment presented by any American com.
pany.
"Arr. wilkinson's widows" comes to the
Academy OF Music, Washington. next week
as fresh and jolly as though it was on its first
instead of its fourth season. 1t fulflls its
mission, that Of making people laugh, and it
has the wearwell quality which distinguishes
it from the mass OF comedy farces which are
inflicted upon the patient patron the stage.
1t goes without saying that the perennial
freshness Of this laugh-maker is not alone due
to the lines of the play or the ingenuity of
the playwriter, but more than anything else
to the clever folk whom Charles Frohman
sends around the country. The play and
players are so well known that the mention of
names is all that Is necessary to tell the pub
lie what will and who will be on
the stage of the Academy. Joseph
Holland leads the list of the men and Henri
eta Crossman and Margaret Craven divide
the honors Of leading women. Then therea
Charles S. Able and Thomas Burns, and In the
minor parts T. c. Valentine, William Levers,
Maude White. and Annie Wood. The stage
setting is better than usual, and the fun starts
off with a giggle in the beginning and runs
the gamut of visibility to roar Just as the
curtain falls on the last act. "Mr. Wilkinson's
Widows will be the bill all this week with
matinees Wednesday and Saturday.
Mr.. Morris ended his week with one new
play in his programme last night-''Kerry."
Kerry is an Irish head servant, who has lived
with the family always. He shares their joys
and sorrows with pathetic intensity OF devo-
rNr HI 10 .N.I
with the love of all his masters and mis-
tresses. The character is one Of Mr.. Morris
most finished, and it adds another accom-
plishment to those we knew he possessed.
His Irish brogue Is as clever as his French
broken English.
"a Woman Of No Importance will come
next week with the reputation of having been
received everywhere with enthusiasm. Oscar
Wilde's clever epigrams and sneering cvni-
cisms on.social morals have been keenly ap-
preciated. and Miss Coghlan and her excellent
company have interpreted them so well as to
receive even more an cordial welcome than
they usually get. In London when "a
Woman Of No Importance" was first pro
duced it was found necessary to give daily
matiness, and Oscar Wilde has made $4,000
from the play on a 10 per cent. Of the gross
receipts basis. Miss Coghlan has In her COM
pany tho misses Ada DyaS, Efne shannon,
Dion Boucisault, Kate Deum Wilson, Winona
Shannon, and Norah Lamison, and Messrs.
John T. Sullivan, Aubrey Boucicault, Thomas
Whihen, Robert Fischer, Grant Stewart,
Edgar Norton, Burris Raymond, and Edwin
Jones. The company will also play during
the week DIPLOMACY and "Forget-Me-Not."
And they tell Us that Wilton Lackayc VIII
star next season. He has been one Of the
best Of the leading men and hns almost newer
boon outside New York.