The evening world., 1894-02-07
a WOMtN's REVENGE"

There ia thick, tenacious and co1gu-
lated agony In the late Henry Pcttitt's
play, "a Woman's Revenge now run
ming at the American Theatre. There
are huge clots OF II. and like a~nowbalIs.
they get larger with the increased action
OF the play. 1T Is not the sort of agony
that moves you to tears, but the oppres-
sive discomfort that makes you long to
sit In tho gallery. eat peanuts and yell.
You envy the gallery boy. Seated down
stairs you are Obliged to behave your
self respectfully. to be silent while the
heroine gurglcs in her lachrymose an
gulsh and to reprcss a chucklc when
YOU hear tho hero say ME chcc-ild! Me
chec-ild. She has taken me chee-ild
away You are not allowed to boot
when the comedy couple do their funny
turn. or to applaud tho villain with
whom you really in your heart of hearts
sympathiLe. There you have to sit mum,
while the fun Is fast and furious in the
gallery above you.
Mary Lonsdale IL the heroine of "a
Woman's Revenge" She Ia lovely and
lovable, and above all she Is an hoircss.
The villain, Robert Ovcrtone. loves her
''F'f - . '''' ~ Nv i''i '
untrammelled affection Of one of Pet
titt's villains. Rugged out n "A cute little
SIS reAch-me-down. he stands there II
tells her OF his volcanic affection. She
tells him that 1t can never be. for she
loves Frank Drummond. n young bar
%rister. who has been nourished on hero
les, and who IL not half az nice az the
villain, II she could hut know It. In the
first act the hero foils the villain with a
little bit OF breezy rcpartec. and as the
curtain falls Frank and Mary are going
TO be marricd-to live unhappily until the
end of the play.
At this point | made a bet. II was
that Mary would wear a black dress be.
fore the play came to an end. | knew
nothing about it. but was willing to bet
81 that Mary would array her person
and her feelings In black.
Everything goes wrong after the first
act. Mary and Frank have II little angel
of n child, who calls itself "A true lovers
knot. But Frank has to dread the re.
vcnge Of AN adventures to whom he
once made love. Mabel Wentworth Is
bold and bad. and means business. Sc
the woman he wouldn't marry c%onspires
''''' ~ '''a'' ''''# NV = ' "lii WI
starcs Frank in the face. Old love let,
tcrs were brought forth. The hero keeps
them In his desk and tells the villain
whore they are so as to make Nillainy
easy and comfortable. The villain goes
then to poor Mary, who Immediately de.
cides to leave her husband. Husband re-
turns and promises to explain every.
thing. but Mary goes out OF the room
and exactly thirty seconds later 1t is
announced that she has left the hous.
with her chce-ild. Although she can
possibly have got further than the cor
ner of the street, he does not attempt
to follow her, but wrings his hands and
means pitifully.
She goes TO live in a nasty little house
with horrid pictures on the wall. and the
child grows up. The villain visits her
regularly ana tells her how much lac
loves her. lie positively dotes ON her
\ man To HON the villain yves money
appears ana demands the cash, which is
refused, Thercupon he shoots the vii,
lain dead las a doOrnail. and Mary Is, q.
course. accused OF the crime. Their
comes the scene OF the p~iay-the triaI
at the Old Bailey. Frank defends his
own wife, a. her lawyer is III, and the
child gives evidence against pool
mamma, but after a truly thrilling trial
that lasts al least six minutes, Mary il
acquitted amt falls Into her husband.
arms, The villain who was shot con,
t.nues dead.
Minnie SeliSmau Is the heroine, and
she is very nice, IN" part Is not exactly
calculated to show her at her best, bu
she does as much with it as possible
William Morris is the hero. Mr., Morris:
idea OF Intensity Is t. stand hDii upright
50 upright that he almost leans back,
ward, and II nrc OF his speeches int
vacancy. Miss EuuiCe Vance is IA,
comedy lady, aNd exceedingly good sh'
:, too. II Ada Dwycr Is the adven
tnress, The villain is Clarence Hanuy
sides "A very pleasing ~viliasn-and Arthur
Lawrence ~ a r~ascally lawyer,
by Tao bye, ! omitted TO say that
won my bet. Mary wore n black dress
IN act Y. ALAN DALE.
CMIlGHI EDO PlICvkT NIhnhDh