The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-08

Academy of Music.

1.-THE Crust of Society" was remarkably
| well PLAYED at the Academy last evening. 1t
is not at all a drama conceded to be heipful
| to ssthe Young person." but, nevertheless,
| that individual might learn from it several
valuable lessons of life. The plot turns upon
| this sentence, 1T was the unwritten social
law that a good man should marry none but
a rood woman A group of women of
| doubtful antecedents make for themselves a
place between the upper and the lower crusts
Of society, striving all the while to pierce
through to the light above. Among
these Mrs. Eastlake Chapel is the
most fascinating and most successful
in her efforts. This part is
PLAYED by Miss Zefie Tilhury, who is an
actress Of no little ability. Her voice is
musical and her elocution free from the
affectation that is SO displeasing. She did
splendid work in the last acts. In the scene
where she confesses to her duped lover all
her past history, winning him again by her
fearful humility, and then bursts into exult.
ING laughter after he leaves the room, she
DISPLAYS rare power. She seems really a siren
whose whole aim is to lure men into her
silken net. In the last act, after having
PLAYED all her trumps and lost the game, she
makes a cigarette with charming composure
and the curtain falls as she plans to go to
Paris.
Lady Downe, who lives on the edge of So
cial downfall and ruin, is represented by
Miss Lydia Thompson. She acts well, but
her voice Is unpleasant, ending in a queer
little squeak when she wishes to be specially
emphatic.
Miss Hattie Russell as Mrs. Ernestine
Echo, the woman who always laughs loudly
and who has an intimate acquaintance with
cosmetics, shows dramatic ability. She
makes herself Just as Objectionable as the
Mrs. Echoes of real life do. Miss Charlotte
Malcolm as Violet Esmond. the only good
woman in the set. playsher modest part very
acceptably.
Mr.. Arthur Lewis is excellent as Oliver
st. Aubyn. He is a true man of the world,
but showshimself a loyal friend. His inter-
probation of the part is all hat could be de-
sired. and the absence of all ranting more
than balances an occasional indistinctness of
voice.
Mr.. Arthur Forrest as Captain Randall
Northcote, the devoted lover of Mrs. Chapel,
deserves high praise. He does not o~ver-act
the part, but makes love charmingly. One
is sorry to see him deceived so thoroughly by
the fascinating widow who was never mar
ried.
Cavendish Comyns, M. P, the wronged
husband of Mrs. Ernestine Echo, Mr.. Henry
Bayntun interprets. It's a minor part, but
he play it extremely well.
Mr.. George II. Rexford makes an excellent
Earl of Colchester. Altogether the cast is
exceptionally good, and THE Crust of So
ciety.. ought to draw large audiences this
week.
The Bon Ton.
No better evidence of the success of the
Bon Ton, and its continuous performance is
wanted than the crowded house which yes
terday welcomed the weekly change of per-
Torrance. In the evening there was not a
vacant seat, for all who entered were SO well
pleased with the excellent vaudeville per-
Torrance that none would leave until the
fail of the drop curtain at eleven o'clock.
The bill is a clean one, the jokes are all good,
and the singing and dancing were greatly en-
joyed. OF those Who took part none deserved
the applause of the audience more than
james Thornton, the comedian-.ssHe has but
few equals in his line III this country. Mile.
Rialta has been engaged for another week,
and her novel dancing was as popular as it
was last week. The magic lantern pictures.
which form a part Of her performance, were
nearly all new and the effect was good.
Yucca, the female Sandow, performed some
wonderful feats of strength, one of which
was to lift a 1000 pound horse clear off the
floor. Mcbride and Goodrich appeared in a
rev sketch, which was enjoyable; and Ward
and Lynch sang their very funny Little
Johnny Dugan song. Roach and
Carleton had anb excellent comedy
sketch, and Arthur Goodman performed
come wonderful feats of l~egerdemain, Jug
cling and autobiography. His shadowgraphs
were particularly good. The thres Renos
are known to every theatre-goer as the most
protesaue acrobats, and Bentley and Car
roll need no introduction to the public, for
they have long been favorites. Jessie Ha-
worth sang some lively songs and danced
gracefully George Raine created laughter
bv his German dialect songs, and Carrie
Ezier was recalled several times to repeat
her seriQ-comic singing. Felix and Caine,
in silence and fun, afforded much amuse.
ment, and the others who appeared filed
their parts with credit.
This company will remain at the Bon Ton
until Saturday night at eleven O'Clock. Per-
formance begins at one O'Clock each after
noon.
Hoboken Theatre.
ssBrother and Brother was produced at
the Hoboken Theatre last night by Leonza
Brothers and a good support. The play
deals of life in 1776 and the plot reveals a
cowardly attempt to wreck a mans life and
secure his money and sweetheart. A murder.
is committed and the guilty man seeks to
cast censure upon the innocent and 81
escapes. He is traced and punished. The
acting of Leonza Brothers is without fault.
Victor assumes the character of a young
German and Harry that of an unwilling
victim of circumstances. The two mastiffs
of the company have developed into fine
artists and their ability is amply shown. S..
w. McCody assumes the part of Nj. Dodge,
who wants to be a lawyer. and creates
amusement. This play will be repeated to-
night. Tomorrow afternoon and night
1.-THE Dog Spy" viii be produced,
$50 ~