The record-union., 1894-02-27
AMUSBM ENTS.


a very large audience-a full house-at
the Clunie Opera-house last night wit
messed the new play by Judson c. Brusie,
entitled The Assemblyman." The cur
tain fell on the last act at 1880, or just one
hour too late. in the first place, the play
did not begin until $50, which was pre-
cisely thirty-fve minutes of violation Of
a rule Manager Todd a fortnight ago
promised the public should be enforced.
Ii the play begins at $, as may just as we'll
be done, the action hastened all along the
line, as must be done, and some OF the
dialogue Sharpened and made better by
being cut mercilessly, the drama can
conclude comfortably at 1880, and it
will be greatly improved thereby.
The story begins with a pastoral.
drifts into the city and its net of sin, and
ends as it begun, in peaceful, simple
rural life. 1t is very simple story
that of an ambitious youth. who ran for
the Legislature in a California mount
ain county: won; promised great things;
plotted out path straight to lOftieSt po
litical glory; did fairly we'll for awhile;
fell into trap; brought shame and mis-
cry upon those who loved him by reason
OF his lack of wisdom and his devotion to
a political boss whom the author puts
upon pedestal for no sufficient reason,
unless TO glorify bossism and clothe it
with some redeeming traits. Finally,
after much suffering the hero is cleared OF
shame, absolved of wrong-doing, and
goes back to the country and his mothers
arms a wiser and a sadder man, thor
oughly convinced that the man who stays
out of the Legislature is safer and hap
pier than he who enters in. There are
cross threads of low comedy admirably
woven III and out by Jennle Calef and
Andrew W aldrOn; strain of rustic
humOr capitally sustained by Mr..
Bacon and Mr.. Sambrooke, and touches
of pathos finely put by Mr..
Ward and Mr.. McCurdy, while MIR. Arm
strong and Mr.. Cooley did the villain
business OF the piece thoroughly. Miss
W Weidman had a motherIy rustic part, and
sustained it well. Miss Marie Brusie was
the heroine. The lady is an amateur.
She can much improve the part of Hetty,
and will, by not playing to the audi
ence and by less OF self-cOnsciousness
She has good stage presence and express
Sive countenance and capacity that needs
training for development. Mr.. Brusie,
the author OF the drama, assumed the
title role. We should say that. excepting
his disposition to gesticulate wildly.
broadly and much. he does well. lie
reads his lines with feeling, does not
give his part OVer-colOr, and Is more
natural and at ease than any expected
him to be. In short be does his part
credit. As to the play, it is not
great, but the author on the
intended TO shoot his shaft high. 1t is not
low; on the contrary, it is clean, full of
good sentiment, homely and virtuous
life, with enough of shadows and dark
background to make the whites Of the
picture clear and distinct, and it is origi-
nal, and strong i'll that. There is nothing
specially startling or sensational about it,
yet there are several very good dramatic
situations in it, and one that is strong in
its piteous interest. In short, ii has a
well connected plot, and it is an entirely
probable story. and there is no action in
il that may not have been and may not
be again; beside, 1t very clearly breaches
the lesson of temperance and uprightness
the author intended. An old, thread
bare and worn confidence game scene is
worked IN in the last act that lacks any
essential of novelty, but it gives MIR.
Bacon opportunity, and, by the way, his
part is a creation. and proves him more
versatile than his best friends sup
posed. The drama has its chief interest
IN its being largely local in action
and scene and wholly local in author
snip. Yet, we apprehend that with
more pruning by such skilled manager
we'll almost anywhere; but not long, be-
cause il lacks in sensatiOnalism, and is
altogether too full OF simple texts and
hOmely good teaching TO enjoy the favor
of the public long with its appetite sharp
ened for the highly seasoned. MIR. Du-
ran has done some good scenic work for
the piece. His Capitol is not the best,
but the most pretentiOus Evidently it
was harshly painted; yet il the action of
the play had permitted it to have been
back instead OF a front drop, it would
have much better effect. His * street
from Ninth street, looking west, and
his river front are very fine scenic works;
exceptionally good. OF course, being
locals" they Will be more sharply crit
icized, but ii given as OF another city,
they would be cIassed as very superior.
The trio-Messrs. Cohn, kidder and
Crocker-added much 10 the entertain
ment by its singing, and Jennie Calef
and Mr.. Waldron were clever in song:
not so Mr.. Bacon's attempted local song.
But we fear several OF these side dishes
Will have to so. if the piece is properly
reduced in length. The play was excel
lently mounted, as a whole was well
played, and kept the attention we'll. 1t
will be repeated tonight.