The evening world., 1894-09-04
DIR. SSNTAN."

1T tne performance OF Ut. 5ynlHN NJ
the Broadway Theatre last night had
ended with the first act there could
have been but one verdict. and 1t would
have been unqualified success. rhe
three scenes OF this act were most en-
pertaining, and the .school-room episodes
were bright, punSent and almost legit!-
mate, There were one or two good
songs, a delicately introduced specially
or two neatly dOvetailed Into the action,
and some capital acting. The first act
ended too soon, for the second produced
disenchantment. 1t was silly, dun,
pointless. irrelevant ana dspiritIng. The
characters dragged themselves on and
of the stage. and the piece came to u
sudden end with boat race. which will
probably be used later on to boom the
piece among college boys.
"lDr. SyntaX" has for its basal elc-
ment Tom RObertSun's school" and It's
evOlverS are j. theever Goodwin and
MOClson Morse, both of whom have
worried cOnscientlously In the interests
OF popularity. They have not tried to
please the fastidious although in the
first act they succeeded in 80 doing, per
haps involuntarily-no have they Gu
tered to the idiots who roar with laugh
ter when a comedian falls down. and
to whom u kick is the most inspired
form of humor. In the first act there
are the school girls, the school mistress.
Miss Zenobia Tropics the English titled
visitor Lord Lawntennis: the dlsap-
pointed schoolmaster, Prof. Scowls, and
DR.. SyntaX himself Their story Is most
amusingly told with a musical accom-
paniment, and the result Is felicitous.
In fact. the Hopper company has done
nothing better, and when the second
act Is remodelled. or cut out. OF done
something with. "Dr. Syntax" should
run for months.
Hopper himself was-well, first of all
he was Hopper; then he was u genuine
| comedian. There were no evidences OF
the clown in his performance. which was
| surprisingly straight" for this elon.
| gated gentleman. Edna Wallace Hop
per looked delightful. and her pretty act
ing was marred only by n dawning self
| consciousness that was lacking when
she was In Charles Frohman's forces
Miss Bertha Waltzinger trotted out her
voice great deal too much. She car
| sing very well indeed. but 1t is a trifs
annoying to have to listen to n series oil
grand-opera roulades In a work like "Dr
SyntaN." 1t was as though she haC
put her voice in glass case. and of
fered It on exhibition. Cyril Scot
should return Immediately. II not sooner
to Charles Frohman. He was not 1
shining light and his songs were sadden
ing. He owns Il damp and mildewec
voice that should be kept in the dark
| 4
looking stick. and Alfred Klein contrib
uted an amusing little sketch as Lore
Lawntennis, Miss Jennie Goldthwait,
made a hit as the sleepy girl. although
some OF her suffering episodes nigh
be improved upon. and Alice Hosmer wa!
excellent as Zenobia. Among the school
girls, Miss Louise Campbell deserves
word of praise.
1t was II very irritating first night
II there were no regular claque, Their
was very good imitation OF one. Tn
, perpetual encores We're simply Il nui
sance. Numbers were redemanded tina
Will tonight be received in chilly silence
There was no scrimination-c horuses
solos. duets--all had to be sung twice
OF course. the effect was hopeless. Sue
applause deceives nobody. 1t IL like tn
flowers passed over the footlights-
relic OF theatrical barbarlsm. In tn
theatres abroad the encore Is given II
response to "a spontaneous outburst o
. applause that will not be put down
Here the artist comes forward wearil
, and goes over the whole thing agai
. as a matter of course. 1t Is an ute
perverson OF honesty.
MIR. Homer InnIa 81 spparh n uhipl
( he returned the compliments thrown u
. him by Della Fox, the other night. Tn
little lady didn't get the better OF tn
big comedian oh. no. He even went 81
far as to wish she was there to hea
the applause that ensued upon the men
ton OF her name. Then he spoke feel
ingly OF Francis Wilson. who VIII hav
hard task next week If he tries t.
throw bouquets at anybody. Mr.. Hop
per declared with almost vocal tear
that there was so much camaraderi
, among the members OF the theatrica
, profession. They We're so fond of eacl
other, NO interested In each others sue
, cess-and so on. Presumably they woul
sooner fail themselves than see thei
friends fail. The speech was Yer
pretty. very artistic. and a most pleas
ing speciality. Hopper must deliver
) every night. by request"
I ALAN DALE.