The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-04
DIR. SYNTAX.'

III the performance OF 'Dr SyntdN' AT
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, pungent and almost legiti-
mate. There were one or two good
songs a delicately introduced specially
or two neatly dovetailed into the action,
ana some capital acting. The first act
ended too soon. for the second produced
| disenchantment. II was silly, dull.
pointless. irrelevant and dispriting. The
| characters dragged themselves on and
, of the stage and the piece came to a
sudden end with boat race, which will
probably be used later on TO boom the
piece among college boys.
"Dr. Syntax' has for It's basal Gle
ment Tom Robertson's School" and lts
evolvers are j. Cheever Goodwin and
Woclson Morse, both of whom have
worked conscientiously In the interests
of popularity. They have not tried to
please the fastidlous-although in the
first act they succeeded In so doing. per-
haps involuntarily-no have they ca
tered to the idiots who roar with laugh
ter when a comedian falls down, and
to whom kick is the most inspired
form Of humor In the frst act there
are the school girls, the school mistress.
Miss Zenoba Tropics; the English titled
visitor, Lord Lawntennis: the disap-
pointed schoolmaster, Prof. Scowls, and
DR.. SyntaX himself. Their story 10 most
amusingly told with a musical accom-
| E-lI -laz
| In fact. the Hopper company has done
nothing better. and when the second
act is remodelled. or cut out. or done
something with, Or SyntaX" should
run for months.
Hopper himself was-well. first OF all
he was Hopper. then he was 4 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 dawning self
consciousness that was lacking when
she was In Charles Frohman's forces.
Miss Bertha Waltznger trotted out her
voice a great deal too much. She can
sing very well indeed, but II Is trihe
annoying to have to listen to a series OF
grand-opera roulades in work like "Dr.
Syntax." 1t was as though she had
put FER voice In a glass case. and Of
fered 1t on exhibition. Cyril Scott
should return Immediately, II not sooner
to Charles Frohman. He was not q
shining light and his songs were sadden
ing. He owns a damp and mildewee
voice that should be kept In the dark
| Edmund STANLEY ttanal n unnI
, looking stick, and Alfred Klein contrib
uted an amusing little sketch as Lori
Lawntennis Miss Jennie Goldthwait'
made hit as the sleepy girl although
some OF her suffering episodes nigh
be improved upon, and Alice Hosmer wal
excellent as Zenobia. Among the school
girls, Miss Louise Campbell deserves
word of praise.
! 1t was very irritating first night
II there were no regular claque. Their
I was n very good imitation OF one. TIL
perpetual encores were simply a nui
sance. Numbers were redemanded tina
will tonight be received in chilly silence
There was no discriminat ion--c horuses
solos. duets-all had to be sung twice
or course. the effect was hopeless. Sucl
applause deceives nobody. 1t is like tn
flowers passed over the footlights-
relic of theatrical barbarian. In tn
theatres abroad the encore Is given Il
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 agail
as a matter of course. 1t is an ute
perversion OF honesty.
|, Mr.. Hopper made a speech. in which
he returned the compliments thrown a
, him by Della Fox. the other night. TIL
little lady didn't get the better Of thu
, 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 will hav
a hard task next week II he tries 4
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 were so fond of eacl
= other, so 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
' ~ " ALAN DALE