The record-union., 1894-01-03
ADJUSTMENTS.

with strong company in his new comedy
drama, Admitted to the Bar" 1t has
had very faYorable-indeed, hatterlng-
approval from the press Of the country
generally. The play tells the story OF a
young attorney, Jefferson Ward, who
gains a fortune for an Ilegitimate son,
while at the same time preventing the
disclosure Of the identity of the heirs
mother. This is made the more difficult,
as under the laws of the State of Califor-
mia, in which the scenes of the play are
laid, it is necessary to prove maternity as
well as paternity, and also from the fact
that the knowledge of who the boys
mother is is also known by another
claimant of the estate, who threatens to
disclose the secret unless acomprOmise is
ELECTED. The hero accOmpIlSheS his object,
although at times it looks as if the secret
which he is endeavoring to guard might
become disclosed. In the company are
Margaret Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Hunt,
both very popular actresses; Lillian Burk-
hart, who was the laughing girl in In
cog"; Ernest Willis, an accomplished
Australian actor; Thomas a. Wise, an
old favorite: Frederick Backus, Henry
Sheldon and Gustaye Yorke. The play
is two and quarter-hour piece. The
company has ample time to finish it, as
the train by which the troupe departs
does not leave tonight until II O'Clock.
L
the piece will be given in full and with
the same deliberation and care as in san
Francisco.
The field of dramatic art is without
bounds, since its Office is to interpret
human emotions and reflect human ac-
ton, and these are as broad as existence
1t is but a narrow section of the field
that is occupied by a troupe of players,
gathered as so many are, for the produc-
ton of a single play and chosen with
view to strength in each member in but
one particular direction. But the legiti-
mate stock company occupies the whole
field of dramatic art. Ii it is well bal
anced it is equal TO all demands Of the art
ranging between low comedy and trag-
edy, burlesQue and the emotional
drama, the standard plays and the
latest sensation The New York Stock
company playing at Armory Hall. like
few others of its Overwhelmingly
small in number in these days-really
represents the whole field OF dramatic
art. Within very few days it has proved
its capacity upon the plane of burlesque
or extravagart farce, comedy, melodrama
and the modern sensational. Last night
it gave new evidence of the right of the
stock company to outrank the Slngl play
specialists. Mr.. Hallet, for instance, who
has proved himself in the grotesque, in
art and equally capable in all, appeared
for the first time in assumption of old age
with tubbornness, self-will and fiXity Of
resolution dominant, and established his
claim anew to the versatility that must
distinguish the capable stock actor. "A
Terrible Test" is a powerful drama;
there is no weak timber in its construc-
ton. Hazel kirke,' the dramatic idyl, is
built upon it, but it is as rush light to
blaze OF MONDAY in comparison. 1t
affords the stock company notable OPP
portunity TO prove its claim to precedence
over speciality combinations. The Misses
Nannary and Messrs. Hess, Stewart,
Reynolds and Hernandez constitute the
hard-working and capable force that sup
ports the central fgure of the melo-
drama, and they acquitted themselves WE'LL
The play is mastery in its strength and
as melodrama will rank with the best
of that order of dramatic composition. 1t
will be given tonight for the last time
but one, as it will be displaced on Friday
by play at the other extreme of the
field, but which the company is as capa-
BILE of giving the effectiveness that demon
strates capacity. Between the acts OF the
drama the dance team O'Rourke, the
man, and Burnette, the woman, appear.
They are wonderful clog and specially
dancers; nothing better of the order has
been given here.
The "Black Crook by tho Clunle
Opera-house S took Company is a spec
tacular and acting success, and is draw
ing large audiences that manifest their
satisfaction very emphatically. The play
moves of course on q plane that has not
much to commend it, but it is fairy tale
and full of the trials of true love and the
trump of virtue over passion and vicious
ness. Old and worn as is the play, the
Opera-house Company has given it vigor.
and life, and snap by the tine spirit with
which the troupe enters into 1t. This IS
supplemented. by beautiful stage set
ting-in fact as a spectacle it has not had
its equal on that stage. Three OF the
scenes would grace the most pretentlous
theaters of metropolitan capitals. The
cave and the transformation scenes are
especially rich. delight the eye, and adj
mirably arranged and worked to produce
Elusive effects, in the one case awesome
and the other sslarming and pleasure
giving. The scene in the fairies home is
scarcely less attractive. The mechanical
effects are superior and excellently
worked. Assuredly Duran, the scenic
artist; Taylor, the propertyman, and
Parker, the stage machinlst, are entitled
to great credit Tor their work. They are
unseen actors in the spectacle, but as inn
portant as any Ill front OF the scenes.
Carrie Clarke Ward is the Fairy Queen,
and bewilderingly dazzling in white and
gold and silver draping that is so
diaphonous as TO permit no con-
ceaiment of outlines and fuilness of
form, There are many ideas OF what con-
stitutes fairy costumery. In THIS case the
fancy ran to almost the elimination OF II.
Miss Powers surprised her friends by the