New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-08
THE DRAMA-MUSlC.
vp HARRIGAN AS THE MAJOR.

, u.rrIgan's Theatre on Tuesday MI Harrsah
-n".,ed an agreeable revival of his comic play
lied The Major, and each night since ne mas
,asad his audience by his blandly droh PERSONA
ban Of its principal character The play is farce
=, ,ow life The springs of action are deceitful
.-cks which lead MISUNDERSTANDING cross
r,,scs and general comic confusion. OF late years
.b,s public has seen many farces that were con-
s,r,,c,ed on the same princlpie,-on'S III those 'e
action has proceeded in drawingrooms ana anna
onulent surroundings and has implicated iaShioha-'
bio nersons In THE Major the persons imph-
Gated are negroes IRISH people, and Germans. OF a
common order and the action passes upon North
1,ier steamship pier in Irish clearinghouse, ana
IN "A poolroom" that is kept by negro MY Harm
"a, Il is well known. possesses remarkable In
senuity in the conrivance OF absurd situations ana
q, linking together the most unexpected and pre-
rostarous comic incidents. His art is lawless and
his fancy is fertile and he does not trouble him
peIs about probability or style, he is able to weld
,ogetber a most amazing fabric OF ludicrous occur
renee and haphazard comicality. At first sight THE
Major" seems TO be a mere wild medley. but after
awhile the observer discerns in it thread of story
and perceives the suggestion of clear design
Major Gilfeather played by Mr.. Harrigan is a
spocous. insinuatng, good-natured roGue-a sort OF
Captain Wragge of the gutter He lives by as
honesty. He Is not above theft. He mixes and med
dies in the affairs of various persons levyins Ulp
ute upon all of them and setting them all by ,he
ears. His object is TO marry prosperous IT'S"
woman.--exceedingly well played by Mrs. ieamahs
who keeps a boarding house. and incidch'an! "
adjust the relations OF pairs of elderly anu civ
centric lovers who have got themselves VIZ Isl
assortad His vocation takes him to a negro PSooi,,
room and he contrives that these coupiehs S ma
arrive there in time be arrested SO t si g., ,ha;y
.coect their fines and surrepiousy op.ait
release All that the Major does is sun p,ha, re-
He is a scamp-but he Is a comic scamp anu ."as
deems him With the help OF several cleNet eoh a.,
iutors MIR Harrigan. in that character heeps .nc
auditor in almost continual laughter ioI h."t
three hours Mr. Harrigans method j. INA W auo,
njgn and placid assurance He moves with vedVet
Tread and his urbane demeanor is never rnfiied;
Amid all the comic mischief that he devses ana
conducts his countenance wears always the sanle
;nnocent ingenious expression. In moments OF the
y,3est frolic his gravity remains unchanged III IS
n very droll performance and there is much excei-
lent artistic discretion in the comedians even sus-
The representation Of THE Major" can be cordially
commended to those readers VINO seek amusement
a, the NAV I, Is diversified with interudes OF
song and dance The negro characters are MADE
irressijbly humorous by Mr. John Wild MT William
West and their associates. The formidaole ana
vociferous Hlbern!an female Is made effective
al" q ludicrous virago is made actual and laugh
sbIe bv Miss Hattie Moore. The Germans
srs cor1petenty depicted by Mr.. II. A. Fisher
and Mr. George Merritt. And the unfagging
@njmai spirits and broad humor OF Mrs Annie
yeamans enrich the performance with vivaciiy
and low Wild inelegant and bosterous though
Tho Major may be the revival OF Mr. Harrigan
farce makes a bright spot in rather a dul! ara
matte season and ought 10 be generally observed