New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-03
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
THE CITY OF PLEASURE"

George r. Sims In past years has put some al
lusions to America and Americans in 1.-The Referee"
In London. which were not unalloyed hattery. But
this same Mr. Sims. like many other Engshmen
Is not reluctant accept American dollars when
they are thrown into his lap. If Mr.. Sims had in
view a possible production in America OF THE
City Of Pleasure when hs adapted the piece from
the French original "Ggolette" he probably thought
that Americans would be grateful for hack work
which slngularly cheap. coarse and common
The play fell fiat In the Empire Theatre last even
ing. Better dialogue written for London pen
ny dreadfu.s" OF nfty years ago than that which
George r. Sims has put into this piece l. is pain
fully jejune. dreary and dull one Of the mysteries
OF the day IS Charles Frohman's choice OF this
adaptation for the opening Of his season In the
Empire Theatre Mr.. Frohman engaged a com
pany containing number OF able actors and
actresses and he provided scenery which was
feast TO the eye. Too much praise hardly be
given to the stage pictures the settings and the
clothes which the players wore But the words
which these hapess players compelled to speak
of less value polish, point. variety charm ana
effectiveness than those which police court re-
porter Just beginning to write accounts Of trials
in the City Prison Building for the expression
Of his scanty and meagre stock OF Ideas II is
puzzling that Sims could write such stuff as tnis
1t is bewildering that manager with the expert
ence which Charles Frohman has had, manager
who has pleased and gratiied playgoers all over
use such dialogue that Of THE City of Pleas
ure" before he had had It recast and rewritten
by competent master OF English expression
The City OF Pleasure" Is wholly out of place In
the Empire Theatre. II does not belong 10 the CLASS
of plays which have won the approval and applause
OF NEWCOMERS in that handsome and sumptuous
house OF amusement. The passages In this piece
which were intended TO be pathetic, were almost
maudlin at times. The audience laughed where
Sims desired that they should sob and they are"
long faces where 1t expected that they wou'd
laugh. The staest Of devices for exciting sympathy
were employed. and 1t impossible to discover
note of genuine human nature in the affair from be-
ginning TO end Char.es Frohman's friends must
regret deeply that he has spent so much money upon
the company which he has got together upon the
scenery which he has secured, upon the costumes
which ne has bought, for so thoroughly wot'hisss
piece as THE City Of Pleasure. The French authors
OF the original play evidently attempted to initiate
lola frequently In THE city of Pleasure lola
delights to grovel in the gutter. but with all MS
yearnings. he has intellect Possibly 'he
French writers OF "Gigoiette' have Intellect also
But George X. Sims. when he took "Glgoette ana
made such an inept trivial. absurd mess Of The
City of Pleasure" Is. apparently suffering from
q total eclipse of his mental processes r, cue.
of Pieasfe on the stage in the finest possible
style. and Miss Elta Proctor Otis and Miss Eiiie
acting But J. Fl. Gmour bore himself like pro-
fessonal mourner AT a French funeral his lace
lest and ghostliest OF undertakers who ha al re-
solved to make eXOrbitant charge III ms Dill iyI
his own superfuous tears and lamentations Mr
Gilmour needs heroic doses Of quinine ana olheI
onics No actor, unless ne is suffering agonles from
malarsl neuralgia. is justified in aficting an
audience with such deluge Of woe as Mr.. Gil
mour poured upon the unhappy house Iast hlsSht
Mr.. Gilmour should bear in mind the obvious lact
that the title Of the play IN which he em me r
THE City OF Pleasure, ard not The city or rca"
ful Night" Mr. Gilmour IL respectfully advised 10
cheer mp. He may be happy yet -
But the people who went 10 the Empire ntaue
last evening not happy. George X SIMS
dismal and dcleful adaptation OF "GigoleNe was
enough 10 give them the creeps even in 40 orlsht
and cheerful a theatre the Empire ana even
before such scenery. settings and costumes as
Charles Frohman literally and lavishy set forth
Mr. Frohman has put THE Sporting Duchess on
the stage o. the Academy OF Music. THE Sport
ing Duchess Is not great play. BY no means
1t is not even good play. But IL Is far better
than The City OF Pleasure" which Is the very
embodiment Of Cd. unhappy, far-on things. and OF
the commonpldces OF a century ago. II George X
SIMS cannot DO better than this he should send
peNi adauta ton from the French TO Tasmania
New York wants such travesties as this THE
City OF Pleasure" has all the faults which were
seen In The Two Orphans many years ago and
none of the merits % tina, play. 1t is true that
Sims had nothing TO do with THE Two Orphans"
That was fortunate