New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-23
THE DRAMA-MUSIC
MR.. GOODWIN IN AMBITION"

MR. GOODWIN IN "AMBlTlON.
Ambition" is play specially written for the
year Of a Presidential nomination. 1t takes advan-
age also OF the opportune Cuban war and uses the
cause OF Cuba rock which the hero may
plant his v.rtuous foot and stand secure in the
sympathy Of the audience. Ambition was writ
ten by Henry Guy Carleton. and it played for
the first time last night by Nat Goodwin at the
Fifth Avenue Theatre. Like most OF Mr. Carrie
tons plays. II shows understanding OF the require
uents OF stage construction. and right workman
ship in planning and building but II shows also
crudeness in finish and a tendency TO overweight
many portions with needless and cumbersome ma
teriai II has much politics. too much in fact
though generally well used for a dramatic purpose
and II has great tracts of talk in the place Of action
in places where the shortening OF the play by the
elimination of both would be preferable TO the
presence OF either. There are many appeals TO
the sentiment of patriotism usually glittering gen
eraies patriotic appeals in plays commonly
are, OF them good and some OF them fustian
ALI however. met with the desired response II is
needless TO remark that patriotism is feeling
spread or too highly lifted up and fostered but
the mere discharge OF patriotic utterances not
1t is true, perhaps. that many of the most serious
excrescences. but they conspicuous as excres
to be- and II they succeed times in
raising laugh they none the less Objectionable
If such manners exhibited in it existed any
where in America 1t would toe better for play
patriotism Mr.. Carleton and Mr. Goodwin TO try
10 disguise and hide rather than exploit them. But
they do not exist. The hero of the play, a United
States Senator. prominent enough TO be mentioned
for the position of Secretary of State and then for
that of President first neglects his guests and then
affronts them, not passvey but actively The wife
OF the British Ambassador. in the house OF an
American Senator and in the presence of his guests.
speaks OF the savage customs" Of the country-a
characterization not altogether unwarranted. per-
haps by some other portions Of the play. She then
gives order 10 a Congressman from Vermont and
the Congressman from Vermont swears at her. The
insoence of the Ambassadors wife is introduced in
order that her words may be quoted back at her a
moment later with dramatic effect but the effect is
obtained at too high price 1t is in its details that
the work fs fault As a whole its purpose is
rect and the principles of political purity and moral
steadfastness which II advances are undoubtedly
sound Mr.. Cartoons customary ceverness in
making clear and incisve dialogue is also pleasantly
conspicuous In It.
Mr. Goodwin is character actor with high abil-
fly In the direction of pathos and skill in giving
telling effect TO such serious passages az provide
relief for his comedy. He acts the part OF Sena tor
Beck best in the rather opposite pass ges OF the
deepest earnestness and the nghtest banter. Per-
haps IT is there Ties rs we ysn 1t neh
when his manner easy that IL was coarse.
but the in which the Senator discovered the
perfidy of his supposed friends and determined to
Illustrate IL carried with strength and author
iiy. and the one a few moments before In which
ne bargained with his sweetheart about her picture
was done with exquisite delicacy and grace.
In this he aided by Miss Annie Russell,
who gave thu charm of refined and beau
tiful presence part in which she had oppor-
tunity 20 display litt.e else of her equipment as a
Senator's secretary was given by Arthur Hoops.
At the end OF the second act Nj Goodwin made a
short speech in which he expressed his apprecia-
ton of the reception given 10 the play