The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
A RESUME OF PLAYS.
THE SEASON Of 94-95 IN NEW YORK.
z. H. s0THERN AT THE LYCEUM.
Opinions Differ Is to the Most Popular
Play. Though Trend to the Irasny
Seems to Prevail.

Nor. Is sunnosed TO have originated
among the uindoo. and is ascriDed TO
| sage named Bharata. word when sig
miles an actor.
In the olden times plays were very
long. We can infer such from the FOL
| lowing: When In a Chinese play Pi-pa-ki,
| the manager announces in the prologue
| II do not wish that this performance
| should last too long; finish IL to-day, but
/ cut out nothing" The Chinese drama OF
| this day is extraordinarily crude Any
one who visited the Worlds Far VIII
remember the queerness or the 'hlhese
| az well as the Japanese performances.
! The English drama originated IN the
! EIizabethan age, and very Few know
perhaps. that until the latter part OF the
| seventeenth century, men unprecedented
women's parts. An amusing incident j.
| told concerning this: Charles III became
impatient one night TO have the play be-
| gun: Darenaut explained the delay.
sire. they are shaving the queen
A Mrs. SettmOr was the hrst woman
! who took II as a profession IN Enslahu.
IL has now grown 10 be such means
| of livelihood for women that no surprise
IS expressed when women, from even the
higher circles. embrace It as probes
sion.
1t is a great source of pleasure to many
| Of US. TO see a good play, well acted anu
whether Bharata or Columbus are re-
sponsible for its origin we'can only De
| grateful and partake Of its joys.
In making resume OF the plays OF
/ the past season IN New York, 1t would
hardly do for any one person to say
which were the most popular, as opinions
| have differed widely. The writer can ohly
| express her impressions.
The Lyceum season opened with r. II.
| Sothern In "rhe Way TO Win Woman.
Sothern has always an attractive COM
pany and drew large houses. hut ms
| play was a disappointment TO many. We
hope TO see him in a better character
| next season.
Following Sothern came the Lyceum
| Stock Co. in a "Womans SileDce' act
| ed as all of Frohman's companies aci'
with cOnsummate taste and Skin, but a
play of lad moral tone. In speaking OF
this we must admit that such has Deen
the tone Of most of our plays Tor the
past few years and especially TINS last
| season. IL Is rather deplorable that the
ILblic should demand and uphold such.
| Henry Arthur Jones Case OF Rebel
lious Susan" followed and was full OF
wit and exquisitely costumed. oscar
| Wilde's Ideal Husband" was up 10 date
ard well filed with epigrams OF consid-
cradle force. The Lyceum season closed
with Fortune" a heavy dragging play
| that the cleverness Of the actors could
not make pala to the public
Days theatre has lost much Of its sol
iGify. n very trashy variety snow pur-
| posing to come from London called the
"Gaiety Girl" drew immense houses al
! the opening Of the season. Had nothing
TO recommend II but a few bright songs
and much vulgarity. Days company
followed with a repertoire OF very poor
plays. until the season was closed Win
q magnificent production Of "Micsummef
! Nights Dream"
The Empire Theatre seemed to have re-
called itself with ratfAer broad plays.
! John Drew had several weeks run IN
THE Bauble Shop" a depressing play,
but very interesting. The Stock Company
was very successful in Henry Arthur
Jones "Masqueraders'' which Favored
| strongly of the French stage. oscar
| Wides second play, THE Importance oil
Being Earnest" was extremely poor and
| dull. and was quickly succeeded by LID
erty Hail." an old favorite. Haddon
| Chambers contributed morbid melodra-
| ma entitled "John-a-dreams,' story OF an
opium eater and decetful friend.
At Paimer's theatre Olga Nethersole
showed that she was undoubtedly ge-
MUS, unappIeciatcd, but winning deserved
laurels for herself before the season end
I'd. Her repertoire included Camille" and
The Transgrcssor" Mrs. Langtry fol-
lowed and made the best OF her OPP
portunity to show her jewels and pretty
gowns in a worthless play called Cos
| sip" A sensational three-act play, the
Fatal Card" had good top houses.
Abbeys theatre took possession Of the
| other foreigners. Mr. and Mrs. Kendall
in their usual good family plays were
followed by Beerbohfn Tree. an actor OF
| much versatility, who was not appre-
| ciated as he deserved. Madame ReJane
came to us with much eclat, but was not
| the brilliant success shl expected In
lMaCbme Gene. Her fother plays were
somewhat better, but there are grave
doubts ahont her return to his country.
Wilson Barrett had a good run at the
American Theatre in THE ManXman,
and is always appreciated.
Kathryn kdder was everything delight
ful in the English version Of Madame
Sans Gene" and Drew crowded houses.
William Crane was not as fortunate In
| his plays az IN past years. Ills Merry
| Wives of Windsor was not liked by the
public. Pacific Mail" was very good
but HIS Wife's Father" was deplora-
bly, weak. Most of his season was az the
star theatre, closing at the Fifth Ave
| nue. Ienman Thompson is prime favor
ite in the "Old Homestead" which is now
| running at the Star. Fanny davenport
made a long stay at Fifth-Avenue Thea
| ire in "Gismonda," a beautiful stage
| play of dubious character. Nothing good
can be said Of the Goth Century Girl
at the Bjou, or the utter worthless
phys that HCyt gave us.
Lillian Russell was a decided failure In
her first appearance at Abbey's as
Queen OF Brlliance" contrasting badly
| with Francis Wilson's fresh and charm.
ing opera Devils Deputy" Camille
D'Arville was staring IN a pretty little
opera ''Madaline' and seemed to delight
her audiences for several weeks.
Rob Roy was undoubtedly a success
and little christopher Columbus as
well as Glllette's TOO Much Johnson. "
seemed TO have a warm place in the
heart OF the public.
The theatres are closing. one by one,
for summer vacations, and very few at
fractions remain. Trilby. the much-talk-
ed OF. deserves everything nice that can
be said Of 1t. as more charming play
has not been before us for years. Sadie
Martinot is clever in THE Passport, "
which has nothing but her cleyerEess 10
recommend it.
The new Garrick theatre has been a
source of delight 10 the admirers OF Mans
field who always gives us interesting,
! wholesome plays. lie is now preparing a
| buriesque on the much be-written ''Tril-
| by"
Next seasons outlook is promising. and
we can only hope that there will be the
revival Of some Of the old standard plays
that will be successful enough 10 show
| the world that We are not entirely de-
void Of appreciation Of the refined.