The sun., 1895-02-06
FOR DRAMATIC DIVERSION.
JHE REPRODUCTION OF EDWARD
HIRRIGAN,s 1.-THE MIJoR.O

IA RRIGdNS 1.-THE AAJOR.p
New sad Bettsr Thinss In "Ths Tweatieth
Csstury Giri"-Chsuges .. the Cast sf
"a Mrk white Fisg"-Kathryn MIA
aer's Account or = vi.it She Made 90
ssrdou-The Weeks Theatrical BIn.
An audience at Harrigans Theatre last even
Ing was interested and amused by a revival of
OF The Major" the last previous performance
Of which had been given ten years before. In
the writing Of this comedy Edward Harrigan
copied from life one Of the best-drawn charac-
tiers that he has acted. 1t is that OF Major Gu
rdiher Tombs lawyer. ward politician. sport
ing man. war veteran, loquacious bragRart, and
mpecunous borrower. This Is the fellow who,
when asked II he spouts Shakespeare, replies
that he spouts everything.
with all his faults he Ia popular alike with the
others in the play and the people in the audito-
rum That Is caused by his good humor. COLO
quial wit, and glib Irish brogne. lie Is dis
tinct and recognizable type, now growing
scarce. perhaps, but once to be encountered at
every police court in the city. The stage scenes
in which he figures are a cheap boarding house,
apolicy shop, q steamship pier, a prison corri-
dor, and housetop. Among his twenty
one companions are Mr.. wilds droll negro,
Mr.. Fishers dialect German, Mrs. Yeamans's
comic woman, Mr.. Sparks's deep p-brogued Irish
man. as seen again and again in the Harrigan
entertainments. They are quite welcome again.
SO are the Braham songs with which The Ma
Tor" is sprinkled. The fun ranges from witty
repartee to violent antics, upheaval of ne
groes through the ceiling of room being one of
the episodes. The whole entertainment is thor
oughly characteristic OF the author, the COM
pany. and the theatre, and is not likely to dsap-
point any body who goes to see it.
Edwin Stevens has made rapid progress in the
crochettinR he does in The goth Century
Girl" at the Bijou, though he still drops sew
eral stitches nightly. As the maiden OF ad-
vanced mannishness Bettina Girard is making
like Improvement in her management of top
pockets and cigarettes. The latter go all right
when lighted. but 1t often takes several matches
to got them started. After two or three have
failed to be OF use, Edwin Stevens's position is
an odd one, for he Is opposed to a lady who is
In need of light, and yet her bearing Of manly
independence makes it impossible for him to
offer assistance.
Changes in the performance since the opening
night provide chance for Al. II. Wilson's epe-
calty and comical rehearsal of singing by John
r. Kelly. There is a new dance, too. for Lillian
Thurgate. and beautiful trio inthe third act for
Minnie Landes. Edith Howe. and Arthur Craw-
ford.
The hqmor that Harry t., conor brings to the
6iton Is never important, and that fact was
demonstrated last night when, ho joined the
White Flag" at Hoyt's Theatre. He was as
amusing as the militia Colonel that Ma
Ueli1nd strong days, and he was never
anything but himself, for his unfamiliarity
yond slight acquaintance with the lines Of it's
text. But he was as unctuous and naturally
rious. and his manner as innateIy comic as it
was when he made d years stop at this same
theatre and introduced himself to New York
cessfgl entertainer: When he has become
familiar with his new part ,vna and de-
esGsFss enr@sn Beaie, al Nf Will becomes as % famous
never become anything beyond an exhibition of
Mr p hH%Sr anf his to
destined to wave soon in other towns Mr.. Conors
contribution to the humor might keep 1t here for
months to come.
The diversity Of plays is so great this week
that visitors to the theatres may find just about
the kind of entertainment they prefer Real
istic sensationalism is more abundant than any
thing else. however. for we have It in its most
violent modern forms at Palmer's in THE Fatal
Card" at the Harlem Opera House in The Cot
ton King. at the Fourteenth Street in " Human
ity," at the Columbus in THE Derby Winner"
and at the Peoples in "On the Mississippi"
But seekers Of strong dramas of a more intel
lectual character may depend on getting salts
faction from The Masqueraders" at the En-
pire. THE District Attorney" at the American.
"Gismonda" at the Fifth Avenue, or "A Bunch
of yiolets" at Abbeys. Comedies of q good
grade are Mime. Sans Gene" ut the Broadway.
and THE Case OF Rebellious Susan" Mt
the Lyceum. Native humorous pieces, con-
tras.ingly of town and country, are :" The Old
Homestead" at the Star and The Major" at
In" iiiil" ut the Academy OF Music and Kill
larncy" at Niblo's Comic opera is represented
d the srf BrooGssn H
huriesque b. Little CHRISTOPHER" at the Gar.
den. "A Tragedy Rehearsed" fI,, at paly's, , and
legitimate farce hy Too Much Johnson " at the
Sa@ISTh and 9S E, orsr M at Das
lioyt's and THE fNams" at the Grand Opera
House, and psntGmime by The Dresden shep-
Mr. Tree and his company are to play Cap
tain SWIFT" on Thursday afternoon at Abbey's
castles matiuee at Daly's will occur on Thurs
day, too
The latest member OF the shafrer family to
show here is woman, and she comes on at
Proctor's in handsome gown OF dark red that
exactly matches the plush coverings of the chair
and sofa that are In sight. Ordinarily the furni-
ture of the variety chow setting gains a familiar
look in the same way that a ten pound roast for
family ol three does: IL comes on too often.
But This chair and sofa are brightly new, and
play far more important part IN the specially
than such things usually do. They are balanced
on the performers feet while she is on her back
on standard seven feet above the stage, and
are turned about in many odd ways. BY moving
her legs much as II she were walking. one step
10 upon, o: beneath the sofa. the next brings
It to a support on its back, ana then the
supporting feet against sides, front
and top. These movements are rapid that the
sofa is kept revolving quickly, and the upside
down walk becomes run. The revolutions of
the chair are more difficult for its points of sup
port are It's legs and back. which are 80 small as
10 neCesstate skilful balancing. Later their
place Is taken by wine bottle that Is tiye feet
long and IL In Kept revolving rapidly, with the
cork describing a circle three feet in diameter
and its bottom doing the same. With her back
support placed upOu the stage, lighted lamp Is