The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-10
TWO DRAMATIC DELIGHTS.
The Frohman Company Wins New
Laurels at Seattle Theater.
ssThe Ideal Husband. and ''The Anna
zons' Give UndiSguised Pleas
ure to Large Audiences.

That unusually clever play, An IDEAL
HUSBAND, was presented 10 seatlle
audience for the first time and with al
mirab.e fidelity yesterday afternoon al the
Seattle theater by Daniel F'rohrnans Ly-
ceum company. The play is so good That
none but the best of companies could
avoid making TX ridiculous. and that the
audience yesterday afternoon should have
forgotten that II was watching perform
ance on the stage and have fancied that
II was one with the actors in an expert
ence of life in the great London world OF
fashion and politics. shows how nigh,
how mastery was the art of Herbert
keicey Annie Irish, stephen Grattan and
their co-worxers.
The part of Lord Goring. the young and
woutd-be younger man about town VINO
has never had 10 do anything. and yet In
spite of 1t has remained intelligent and
has not lost the gift of friendship, is one
in which a keen sense of proportion IS
necessary. together with the art of max
ing the transition from the cynical and
blase clubman to the strong. true and
withal practical friend IN need without =
Earring. Only the artist having in per
feet control the resources acquired by
years of experience before critical audi
ences could have rendered so charningly
the character portrayed by Mr.. Kelley.
Annie IRISH was marye l1uS. she ho"ed,
in Mrs. Cheveiey. what an INSCRIPTIONS
woman Of the world can do-her infinite
resource. her power and control. not only
of herself but of those with whom she
comes in contact, and yet how all these
may be defeated by few words of love
and trust, beyond the reach of the
Vaccinations of the woman who has no
soul. Her acting at the end of the second
act, Wherein she brings the accused nus
band face TO face with the almost hys-
terical immaculate woman, his wife,
and in the scene later when she finds that
she does not know the spring by which
the stolen bracelet may be unclasped from
her arm will never be forgotten iby those
that saw Annie Irish yesterday afternoA1.
Stephen Grattan, as Sir Robert Chill
tern, had all the chance in the world 10
rant. but he did not rant: he played bis
part to show the truth of what he saidf
1t is not the perfect. but the imperfect
that have need of love-" and in his plead
ing with his wife he was magnificent.
In the representation of Lady Chiltern,
Isabel Irving had part with which an
audience is apt TO have not much SYM
patty, that of a woman whose ignorance
of evil makes II difficult indeed for her 10
find a place in her heart for those that
have erred, yet she rendered her lines so
well that the audience applauded.
W. j. lie Moyne as the Earl of Caver-
sham. who declared that his son was
heartless and his house too damned full
Of drafts, was delightful. He permeated
the audience with the spirit OF the old
school We so often read of nowaday and
wish that we could see. The control
which he has of his voice is in itself
something TO wonder at.
Katherine Florence. who took the part
OF Mabel ChilteTn, Sir Roberts sister, did
not belle the rurnors that had come TINS
way telling of her grace and beauty. me
men in the audience fell in love with her
at once and the women with her gowns,
particularly with one IN golden yellow
that was dream, though few could wear
II as Miss Florence did.
Mrs Charles Walcot gave perfect pie
ture of Lady Markby. OF the society
woman who has gone through the round
from year to year. has learned II all and
catalogued the episodes. having them
handy for any opportune moment IN
which she may expatiate upon them.
This part too. mtght easily nave been
tedious in the hands Of a less competent
artist.
Ernest Tarleton, as Pqlipps was per
feet butler and the audience showed that
Il appreciated him. The other characters
afforded SO light scope for the aohlties
of those who represented them that there
is little TO say of them, except that 1t was
disappointing that they could not be seen
and heard of more.
a. w. Pinero's roaring comedy ne
Amazons" was admirably pres 10
large and fashionable audience by the
same company In the evening. From the
fell at the end of the last act the au-
dience was I'm state of amused deiignt
The company is we'll balanced, ana the
members play naturally into one an
others hards. supporting each. other
without attracting notice ana Gaining 10
mind by the easy grace ana smootnness
of their actions a family reunion or fe
oldan tvme." when every one knew every
one and all hearts were warm. Last
night as in the two preceding plays, there
was nothing 10 mar the harmony OF ac-
ton. and the work was a revelation or
dramatic possibilities.
Herbert Kelley of course was the star
~ the evening. and gave a finished rep
resentation OF his versatility In the char-
acter of Darlington the nephew or Mi
RAM marchion ass OF Castlejorddn. lsa-
bel Irving. who. as Neoline Belturee'' pun
TO so good use her knowledge OF the man
IL art and won the heart Of harrington,
nlayss her mart most sweetly. Katherine
Fsnrerce hewitched the audience WIN
her beauty and charm d IL with her sTa e
ful ac,fng of the part Of Lady Wilhelmina
Relturbet Elizabeth Tyrees vlVacity as
Lady Tomasin Beiturbet gave tinee OF
delicate piquancy to the playing 'ha' was
delicious. 60
F-i.z Williams who played Andre, Count
de Grival. kept the audience IN roaT
nv his marvellous antics executed with
perfect grace and precision and certain
ecstasy OF manner that was contagious
Mrs. Thomas Whiffen as sergeant
Shutter was ''immense." She played ner
part from start ~ finish IN a way that
made the audience shout
r. Tarlton the gamekeeper. ca partic-
ularly well as did Charles Walcot as the
Rev. Roger Menchlln. W. Buckiana' the
Doarher. and Edward wliks. as houatts
a servant. Galfud. Earl Of T~eenwayes'
was forced and overdraT-s. aaraeteF,
with which Ferdinand Gottea.nais dia as
much probably as any one could 90 ana
succeeded in making many Iaush' anu
was really al times very tunhy.