The record-union., 1895-10-09
ADJUSTMENTS.

"Oliver TWIST was repeated by the
Caldwell Stock Company last night at the
Clunie Opera-house, and will be given
again this evening. The attempt to put
Dickens sad and yet vivid story of low
life upon the dramatic stage never has
been and never will be wholly successful.
The most that can be done is to present a
few strong pictures drawn upon the
model of the story. Even then they but
family convey to the spectator an idea
OF Dickens art in character drawing and
dramatic narration. These pictures are
no more to be mistake en- for the tale than
are the bosses on a castle door for the
towering structure itself. AS result
the attempt TO give "Oliver Twist as a
story, on the stage, fails because it is sim
ply impossible TO follow the tale in that
detail that is the charm of the story. All
sorts of incongruities are therefore con-
stantly cropping out; time is crushed so
ruthlessly that hours become seconds
and days become minutes. Weeks are
compressed into hours and years are
skipped over as wholly valueless i'll the
life OF the tale. Thus, in the very first
act, oliver, inveigled into Fagin's den, is
drugged and falls into deep sleep.
but in less than thirty-one seconds
is wide awake and refreshed and off with
his companions on an enterprise. Monk,
whose greed aud crime form the motive
for Fagin's and Sykes whole line Of ac
ton. reveals his part in the story
SO late in the play that the auditor
is moved by anger that this
motive of action was not disclosed
earlier and the play made more reason
able. Sykes and Nancy quarrel too sud-
denly and without sufficient provocation;
the interest Of Brownlow in Oliver is not
fully revealed, and the characters OF Mrs.
Corney and Bundle are only family sug
gested-they are not drawn in dramatic
portrayal. So that whoever goes to the
opera-house 10 see the play must expect
TO see only eight or ten living pictures
drawn upon the plan of Dickens great
story of poverty, crime and official short
coming. Oliver is simply poor and in
efficient instrument In the presentation
of these sketches; the Oliver OF Dick ems
creation is absent in spirit, but
something of hint of what the
author drew with his marvellous
vigorous and assertive things in the
play, which stand out as if plucked
from the pages of the novel, are HalleIrs
Fagin, e marked and exceptionally su-
perlor piece of character acting; Holdens
Bill Sykes, whlch-aDd we have seen
many-we are prepared to say is a fine
example of art in this rude direction. 1t
side some OF the best without loss OF
credit. 1t is not the best, but ii is
among the very good, The Nancy Sykes
of Mrs. Bellnour, very creditable work,
not overdone in our opinion, but really
given with something more of feeling
and revelation OF heart than is Developed
by some more pretentlous artists. Mr..
Craig's magistrate is good sketch,
coarse as it is, because 1t matches the
caricatures of tussy Justices English
novelists and artists have made famous.
Eidridge's Artful Dodger is well drawn,
but it is mere skeleton. AS to Miss
Gassman's Oliver. she REQ it well, and
it may be said she is acceptable IN her
acting to good taste, but she is toe well con-
ditioued for the slender. ll-fedOliver- Miss
Mif1iin would read it as we'll and fill the
character in stage presence better; never
theless, MssGassman is a clever and pleas
ing actress but why under the sun does
she introduce a sentimental song into
the play, and of all things make it issue
from the lips of half-starved oliver Twist?