The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-27

Special Correspondence to THE HERALD.
New YORK, Jan. -Melodrama has
N CIV York in ito spell now. The Fatal
Gard. which is play OF modern life,
full of ell the pulsing iSsuss and flesh
and blood OF tho big world sround us,
has now been running at Pelmer's the
alter for three weeks to thronging fash
ionsble sudienoas, and ia one OF the
three enormous successes now holding
the attention OF metropolitan theatsr-
goers. the other two being The Masquer-
sdsrs, at the Empirs. and William Gill
tette's new farce. Too Much Johnson, at
the Standard. Singularly enough, too
these shres great SUCCESSES all belong to
Charles Frohmsu, who has given New
York ell the big dramatic and comedy
hits OF this and last season.
The Fatal Gard belongs to the Bturdi-
est and moat wholesome class of melo-
dramas. It ia Htirring and full of thrills,
like all plays that sharply contrast vice
and virtue, and whose mission ii 10 to
strongly picture the punishment which
follows sin and the reward which awaits
the virtuous and upright; but its fasci-
mating story is told in novel and
delightful manner, and no better acted
play was ever put before the New York
public. The great critic, Nym Orinkle,
says that Mr.. Frohm9R has again given
to tho stage 1.-THE sumultueus roman
sicism of intense action, and once
mora planted melodrsms squarely
and successfully in the teeth of dilet-
tanteism and prominent humor." And
of the pley he writes that it ia can in-
tensely interesting story of struggle.
Il tells it by sotion than by dialogue,
and it moves logically and directly to a
crisis, carrying the sympathies with it.
Tho actors, Rs if enfrsnchissd, apring to
their work with vital impulse. 1t
brings back masoulinity to the stage.
and the manager insists On having it to
the full possibility of q splendid COM
panv." This splendid company is the
tinest ever seen in melodrama. Man
ager A. III. Palmer, who produced The
Two Orphans and The Lights o. Lon
don, says it surpasses any of the great
casts of olden days, and the public has
been most enthusiastic in endorsing all
the loudest praise that has been writ
ten and spoken about the psrior mances.
Four Of the greatest character actors
of the day, w. III. Thompson. w. ].
Ferguson, J.. H. Stoddard and J.. O. Bar
rows, are in the cast, while May Rob-
son, Agnes Miller of the Empire theater
stock company. have agreeable roles, and
E. J. Radcliffe, late hero OF Shenan doah.
has romantic prominence as the lover
whose life ia saved at horrible and
critical moment by the father of his
sweetheart. All the exciting action re-
wolves around and then centers itself in
this love story. Radcliffe saves the
girls fathers life from lynchers in the
Rocky mountains and the father gives
him one-half of the ace of clubs for flu
ture Identification. A band of robbers
afterwards kill Ratcliffe's father and the
son having tracked and discovered them
is himaelf caught in their rendezvous
and sentenced to terrible death. He
has but a minute or two to live when
his executioner inds the half of the ace
of clubs. Radcliffe is released and the
chief robber, his sweetheart's father,
psriahes in his stead. All this story 10
told in seven realistic and thrilling
scenes. Amy Busby, who was Richard
Mansfield's leading lady, plays the
sweetheart.
The Masqueraders is another magnifi-
cent production. 1t cost Manager Froh-
man $4,000 to put ii on the Empire
theater stage. There are 30 beautiful
imported dresses in it that cost $4,000.
Mr.. Frohman's stock company gives a
polished and brilliant performances OF
the play. and Mr.. Henry MILLER and
Miss Viola Allen, the leading man and
woman of tho organization, were never
seen to better advantage histrionioally.
There is o great gambling scene in
which Miller stakes $1,000.000 on the
turn of card against the wife and child
of his successful rival. and wins. Great
crowds flock to the Empirs to see this
wonderful play.