New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-05
THE DRAMA.
1.-THE PRISONER OF zENpA."

The habitual frst-nght theatregoer is a patient
creature. He suffers boredom to an all hut I'M
limited extent He is the victim of all sorts OF i'm
nuient and pretentous fraud and incompetency. he
sits quiet while of mediocrty flow past
him and he suffers II all. because he knows from
sxnerience that time a good play will be dis
covered and that his attention and attendance
faithful and unremittng he VIII be one Of the dis
coverers. Some time he will something worth
waiting for and then he will have his reward The
na,ient audience which in the rather overhot
Iveeun Theatre last night had its reward. E. II.
soihern began his ninth annual season at this house
IN The Prisoner OF Zenda" II is altogether the hes,
nay that the opening theatrical season has YET
brought forward. and II is the best new play IN
which Mr.. Soihern has appeared In several years
Mr. Soihern is always an agreeable and interest
ing actor. lie is more than merely agreeable ana
interesting when he has an opportunity 10 be So anu
now he has found character in which there are
elements Of genuine fascination. Rudolph Rassendyl
Is a person who does not snalyze his moral and
nhvsical states and feelings and impulses but ne
sees thing TO be done and does Il; and that is re-
freshing on the contemporary stage. lie is man
OF action and honorable gentleman. lie is that
most difficult achievement OF the novelist or ara
matls a picturesque and romantic hero IN modern
dress Mr.. Sothern made him present to the eye
and to the ear and realized the picture in the imag
nation Of the reader of Mr.. Hopes novel II there
was Il fault It was that the character had niue
100 much polish at the expense of vigor. but with
allowance made for this. the figure OF the mas
ouerading king-a real king by nature, and hence
capable Of filling the place Of king anointed-
was true and fine. and it compelled the tribute Of
delighted admiration.
The play which has been made by Edward Nose
Is a better work compared with the novel than
pays taken from novels usually are. This is doubt
less largely because the novel itself Is thoroughly
dramatic and lends itself readily to stage uses 1t
has A good. sound. interesting story-a story with
Mood in it-and II a little OF the blood is made TO
aow in the course OF 1t. the purpose is so strong
that the play does not suffer from IT, Meiodramatlc
q doubtless Is but Il is serious that no chanse
OF mere sensationalism can stand against H. Inc
KEYNOTE OF the play. OF the character OF huuolph
Rassendyll, is his all ot oVerpowerlns iV'e ioi 'iIs
Princess Favia. and his remuneration or II ana OF
s.v 20 he king his rival 1t is this that takes him
an; Of the ranks OF melodramatc heroes and makes
nm a hero indeed and 4 was by MS true ana touch-
Ing representation OF this element in the part that
NJ SoiheIn marked II as soneth,hg ABOVE tlle
common theatrical dead-eVel ana chaiac'e'I"a''o"
the nav was presented asst night IT had one
serious flaw Several minutes at the beginning OF
the second act and one or Two inihuses d. 49,
time were filed with distressingly cheap attempts
.. wit which annoyed and worried the audience and
de ayel the play some four strokes OF eood Due
uenc would clear il of these distractions and leave
!. all that can be expected OF such play
In the action OF the piece II also suffered in its
VII The Duke Michae. played by A. X Law
renee and Captain Hentzau, p.ayed by Morten
Selten were about terrible as the knaves OF
SPADES and diamonds Both actors were far away
feeling. unfearing cut-and-thrust soldiers and
rentjrmen Daniel Jarrett az Detchard. seemed
rnuch better aware OF what he supposed to
be doing Rowland Buckstone was bluff and
humorous and good Colonel Sapt and c. p F1octor
had a commanding and sodiery presence as Mar
ehal strakencz Miss Grace Kimba's Princess
Flaya filed the eye and also the required place IN
the play acceptably. and Miss Marie y. Shotwell
made strong efforts in the by no means easy part of
Antoinette de MauDan. M. froh!na . mere, as
usual. dressed and staged the play sumptuousy and
effectively