The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-05
THE LIVELY BROWNIES.
They Delight Large and Distinguishes
Scranton Audience


Scranton Audience.
The rockingham theatre last night
contained a truely distinguished au-
dience upon the occasion OF the initial
production, in northeastern Pennsyl-
vania, OF the gorgeous spectacle which
has been built up around the quaint
character, droll costumes and comical
antics Of Palmer Cox's world-famous
Brownies" This audience was alter
nately convulsed and fascinated-con-
vulsed at the abundance of wholesome
foolery which has been introduced in
the spectacles text, and fascinated by
the tunHful lvrics, the splendid scenic
and costume fects and, above all by
the superb manipulation Of stage mech
anlsms whereby the beautiful trans
formations and exquisite tableauX are
achieved
The plays argument is thus pre-
sented on the programme, but the read
ing of it will convey an exceedingly
faint idea of the wonderful combina-
tlons of sound and color which make the
performance a regular feast Of pleasant
surprises:
Titanla, queen OF the fairies, Is betrothed
to Prince Florinel, adopted son of STAN
slaus, king of the Brownie band. The we'd
ding is to be celebri ted on the eve OF May,
and the Brownies &ve come to fairyland
to take part in e. general jolltlcation.
Dragonfel, wicked Demon, and his ret
nue, come TO the wedding. bearing gifts
and disguised as friends and wen wish
ers. While the Brownies and Fays are en-
tertaining the prince and queen with song
the palace that Titania and her ladies in
waiting have been seized and carried away
by Dragonfel, who thus seeks TO prevent
the power of the good which would result
in an alliance of Brownies and Fays. He
takes the queen across the sea 10 MS en-
chanted island castle. The Brownies build
Il raft and follow. 4 terrific storm i'm
perlls their safety. Euphrosyne, goddess
of mirth, appears'in answer to their pray
ers. with Neptune and his sea chariot.
The God Of the Sea quiets the turbulent
waters, and the Brownies proceed in
safety. BY means of raft and air ship
they reach the enchanted island, and find
much to mystify them. The Brownies hide
In the outer halls OF the castle, while their
king and some of his followers, disguised
as German street band, gain entrance
to Dragonfel's mighty presence. At a IA
vorable moment they make an attack on
Dragonfel, and area gust about to con-
quer when he calls Sn Vulcan to bring
earthquake and ruin. The castle falls in
ruins. the mountain becomes q volcano
and lava is seen pouring down its side
to overwhelm and destroy the Brownies.
The Brownie fire department comes to the
rescue. Daylight finds the Brownies still
in quest of the queen, and as their power
Is gone with the rising sun they are easily
overcome by Dragonfel's followers, and
are made TO slave and toll in the mines
Here they remain until the Russian
Brownie explodes a dynamite bomb with
which the peace OF the whole band has
been continually threatened. The explo-
sion causes caving in OF Il rift in which
Dragonfel happens 10 be, and in the
meantime Euphrosyne has come to the
rescue of the queen and the Fays. Flor
incl and Titania are united, while the
mines gradually disappear and glorious
night view Of Brown!eland is disclosed.
In the cast of thirty-one speaking
players notable work is done by Ida
Mule, as Dame Drusilda, the spinster
fairy; by Charles II. Drew, as the
Brownie King; by Alice Johnson as
Prince Florinel; by Charles Hagan, as
the Brownie policeman; by Snitz Ed
wards as the leader of dot leedle Ger
man band;" and by George II. Brod-
rick as Dragonfel. The brothers Rich
ard, as demon acrobats, gave perhaps
the finest tumbling exhibition ever seen
in the city; and there were numerous
other specialties Of superior merit.
The musical numbers of Malcolm
Douglas are catchy and appropriate,
and the various chorus groupings ex-
hibit skilful stage management. The
concluding tableaux revealed a stage
picture so exquisitely beautiful as to
battle description and fairly enthral the
large audience in surprised delight.
The Brownies" will frolic again to-
night; and will be we'll worth seeing.