The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-02
AN EYE ON A G H
THE SIX IN "MYLEs IRooNn As
IT LOOKS TO AN EXPERT.

II LOOAS ~ AN n
Inciasnts or ReaIisra - Several OF che
Current Plays CRITICALLY Obssrved-Tho
Trunk Trick ss shown by Herrusss.
The scene painter or stage manager at the
American Theatre ought to take q walk Just
after sunset on a clear evening and observe the
sky. The poetic consideration OF the armament
at this time of day may be left TO the dramatist
but there Is q practical point which might DO
utilized In "Myles Aroon,' In which Andrew
Mack is acting. singing. and dancing Mt that
theatre. In the third scene OF the second act,
which Is called In the programme 1.-THE
Glenn of the Good People" with W MS
in clen). the back OF tho stage represents
. pretty bit Of rural Wow. with q
clear sky above. Mr.. Mack has n melodious
and evidently very popular song aboutthe stars,
and this is the scene In which he Introduces II.
For this purpose the lights are lowered to rep
resent the gradual disappearance Of the sun,
and presently, after an interval Of twilight,
stars begin to blossom all over the sky. The
mistake is that they begin TO crop ont at the
horizon, close to the edge OF the low hills, where
as in nature the stars are not to be seen through
the denser mass Of atmosphere which lies along
toward the western horizon until they have be-
gun to he visible between that and the zenith.
The effect Is pretty q: the american Theatre:
were 10 DO seen arst. at the top Of the audiences
scope OF vision and gradually increase down
scene wsTa p is ro sns exeni and sk M rs M s.t e tS Solee ani
manner whom. he H. singing his love songs to
Mdo0ie Farrell delight his hearers. They do not
observe the heavenly stars. except In their COM
plete array. and they applaud the dramatic star
and demand several repetitions Of his closing
strains and the dance that goes with them.
Incidents of realism on the stage are some
times quite as effective when they are fakes"
as when they employ the genuine article. No
one supposes that MUies ArOOn clips real plants
In the conservatory, and IL Is evident that Joe
Upton does not throw real beer In the face OF
Pat Phcnn on Fair Day. or even real water. 1t
is something that looks enough like water with
out being wet, so that II does no injury to Pats
makeup or his necktie. The rainfall in Tho
Village Postmaster" at the Fourteenth Street
Theatre. is cleverly supplemented by an isolated
little stream which comes down in the middle
of the stage. The line Of water which simu-
the stage. and the supplementary single stream
falls on an umbrella held up by one OF the char,
s sTes's t ana rSSFs Of Tb IS device sTsaa ndds to Si thu iPlu IT.
sion, and the impression conveyed to the au.
envy OF Music. isin the list Of tank dramas; but,
although the tramp dives into real water. APP
when he comes before tho curtain there
is no reason to, believe that the heroine
curtain call for this thrilling episode of high
down. but her hair is not wet, nor is her com
plexion. The moist appearance Of the skirt is q
To to, earr uy the tSsei realism aha ne Of I The use scene %eA into the esf bo%
before the drop curtain.
Herrmnnn's "Asiatic Trunk Mystery" Is an
extraordinary cabinet trick. by reason of its
childish simplicity. When the curtain rises on
this part Of the programme at Palmer's. four or
Ave men dressed as Cinnamon are discovered
Branding about and moving their feet in q sort
of chopstiok Jig, supposed to be characteristic
of gentlemen Of the Celestial empire. That
is, all are doing this but one man. the one who
stands down stage left. who does a sort Of lazy
Irish heelcap with very ludicrous effect. In the
s ssnsrs Of : .nsDo stsSe by Is four a l sIsnas san s ?
ard, ;5d St., VT e platform d, b some two feet : above 70
demonstration that there is no connection be-
tween the platform and q trap door. or anything
trunks. Of different sizes. witch have a tea
chest appearance, like the scenery. and which
sides, Everything Is done to prove that there is
o oSr, Sase tSiSR aS Ana t fhalsf Trick Inv Tw In Women Is .e 81
different sizes and In different colored tights,
sack, which is tied and put in a trunk. which
is locked and put IN the Other trunk,
directions ~ passes a heavy band. also fastened
by q lock. This multiplicity Of locks is assidu-
ously called to the attention Of the spectators by
Hermann, and the keys are tossed about to
emphasize their existence and use. The COM
plicated burden is lifted TO tho isolated plat
form. the larger woman gets up and stands be-
side the big trunk, q curtain Is drawn, Herr
mann. watch in hand. stands and listens until
tain Is pulled aside. revealing the smaller
woman standing, the trunks are lifted down
and opened one after the other with much
manipulation OF locks and keys, the string on
the sack is cut. and out steps the larger woman.
Isn't this simple? 1t Is as childlike and bland
az can be, and the spectators enjoy 1t.