New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-13
THE DRAMA.
THE FOURTEENTH STREET THEATRE
THE CHERRY PIcKEE

Us, ,,ght IN the Fourteenth Street Theatraa
cev nlav entitled The Cherry Pickers." by II
Joseph Arthur was acted for the nrst Time -
title does not refer 20 persons who gather frt
hut il assumed to be that OF regiment OF Eng9t
colder. in India: the time is isis-lss0. that OF
Afghan war; and the scene Is the East Inc PIP
was get with more than common care. and' o, N
opulent with highly ooIored pictures ana aninaN
with still more highly colored incidents, 1t arfuS@
tho lively interest Of many spectators. and II
parted much pleasure to the admirers OF mili<h
drama.
As a dramatic fabric. The Cherry PickcTs
trayagant in substance forced in construction cr'S
IT. portraitur, OF character. false 10 nature. AZ
raw in style: but 1t aInbles along the beaten tra
OF story-pape convention. and IL PROVIDES for occ.
sional stage.efect and therefore 1t Will have som
success All the persons who are implicated In il
movement talk in one and the same manner,-whcr
Is that Of stted verbosity.-and every person who
participates in its talk Is at high pressure ~ frst
the story IL a variation upon the ancient theme OF
William Black-Eyed Susan and Captain Crosstree;
but after It's hero has assai.ed his commanding
officer for insulting his sweetheart, and has been
condemned 10 death for that offence. 1t rapidly de-
yelops toward sound and fury till 4; cu'rnnstes n
a new version OF the prison scene OF Pescare the
Apostate Around that situation the whole structure
OF phantasy and fusian has been built Inere IL a
terrific villain. oil the amatory- nurderous KIND who
bic heroine with Wild eyes. who yocferates r1-
hand me- or / will strange you There Is an i'm.
FASHIONED hero who constantly turns up clean.
shaven and spotless from being hunted through all
the jungies OF India and there Is an Afghan fanatic
who seeks that hero's life in fulflment Of an oath
OF vengeance. AT the supreme moment. when The
villain has bound the hero in chains, and suspended
him in open window, in order TO MI his abdomen
with bullets from revolving cannon. and when the
fanatic Is wildly turning the wheel which Will &C.
oompsh that fatal purpose. Afshans capture the
fortress. the expeditions heroine instantaneousiy
releases her lover and the artillery is discharged
into space Much agonzed suspense IL thus relieved.
and at the same time the public ear is comforted
with such a tremendous burst Of noise as ought
TO make the fortune OF any manager in America
The responsive populace roared with joy at this
point. and called forth in succession the principal
ectcrs the manager, Mr. Augustus Pitou (who was
very cordially and d=servedy applaudedl. and ne
author who delivered speech OF thanks TO all per-
concerned in the presentment of his drama
This piece will probably please the thoughtless
multitude, for whom specifically Il has been pre-
pared. II deals with coarse types. whether OF love-
hate. vaior or cowirdice. and with preposterous
Incidents and its wild and wl.rling nonsense s
diversified with such traits Of humor a. may be de-
rived from tn" presence or tpsy ana lcGutclegs
Irishwoman. a monkey upon a string. and parrot
in a cage. The audience seemed intensely 10 enjoy
the assurance that between The little brOwa
lug" and the little brown lag there il really no
,iis,lnction. The acting Of Mr. Ralph Delmore. a.
the villain. is particularly CONNIE ldeble for a sin.
cere stimulation Of almost every vile quality pos
aged a difficult situation. that OF the Afghan spy
who trains the cannon upon his enemy.-with excel
lent discretion and he go, through eXcruciatiny
harangue in most effective vein OF crazed en-
thusiasm
The cost which Is amended viii show the compost
ton OF the company that has launched NJ. Arthufs
lurtd melodra anna upon is suspicious career.