The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-30
CROWDED HOUSE
THE ENSIGN" Proves FraWlGyS'
Greatest Success.
STANDING ROOM AT PREMIUM
Splendid Portrayal of Po-
pu1ar Naval Play.
Arbuckle Scores Hit-FraWIey
and Miss Bates Also
in Line.
STANDING ROOM AT PREMIUM

Ihe Ensign gave the ffaWley Co.
the largest house Honolulu has seen
at the theater this season, and Mr..
Frawley announced between the first
and second acts that, measured by the
cash receipts, the audience was the
best the company had played to since
it's organization. At 1880 the S. r. ..
sign which gladdens every theatrical
managers heart was hung out at the
box office, and many applicants for
seats were turned away. When the
curtain went up every seat was taken,
boxes filled and the available standing
room occupied This is the kind of
patronage that warns the cookies OF
the opera house builders hearts, be-
cause it not only assures the return
of the Frawleys next season, but also
means that other first-class American
companies will be more anxious to
book for week or more in Honolulu.
"The Ensign" is a naval drama,
founded on the Mason and Slidel Incl
dent of the civil war, designed to stir
up all the Yankee patriotism to be
found in the heart of an American.
The story opens with a scheme gotten
up by a renegade American officer who
secured a commission as lieutenant in
the English navy, to delay the U. 5. 5.
San Jacinto, stationed at Havana to
watch for Mason and Slidel. His plan
was to force an alteration by offering
an insult to the fiance of Ensign
Baird of the American war ship. This
would result in a court martial and de-
lay. Midshipman Watson warns Baird
of the plan and he is prepared; but
when Blythe fails in his original plan
he insults the American flag. Baird
knows his duty, resents the insult,
kills the English officer and is SEN
fenced to be hanged to the yard arm.
Coxswain Jack Dudley, an old sailor
whom Baird had saved from drowning,
sought to save his friends life by
stating that he did the killing, but
Baird refuses to allow the sacrifice and
admits what the court martial con-
sidered a crime. Lieutenant Allen,
thoroughbred English officer who re-
fused to be party to his brother Of
ficer's miserable plot, seeks to aid
Baird to escape, has him chloroformed
and taken from the ship. Baird recov-
ers from the influence of the drug and
returns to the ship at the time set for
his death. Honor as an officer and
gentleman are more to him than life.
AS officers and men prepare to carry
out the sentence of the court, and just
as the moose is being slipped over the
head of the Ensign, a pardon from
President Lincoln is received, and
thereby the honor of the officer and
the navy is saved from the impending
blot.
Strong dramatic situations follow
most delicious bits of comedy; as hand
kerchiefs begin to appear among the
audience. in comes a streak of comedy
that brings out roars of laughter
T. Daniel Frawley played the part
of Ensign Baird, U. S. N, to perfection,
and it is no reflection upon his pre-
vious work to state that he won more
fame locally in this piece than any
previous appearance has given him.
The people here have had some ex
perience with unfortunate flag Incl
dents, and they could not fail to ap-
prove of the Characterization of the
true American officer who places duty
q - II
all else in life.
The pretty. girlish Alice Greer. who
fought till the last for the life of her
betrothed, was a character to which
Blanche Bates seems particularly well
adapted. As the happy prospective
bride she was bright and vivacious,