Evening star., 1896-12-01
AMUsEMENTs, A

ambition Is pecuniary profit. This is the
first essential-the cornerstone in the struc-
ture of success. But there are several di-
rectors of dramatic enterprises in this
country who go further and aim at the
development Of the stage as an American
institution who seem anxious to preserve
something of the literary traditions which
spangles. pink fieshings and inane ditties
seem bent on wholly dispensing from the
play house. One Of these managers Is Mr..
Charles Frohman. Liberty Hail." last
nights attraction, is play which delights
through its lack of effort. There are no
shocks Of surprise nor ungoverned ebullf-
tions OF fun. Yet 1t Is full of warm SYM
pathy and delicate humor. 1t is pleasing.
because the people OF the play seem real
They are, indeed people of a more highly
organized type than we are accustomed to
meet in every day life. But they seem pos
sible and the auditor is impressed with a
reassuring feeling that, despite the assur-
ances of the editorial cynic and that even
more consistent misanthrope, the police re-
porter, there are very nice people in the
world. There is an off-hand allusion to
Dickens in the conversation Of the piece.
which is well timed. The atmosphere is
that of the famous novelist, and the
touches of caricature which bring out the
humor qualities that it is desired to en-
phasize seem to be borrowed directly from
the pei which pictured a Capn Cutie. 1t
is worth while to have made the acquaint-
ance of Todman, the gentle, unworldly
bookseller.
Several familiar friends appear among
the characters. There is the proud young
woman. who is to lose her home because
of a will which neglects to provide for her.
There is also the beneficiary, who desires
her to keep the property, and who turns up
TO do his wooing incognito, so that when
the curtain descends on the last act the
audience shall not be oppressed with the
suspicion that the lady married him for
his title or money. And there are the
humble relation who welcomes the reduced
young woman and her sister to his abode
and the heartless landlord. who threatens
to take possession of the abode by virtue
of a mortgage and the servant who DOM
ineers the household and one or two other
stanch acquaiEtances. But old friends are
best. until they presume on their familiar
ity to become tedious in their converse
tion And this the people in Liberty Hall
never do. One of the best bits Of acting
was that Of Mr.. Gottschalk, as the intense
ly juvenile and quite harmless person. VINO
spent every minute he could divert from his
duty i'll staring at the girl whom years
of seniority could not prevent his loving
The role of Miss ChilYorth the dispossess-
ed heiress, was played. perhaps. oVer-con-
scientiously, by Miss Viola Allen. 1t may
be a desire to leave nothing undone that
has caused her to sacrifice the effect of un-
studied ease which Is so desirable. 1T 1s
something of shock to see Mr.. William
Faversham metamorphcsed from the IRE
to be on the stage, to the utterly good
young man whom he portrays In Liberty
Hall" 1t is not until the curtain fails that
one familiar with his work is fully con-
WINGED that he Is not going to perpetrate
some unexpected and monstrouS villainy and
gloat over it. just for the sake of old times.
Miss May Robson was grewsomely falth1ul
to nature in her portrayal of the tyran-
MICA, maid OF all work, and Ida Conquest
and Robert Edeson played the juvenile
roles In an emiI emily agreeable manner
Columbia Theater.-It is a difficult thing
to speak seriously of "A Florida Enchant-
ment," MIR. A. c. Gunter's dramatization
Of his book Of that title. that was seen Tor
the first time in this city at the Columbia
Iheater last night. The piece opens with
good bit of comedy, In which Miss Marie
Jansen, in the part Of Lillian Travers.
proves herself far more accomplished
actress in legitimate work than those who
had seen ner in comic opera believed her
capable Of HerEjealousy of her tickle lover.
her interview with him when she forgtves
him for the sake of some beautiful flowers
which he brings her. and then her return
ing doubt, as he leaves her. ostensibly to
visit a patient, but in reality to go on
moonlight sail with a fascinating widow,
and her unhappiness and rage when she
tirds out that he has saved the widows
life. are all beautiful bits Of acting that
prove Miss Jansen could shine in light
comedy should she make the effort. Then
comes the change. The desire to become a
man, in order to be freed from the doubt
and jealousy inherent to her sex and to
revenge herself upon the lord of creation
with whom she had just passed through
such an unpleasant experience. is gratified
by the eating of magic seed. and the
transformation is made, altering her voice
manner. thought and action. though she is
still clothed in feminine attire. It's an
awful shock to the audience to see a beau
tiful woman. richly gowned, walking with
a manly stride about the stage to hear her
imitation
the first shock the audience seemed
to accept the changed conditions IN
the spirit cf fun, and laughed and
cidedly risque, with a freedom that showed
either laxity of moral perception or
determination to be willfuly blind to the
double meanings that were apparent in
speech and action. Taken in the light of
the claim of the author, that ut is better
to laugh at improbabilties than to cry at
realities there is a great amount of fun in
the piece, that is furnished by some ex-
tremely clever people. Miss Jansen is of
course, the leading figure, and In all that
she does she is bright, vivacious and at
tractive, but there are other ladies who
con- mand attention. Miss Efle Germon
brings to the part of a spnster aunt the
experience that was mainly gained at Wal
lacks, although Washingtonfans remember
her when she was like piece of Dresden
china and played Aladdin in way that
filled the front row every night Miss Nav
Haines is beautiful young woman. and is
charming Florida flower as Bessie Hor-
ton, and Miss Grace Huntington ably sus-
tains the part Of the widow. OF the male
contingent Dan Collyer as the colored maid
OF Miss Jansen, who is changed into a swell
valet, does the most effective work and
furnishes a good amount of the fun. hut
Clarence Heritage as the doctor. Walsh
Melville as the mayor, and Albert Roberts
as Charley Wilkes, all contributed to the
effectiveness Of the play. The piece is
splendidly mounted, the scenery being re-
markaby rich.
Prof Santelmann is making the orchestra
of the Columbia a feature. Last night Mr..
Jaeger played a flute solo, which was en-
Enthusiastically encored, and in a humorous
composition Of his own, entitled "On the
Cotton Field,' Mr.. Santelmann introduced
negro quartet that sang so effectively
that repetition was demanded
New National Theater-Those who went
last night to see "Pudd' nhead Wilson" ex-
pecting to find that Frank Mayo's death
had robbed the performance of its chief
charm were agreeably disappointed. They
found Mr.. Theodore Hamilton in the try
ing position of filling the place Of a man
who had created one Of the most notable
dramatic characterizations Of the decade
and with whom he must necessarily be
constantly contrasted. They saw him sue
ceed SO well that save in few minor
points he fully equaled his distinguished
predecessor, now dead Mr.. Hamilton has