The morning times., 1896-04-02
IN THE LAST WORD"
Ada Rehun Gives Charming Pre-
sentatian of The Clever Play.

Ada Rclian and the Daily Company last
night at the Lafayette Square Opera House
presented THE Last " ord 1t is the
misfortune Of those not present last night
and Here was an audience entirely cut
OF proportion 10 tue play, that they Rave.
missed one al the most interesting dramas
OF the DAILY repertoire.
Countess GuckT' was a ;rifle. Though
artisTicaHy constructed 1t was mere
sketch. The Last Word is a finished
drama OF breadth and depth finished
picture. 1t is unusual 10 fInd thes' play
erS in modern dress but their versatility
CompaSSes all periods.
Tue play has a plot. Not an artificial
construction, bat well balanced frame
hidden under The cXternalS OF tbe develop
mcnt. Tie process OF evolution Is peculiar
and significant. After winning sympathy
and stimulating interest the dramdtISI sud
denly disciOseS to the absorbed auditor
that he is following an Old story. Tne
discovery brings no resentment. Not a
particle. The inception Was so clever,
the process so consuming that II is readily
forgiven.
The story is. in short, OF father who
weighed and measured by justice, never
by mercy and sympathy, ana he finds
himself measured by the same standard.
Learning this lesson was n bitter ordeal
but the trial by fire was effIcaciouS and
there came of it all n moral worth point
ing Don't interfere with the course OF
true love.
There are three sets OF lovers The daugh-
ter and son or u cabinet member. who are
i'll love with an attachc OF the Russian lega-
tion and his sister. The cabinet member S
neice and comic fop are the third pair
Ada Rehan was again widow. Widows
are becoming her penchant. Last night
she was the beautiful Russian OF the family
Of sCbemers and plotters. She was in her
element waVerin.s bet ween delightful high
comedy and j natural seriousness in d couple
of effective scenes. Handsome Charles Rich
man was the mariLof her fasC1natIons. The
son of the American diplun.atist was sup
posed to he a man without emotion, Who
found woman S entrance into man affairs
only the prophecy ef ruin.
Vera the Russian, takes the greatest de-
light in brea king down this prejudice, for II
walls in a warm heart that d0cSn t know
itself. She is confident, for, as she says,
"A woman can 90 almost anything WIN a
man. unless tnerei iSanother woman. There
is a fine comedy scene wherein she di sCoverS
his love to himself, and again when she
teaches him the justification of his sister
apparently illadyised art in leaving severe
father to marry her true love. Miss Rcllan
has another scene at the END OF the third
act, where she pleads with the secretary
through the beautiful smile OF the baby
brother, who died with his cherished bauble
in his hand.
Mr.. RiChman realized on his opportunities
for high comedy in his scenes with Miss
Rehan bat ne showed n fine emotional in
Stiuct in the scene with the father, in which
is spoken the last word. All prominence
given tbisspiendidp player willbe appreciated
by his audiences. Re is a favCuite with
every one who sees him.
George Clarke, as the Secretary, proved
his ART III wihRiag Sympat thy for a naturally
upsyrupathetic character. Affecting con-
trast 10 this just father was found In his
brother, the dear old simple Professor,
so ably portrayed by MIR. Yarrey. He
loves his Ckiid without a sense of justice
and his heart is full OF Joy in the happiness
of his girl. Every one found n PERSONAL
pleasure in the effective manner in which
his spooning children tricked aud eVadcd
him, treating him, as lie said, Not as d
father-in-laW, but as a mother-inlaw.' -
James Lewis was amusing in q drOll,
fopplSh youth who made a hotel of his
heart, but treated his guests We'll while
they were there.
No one can sit through this play without
conscious enjoyment or leave 1t witt out
feeling refreshed by an Interesting, stimu-
lating, fresh and clever story. 1t is too
bad that there is not opportunity for It's
repetition later in the Week.
Of the play and the Fipdication OF the
pla yerS was the last act. The story is
finished at the end of the third act save
for few trifles which are guessed easily
The father whose SternnesS drove his child
away receives her again. There is the
end. But il does not break the int crest
of t2e audience In the people into whose
life = glimpse has been given. That is
q test of the mettle of a play.
Tonight q double bill OF attractive
quality will be given. The first play Is
to be Mrs. Crowley's Bellies StratageTn,
and dtheOther Tobms" Honeymoon Neither
make them entirely familiar with stu
dents and lovers OF the Old comedies and
the performance viii be a privilege and a
DlpaSure.