The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-21
THE FRAWLEYS GREAT SUCCESS
Society Plays Produced
by a Good Company.
The Wife and The TWO EsCutCheOnS.
History of the Players To
days Attractions

Thanks to the foresight or waiter
NJ. Giffard, Secretary of w. G. Irwin
& Co., and Mr.. Twins representative
in matters pertaining to the theatre,
the professional opening of the New
Hawaiian Opera House by the Frawley
Company on Tuesday night was, if
possible, a greater social success than
the opening by the amateurs ten days
previous.
And in the performance, the audi
ence. which filled every available pit
of space in the building, received a
treat that will be remembered for years
TO come.
This may not be the case with those
who attend performances merely for
amusement and who seldom get value
received unless there is an exhibition
of high kicking by black hosed SOU
brettes in abbreviated skirts. But for
the lover of the drama, for those peo-
pie who yearn for scenic exposition,
there was in the play of ''The Wife"
as performed by the Frawley Company
a full measure of entertainment.
All Honolulu had been worked up
TO a state of expectancy bordering on
collapse in anticipation of the event
and those who had not seen the Fraw-
ley Company in the United States had
heard of them, and resolved to see them
here and it is safe to say that not one
in the vast audience was disappointed,
for in this company of talented ar
lists is found the brightest of stars
in the American theatrical armament.
And even though they were at a disad
vantage from having scarcely recovered
from a rough and long sea voyage and
without the opportunities for re-
hearsal in a house that was entirely
new to them, their playing was so
nearly perfect as to put the critics to
retreat. They are ladies and gentle
men who rotate in a social sphere
above the average player. They are
graduates of an art which calls upon
them to depict in one play characters
in society which draw upon the mag
ination of the player for that which,
were they not equal intellectually to
those people in real life their task
would be an impossibility. They are
faithful opponents of an art which,
the cynics Notwithstanding, is by no
means degenerating.
Those people in the United States
who are as faithful in attendance at
theatres as some people are to their
devOtions compare the Frawley Com
pany only to that of the celebrated
Augustin DAILY and this opinion is con-
Cured in by the people of Honolulu
who have seen both.
The public generally has not been
informed as to Mr.. Frawley's position
IN the company, and consequently the
roles assigned him in the two plays
presented were in the nature of a dis
appointment Mr.. Frawley does not pose
as a great actor; he has, however, re-
SpOnsibilities quite as great in the man
agement of the stage, and the magnifi-
cent settings noticed at the Opera
House this week are from his master
hand The posing of the players in the
situations during the plays are in the
main directed by Mr.. Frawley; his bust
ness is not merely the studying of
one part. but in all, and in seeing that
the rehearsals are attended and the
plays produced. Without Mr.. Fraw-
ley's attention to all the details of the
production the Honolulu public would
not have had the pleasure of witness
ing such capital performances. The
whole world knows of Augustin Days
company. vet where is the man who
ever saw him play part where there
was as many as five lines to be repeat
ed. Daily is not equal to the task, but
his like as stage manager cannot
be found In the opinion of many he
surpasses Henry Irving, who has been
characterized by some critics to be
1.-The worst actor but the best stage
manager living" Mr.. Frawley's posi-
ton is, in measure, similar to that of
Mr.. DAILY. except that the former acts
at times.
The F'rawleys have been seen here
twice in plays so directly opposite In
character as to furnish ample oppor-
tunity to pass judgment upon their
acting. The same fashionable aud
fence that greeted them on Tuesday was
present Thursday night and from the
applause bestowed there is no question