The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-17

The Richard ILL.," of Shakespeare
was a bad man, of that there is no
reasonable doubt, but 1t is a matter
open to at least a reasonable doubt If
he intended him to be the kind of bad
man and worse king that John Griffith
presented last night before II rather
small audience in the Academy of
Music. Mr. Griffith possesses an ar
dent temperament and Il love of color:
this was manifest no less in his char
acteiiZation of Richard than in the
costuming and scenery.
But with all the variety of coloring
in n'stuming, scenery and acting, the
best that can he said of Mr.. Grffith's
Richard is that it is picturesque. An
unsatisfactory character at best. even
when essayed by such an artist as lrv-
ing, the fact that Mr. Griffith gives us
as good Richard as he does Is no
small tribute to his ability. HE de-
sire to give new creation of the role
has probably induced him to introduce
some rather wide departures from the
usual stage Richard, but 1t cannot be
said that these departures have been
a distinct improvement on the method
of the tragedians who have heretofore
essayed Richard. Time will work
great change no doubt in Mr.. Griflith's
Characterization. He possesses good
voice, graceful delivery and COM
handing figure and with the mellow
ing influence of time his art will un-
doubtedly improve.
His supporting company contains sew
eral actors of considerable ability,
among them Eugene Moore, Charles
Peters, Anna Boyle Moore and Celia
Francis. The staging was the best
that Richard H." has ever received
in this city.
One of the longest and best shows of
it's kind that Manager Davis has given
to his patrons is Sam 7. Jacks new
Creole company which played to large
audiences at the Linden street the
ater yesterday afternoon and last eve
ming. There are twenty-three MEM
bers i'm the company, all black and
about equally divided, male and fe-
males The show is on the "Octoroon"
order, opening with H. Nj. S. Pinafore
in ten minutes" and closing with a
great buck dancing contest. This last
feature Is very entertaining. Anyone
who likes dancing must see those
twelve or fifteen colOred people ham,
mer the stage with their feet. Thrown
in all along the line are the popular
negro songs of the day, and the show
has real live negro magician who
smashcs your finger rings for you; then
gives them back with bouquets at
tached. There is a scene in a Turkish
harem, Hyppolite plays selections from
operas on common glass tumblers and
Mile Cordelia and Billy McLain do
some burlesqueing. May Bohee sings
very nicely. The Creoles will be at
Davis for tonight and tomorrow night
with matnees.
No comedy now on the road has seen
more genuine success than "A Pair Of
Jacks" by II. Gattan DOnnelly, which
comes to the Frothingham this eve
ming. The piece is full of fun, fast and
furious and coupled with strong cast,
beautiful girls and good music. an eve
ming of great satisfaction is promised
We are told that in "Superba," which
opens for two nights at the Froth-
ingham tomorrow evening the famous
and world known Hanlon Brothers
mammoth creation, that we will find
an edition de lux. 'Superba" was orig
inally intended to be pantomime. in
which the silent clown with gesture
and facial contortiOn graphically de-
scribes his wants. and by dumb show
performs many amusing feats. All the
old scenery has been discarded and
new and more elaborate has replaced
it-majestic baronial halls, mountains
detileS. sublime passes on lofty rocks
oriental interiors that would grace II
'Sutan's Harem, and glmpses into
marvellous fairy land are each to the
other transformed. The whole is ce-
mented together with score or more
of very pretty girls, beautifully formed
and costumed in the latest and most
novel manner The balets that these
dancers give are compositions of merit
Some are exact reproductions from the
latest successes of the London Alham-
brd and the New York Olympia, so
that one has only to view 'Superba'
to see all that New York and European
cities are talking about.
the Primrose & West Minstrels COM
pany has visited our city and found
always substantial welcome. Their re-
peated success is owing to the fact
of the united excellence of their or
ganiZatiOn. the artistic merit of each
performer. the refinement of their en-
tertainment. the novelty and pleasing
attractiveness of their introductions,
and. whether vocal or instrumental, the
superiority of their music. Their en-
tertainment this season Is said to be
specially attractive in sweet songs, in
triductions original and entertaining.
The organization of whites and blacks,
headed by Primrose a. West. is said
to be the greatest aggregation ever
gotten together. The company will be