New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-03
THE DRAMA.
HOYT'S THEATRE VEOPENED


Mr.. Hoyt opened his theatre last night. for the new
season. with two scenes from BoucicAult's play OF
THE Long Strike" and with adaptation. from the
French. called The Liar" The from Bouci-
caut have long been known and admired. and this
reproduction Of them.-nvoving. il does. the re-
entrance Of that admirable comedian. Mr.. James ~
Stoddart,will refresh the present with one of the
cherished delights Of the past. Mr.. Stoddar
welcomed with the plaudts Of affectonate admlra-
ton by a numerous and sympathetic audience
Record OF his fine performance OF Mr.. Homeopathy
necessarily takes the form Of oft-repeated tribute
The impersonation IS e.oquenty expressive not only
Of consummate dramatic faculty. but of the rich
resources of personal character. Mr.. Moneypenny
is confirmed old bachelor ou;waTdly rugged and
crusty. inwardly tender and ACKNOWLEDGMENT man
Dickens loved 10 celebrate and often drew Both as
poets Of his personality indicated ~ the dTamatis
in two scenes Of exquisite simplicity and likewise Of
remarkable invention. Bouclcault based his play
of The Long Strike" a novel by Mrs. Gaskell
but in the famous telegraph expedient he supplied
dramatic effect which he did not find in his
/ original. and which was worthy OF a master Of
the dramatic art. Mr.. Stoddart's sympathy with
the ideal OF Moneypenny is profound and perfect
and nothing could be more felicous than his spon-
taneous expression Of IT, Dramatic illusion IS ere
ated by artifce. but OF course it depends on truth
The actor must himself into the fictitious
image. and thus sodify and animate the thought
OF the dramatist An actor of poor and mean
nature could do nothing with such a part as
Moneypenny. but would go to pieces in 1t. Mr.
Stoddart makes his auditors feel that this irss-
chile kindly old lawyer has had his three-scorc
illusion is as complete As II Is delightful The
brisk humor. the determination toward comfortable
Incidence, the growing impa ience, the haf-irrtabe
able neco ssltv and then the fu awakening OF SYM
PATTY, energy ana Will. together with the all-per-
Vaiing humorous cccenricty which Is the fragrance
OF character-all these attributes crysaized. by
T..
Al! persons who study dramatic mechanism ana who
really value acting ought 10 see this performance.
both because the scenes illustrate the dramatic as
Disseminated from the Literary method while the I'M
ersonaiion Is Of entire and satisfying beauty;
Miss Mary Hampton gave importance to the sngnt
old Moneypenny's aid TO save the life OF her limo
cent lover. There was much sensibiiy in MISS
tone OF true pathos and denotement of dramatic
force. The cast should be preserved:
MoneyPenny Mar ~ Hampton
Slack Francis Nelson
Mr. Russell oscar fgTan
Miller Ebert
The Predetermined three-ac farce of The Liar"
which followed This Episode. may possess some merit
du in the diffuse and poness English Of Mr. Clyde
fcn an Nor, u a FTz Wams who bore the
chief burden and whose vlvacity and quaininess are
has been displayed by many dramatisis from SHAKE.
speare onward. but.-as In Foote's Lar, usually
in association with vertabe character ana with some
attempt at the pOrtraitur~ Of manners. Even the
fragile play Of Brass" by the late George Fawcett
Rowe had structural strength and something Ike a
purpose In Mr.. BisSCn's piece. rehashed by MI
Fitch the persons are proetarians me incidents are
Ter Bravo played by Mr.. Williams, vaunts his
prowess the heroic preserver Of countless human
lives in order 10 win a girls love. and thereupon ne
is initiated by his rival and various grossly eXaeser-
ated and foolish situations ensue. all OF iDem forced
and no one of them funny The mposture is finally
exposed a capital bit Of acting, in the Initiative
sense was contributed by Mr.. w. c. Mason a. a
dirty rogue and thief Miss Annie Clark also-who
was welcomed with exceptional favor,-dgniiod the
occasion by excellent portrayal of sentimental
yet formidable widow. This IS the full cast:
Gu.,av- Rravo Fritz Williams
Georges MSuct W II t@-r
Louis GUcrinOi 'flr7 sum
Mons. Iasture 49,
Canard w g. Mas u
Philippe iancls Neliri
Nine caroline Isabel rrquhart
EosAlie 'N'