The sun., 1897-09-09
THINGS AT THE THEATRE.
"LN T0WN'Sn VIEW EIHIBITION OF
LONDON GAIETY GIRLS.
A Display or beauty in skirts and without
Tho Hind OF Fan That Mathews ana
BulEer Put Into "At Cay Coney Island"
MIR, Mckee Rnnkin,s stock Company.

Is seen first. Then comes Minnie Hunt, leaving
Julctte Nesvtllo Maude Hobson, Florence
Lloyd, and other remembered figures for latcr
disclosures. Miss Lloyd appears as boy. That
raisos the first doubt as TO the manner in which
tho rest OF tho bevy will DO introduced, 30
their sudden appearance in q group Is q das'
cling surprise. These are. indeed, 1nc.looking
lot OF girls. Their gowns arc beautiful. In
bearing and appearance these actresses COM
bine Just tho proportions of distinction and
namboyance that make up the ideal Gnlety
siren They made little or no pretence at aot-
ing. They simply walked about and smiled.
They have not been in this country much. but
they already have friends in 'front.'" or at least
pretend to- They smilo and bow in every direo-
tion, and for that matter. SO do the principals.
But Miss Nesville and Miss Hobson have been
hero before, and SO has Miss Studholme. The
first act Of the play takes place In achotel, and
tho second IN the greenroom Of the Gaiety
Theatre.
Tho contrast between the girls IN these two
scenes is surprising. SO much praise has been
given to the London chorus girls for their
looks In skirts that 1t may be only just to note
that In tights the average Casino exhibit IL her
superior. But nobody has yet given to our
New York productions OF musical FARGO the
atmosphere that London performances got
from the looks of tho Gaiety girls in their smart
toilets. Relieved OF skirts, however, and en-
ce.ed in silk heshings, the New. York creature
9, mems roles arc sivoq Sy FIorense LLOYD and
some aristocrat of the conventional type, and
she wears her masculine clothes with delight
| full realism. Miss Romano plays an entirely
! ditforcnt kind OF boy, and she does 1t admir-.
| ably. although the part Is extended to UNIT
that he so4a not saM mar es sbs SH m Ss er L.
| boy, dirty, impudent. and sharp, and she acts
| with Us much humor AS man could put Into
It. That Is commitment to any woman who
| undertakes such a strongly marked character
| The burden OF the comedians. work falls on
Louis Bradneld. There is nobody else in tho
| company who helps him out unless it be tho
aFes With to H' Mr. i
! Is an lndefatigable worker. Not point Is
.sso and @ Tsn 4 To Is aG
initiates : serenrds Sieases She sgdienss Ss wslI
'TSo a' 'Artists Model were provided With sew:
eral comedians apiece. In Town has only
usual fact in this play is tho ebscnce Of the
customar, amount of dancing. One brief DANCE
! by Miss BOote andy Mr.. Bradhcld Il breathiess!y
active. 1t has to be done ssyeEM times before
the spectators are. satisfied. The only other
dancers are three girls In black gowns and poke
0oRs that oos sH'Fs Fsso@ 'PS they
| throw aside the pions manner and deliver them
| selves OF skirt dance with no restraint. The
allowance OF dancing Is considerably less than
| that TO which Ga!ety companies have accus-
| toned U.s. What there IS OF il Is charInngly
| done.
Confusion" which Is probably not much
more than ten years old, although it seems half
century behind the day, was acted at tho
Murray Hill Theatre on Monday the first
| performance Of tho weeks bill. Tho expert
mcnt at tho Murray Hill has attracted the IA
vu-able attention Of many persons interested In
! tha theatre A stock company with a weekly
change OF play has not been seen here IN q long
time, although the present condition OF affairs
bas led this old plan TO be revived in many
cities OF the country. The first appearance OF
Mckee Raukins company at the Murray Hill
showed IL to be q thoroughly well trained. ser
vtceabls organization that contained a num-
Der OF very interesting actors. II 1t should con-
ttnue to present standard plays at popular
prices as well as 1t did tho piece IN which tho
company was first seem there is every reason
to believe that It viii be an ENJOYABLE ins..-
tuition. whether it Is profitable one or not.
1hs Sa1 Is T
But Confusion" was little disconcerting.
Mckee RsPtn R ~ IN CO Bs tbss
tors were nearly as uncertain on Monday after.
noon; One pla! week l. = hard task and II II
as Mckee Rankin does throughout the play.
elementary requirements of the actors bust.
ness. 1t would seem that no end OF inteilt-
| gerCo talent could compensate Tor an Ign o.
rance of what tho characters were call"drpon to
say when they were questioned by the Others
In the play; No repose, would be sut'ic!ent, to
under those circumstances. To clear Ouo'-
throat bluster, and cough may be some sort OF
substitute, as stSnitcance may be attached 10
any OF these actions. But tho spectators who
only see, the play once. would rather heGi
by Mr.. Rankin throughout tho performance
may have been eloquent, but they were not ex
John F. Cook, who was for several years a
well-known amateur here, and supported, with
coTad and E1ers S sAJ 5aasen endo a
weight OF many amateur reductions, made d
prolessionsl debut Tish R,.n The Murray Hi, com
Of Of anish and repose and most Of his work @ wa.
Distinguished By an authority that even som,
has refinement and easn, and he proved hi
right to place among actors q =, as CA capable a.
! speak his soliloquies to the audience as direct
. ly as he docs now, and certain pec'iliarities o
fncial expression VII also disappes,r m nr,r EeI
, Ammo Leonard, who was altogether charming
! and capable, were the most notable OF the regu
lar players
: Mathews and Bulger arc two entertainer
, who long ago won tho distinction OF having thei
names printed in play bills that the one coul'
be distinguished from the other. Last winte
they contributed to a music hall extravaganza
ninetenths OF Its fun, and now they arc at tn
= | Columbus enlvening almost continuously
hodge-podge called AT Gay Coney Island
To each OF this farce's three acts the pair ad
what in length and character is the equivalent q
O specially. and still have left enough OF fros
. foolery to disconcers their companions by sid
sallies, to tickle acquaintances across tn
footlights by remarks in .elligible only to then
;. Most of their fun comes In tho style of din
, log1lc.that prevails with teams" in tho variet
shows. Klondike Ia not richer In nuggets tha
their exchanges arc In tho most exD xDresslye nm tr