The evening times., 1897-02-16
NEW THEATER BILLS
~cymbeline. at the columbia.

praised production of Shakespeare's Gym
beline." The paeans OF praise which
preceded it were shown to be entirely
deserved by the magnificent presentation
last night.
Not Sarah Rernhardt or Henry Irving
has ever shown more correct, beautiful,
or elaborate spectacular equipment than
accompanies the action of Miss Mather s
company. Picture after picture of fasci-
mating loveliness, perfect to the detail of
stool, lamp, and fan, was showed the won
dering audience. Sixteen sets of scenery,
each elaborate and yet wonderfully per-
feet and beautiful were flashed upon the
stage. Nothing more magnificent could
be asked, or given if asked.
| Miss Mather's return was not inn
lportant except in the Indebtedness under
which she places the public to her for this
exquisite revival. She was not at her
best, but showed remarkable courage for
a woman who had left a sick bed, after
four days severe illness, TO keep faith
with her patrons.
L. j. Henley was an effective Iachimo, a
part which calls for subtle and sinister
treatment, and with which an actor must
work against any sympathy OF the audience
| william Courtleigh was hands some as
Leonatus Posthumus and gave finished
performance of his role. William Red.
mund as Pisanio, Albert Bruning as
Cioten, III. A. Weaver as BelariUs. Mrs
Thomas Barry as the Queen, William
McVay as Cymbeline, Florence WaIlack. "a
granddaughter OF Lester wallack. as
Helen, and Lynn Pratt as Philario all
gave their parts the distinction deserved.
| M,
and the incidental m Isic was Well executed
| by the house orchestra.
| "The Sporting Duchess" at the
Lafayette
These are bargain days, in the theater as
elsewhere. Not only do we have bargain
matinees, with the prices marked down
from one and fifty to fifty only, but
managers are giving Us casts of actors
| in which five or six have heretofore Leen
| considered worth the price of admission in
himself.
1he Sporting Duchess" at the La
fayette this week, is a case in point.
Last night il opened to a large audience of
bargain hunters. They didn't come to hee
the play alone; they came TO see tn e players.
For once the play was not the thing. The
magnet was Rose Coghlan, j II. Stoddard,
Elita Proctor Otis, Cora Tanner, Louis
| Massen and Harry Lacey. backed up by
a string OF racers and several carloads OF
scenery" all on one stage for one price.
The play, on its own merits, is a fair eX-
ample of the English importation of mel
odrama. 1t seemed crisp and convincing
in the days OF Lights OF London, - "The
World and Her Atonemcnt;'' now it is
only made acceptable by the injection OF
scenery and supcranumeraries and the
proppings OF n great cast, so that not for
its own sake but its bigness is it a success.
The players entered into their work with
better results than attend most allstar ag-
gregations, and the "carlodds OF scenery
is no idle boast. 1t is staged like melo-
drama. costumed like comic opera, cast
like an ambitious new offering OF Sardou
or Howard, and il is played as well as such
talent can.
Rose Coghlan is still in the hey-day Of her
mature powers. and she displays force and
fascination as the Duchess. ]. Ii. Stod-
dard lends his Illuminating art to the char
acteT part of the trainer, which necessa arily
stands forth a gem. Elita Proctor Otis,
Cora Tanner, X. A. Roberts, Harry Lacy,
Louis Massen and thirty-five others, not
to mention the equine actors, complete a
melodramatic cast, which we have not seen
eqUalled-
"Gay Coney Island" at the National.
Matthews and Bulger are clever come
diaDs Of the Peter Daley and William Hoey
farce-comedy school. They made their
first bow to polite society at the Ma
tional last night, in AT Gay Coney Island
The show is like others of its kind in pre-
senting good, light diversion for an even
ing 1t has the added charm OF some fun
of a quality, which all contributions TO
this class of entertainment recently has
not possessed.
The two gentlemen who lead the revels
are Mr. Matthews and Mr.. Bulger, as DR..
Aiken Payne and Hi Price, respectively.
In their support are several excellent
comedians, notably Tony Hart, Jr., and
Alex Brown, and the bevy of pretty girls
appeals TO all, who are susceptible to
feminine charms.
ihe author of the piece has taken lib
critics similar to Mr.. Hoyt, in the way OF
nomenclature The cast reveals the pres
ence of Matte Ney, May Wynne, Ida Claire,
Ann Teek, NJ 7. Sells, Noyse E. Barker
"rriIby" at the Grand.
The company that presents "TriIby"
at the Grand this week is one that made
the triumphant Australian trip. 1t is under
the management OF Messrs Palmer 4
Brady, and these gentlemen have re-
cruited their players with care, and as a
result the production is one of enjoyable
excellence.
Miss Edythe h as near anideal Trilby as
any others who have undertaken this role.
She is a pretty woman, endowed with an
expressive voice and graceful figure, and
she acts with exceptional intelligence. In
the buoyant gaiety Of the earlier scenes
as well as in the more emotional portion
when she later comes under the hypnotic
influence of Svengali, she is equally potent
to move her audience.
There was much interest in the Svengal
of Mr.. Reuben Fax. 1t was O consci-
entious character study of a part for
which Mr.. Lackaye has made a popular
and powerful precedent. Its best points
were those in which it most nearly re-
sembled Mr.. Lackaye's hypnotist George
Trader was a fair Zou-Zou, and E. W.
Morrison showed remarkable senstiveneSs
in his performance of Geeko. 1t was a
revelation of the tenderness which Du-
Maurier has put into the part.
"East Lynne" at the Academy.
East Lynne" with Eugene Blair and
Edwin Ferry in the leading roles, was
the attraction at the Academy last night,
and from the frequent bursts of applause
during the course of the play, the large