The herald., 1897-09-28
: AT THE THEATERs


sensational effects and incidents in
which CORY crime and true love were al
ways mixed In with comic Irishmen
Dutchmen and African darkeys. the au-
diences at this house are now to be
treated to an entire change in the bill Of
fare. Manager Pearson has engaged
fresh stock company known as the
Broadway Thealter company, and, for
the opening Of the season last night pre-
sented Bronson Howard's well known
domestic drama, Young Mrs. Win
throp." While this is a work with the
fireside affections employed as the lead
ing motive. 1t does not concern itself with
low life in any department. 1t is dis
tinctly dress coat drama and belongs
to a school that has enjoyed great pop
ularity
In comparing 1t, however, with plays
OF later date one Is instantly struck with
the difference in the literary style from
that which Is now in vogue. The char
acters in Young Mrs. Winthrop" espe-
cially the husband and wife, talk for the
most part in carefully constructed SEN
tences such as one finds in an old fash
ioned novel, say Of Bulwer Lytton or of
DisraeN. They preach to one another
and use copybook sentences. The only
naturally drawn characters are the
dashing, much-married type Of the d.
vorce court school and the blind girl,
Edith. The old lawyer. Buxton Scott, is
SO broadly drawn that he is carica ture
and last night he was very shaky in his
legal jargon when he was reading the
deed of separation. 1t would pay to give
more attention to the detail Of this
scene.
The school Of today, under the infiu-
ence Of writers such as Ibsen, requires
truth in the dialogue, and the conversa-
ton must be framed more nearly in ac-
cordance with what would actually oc-
cur in similar circumstances of life. The
difficulty which confronts the actor Is
consequently no small one, when he is
called upon to be natural in the garb of
today. while he is speaking speeches Of
didactic quality which belong to a. time
that Is past, even IL not remotely so.
All told, there Is, in spite of the die
ton, strong, yet tender, human inter-
est in the typical story so we'll related
and the reunion Of the two lives that
were about to travel forever on divided
paths is made affecting, and exercises
an influence that cannot but be really
beneficent. seeing that it demonstrates
how easily Misunderstanding arise,
what a slight foundation there may be
for the reports circulated by slanderous
tongues, and how mutual forbearance
and consideration are necessary in the
settlement of marital difficulties
OF the acting Of the piece, 1T may be
said that, taken as a whole, 1t was sur
ve.;v
the occasion. Sarah Truax in the lead
ing role showed the possession of trained
Intelligence and emotional power. She
plays with refinement and, it might be
added, with grace, If certain unbend-
ing stiffness Of carriage did not detract
in a measure from the effect of the pic
ture. She Is undoubtedly the principal
person in the cast and she shows indica-
tions of reserve power which, when de-
veloped, may some day secure her high
position on the stage.
The leading man, Charles Halleck, was
not as sa tisfactory. While he is of pleas
ing personality, he is at present too cold
and undemonstrative in his work. He
presents in this character 10 appearance
of a man engaged in active business
life, and though his bearing is gentle
manly, he is not to any extent convinc-
ing as the husband in the case should
be. Mr.. Blakemore as the lawyer makes
a good character sketch, rather colorleSs
in the earlier part of the play, but i'm
proving greatly in the last act. Helen
Henry as Edith, the blind girl was SIM
pie and pathetic, with nothing overdone,
in part that affords much temptation
for exaggeration. Her lover, Guy Post,
was all there, and enjoyed the sympa-
thies of the audience as he ultimately
did those of Miss Edith. Nan Mifflin
made an agreeable rattle out of the fat
lines Of Mrs. Dicks part and captured
the house with great ease.
The Burbank management has out
done itself in the stage setting, which is
both tasteful and appropriate.
The play goes for the rest of the week.
1t really looks as if Manager Pearson
would have no cause to regret the loss
of the Frawley company which was
booked at his theater and then fell down.
The new company is quite up to the av-
erage of anything done here by the
Frawleys.
ORPHEUM.-To say that the new
Dill IS Iully up 10 tHlS ItOuSe HlS0 stan
dard is significant praise. There were
very few dull moments in last nights
performance and such were speedily re-
deemed by bright business that inter
vened. The vagaries of the orchestra
handicapped a couple Of the new turns,
but this fault should be easily rem aded
tonight
Stanley Whiting, who is the only
holdiover. except Leola Mitchell, this
week, started the program, and his rag
time" music, his characteristic imper-
sonation of the colored gentry. and the
assistance Of the genuine article, proved
once more exceedingly popular.
The skill of Provo. a juggler, who
made his debut on the American stage
last night, is really prodigious. Among
other clever tricks he converts himself
into a pool table and makes bottles and
plates career in fantastic courses.
Leola Mitchell, who is as cute as she is
tiny, has trio Of new songs, and sings
lot ,v,Ia af.aIx