The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-12-01
THE PLAY and THE PLAYER
HELD BY THE ENEMY AND WAR
PLAYS IN GENERAL.
Brilliant Scenic Effects at the Theater
Last Night-Powerful Acting by
the Frawley Company.

ular. Shakespeare wrote several war
plays. notably Henry V, which is sus-
ceptlble of spectacular treatment. and
realistic military effects, and which |
remember Charles kean giving at the
Princess Theater, | will not say how
many years ago, but remember there
was plenty of firing at the siege OF
Harfieur and the 'alarums and excur-
sions" were very realistically done. all
ending with the glory of the English
troops, the flight of the French. and
| enter Henry on white horse. Up 10
the fifties, according to theatrical an
nails, the wars of the early part of the
century furnished material for plays
of this sort, and even | have a remem-
brance of magnificent battles fougat
at the old Saddlers Wells. where the
battle of Waterloo was given with
great eclat. Later the Crmean war
supplied similar material, and at the
present day playwrights have taken
| the Soudan and MaShona land. The
| French stage has scores, perhaps hun
| dreds of plays of similar character.
only the English run, and the French
are victorious. And so the class of en-
| tertainment will be found in every ma
tional theater, even the Chinese and
the Japanese. | imagine. though can
not say | know much about the Orient.
| once sat through an evening at the
Chinese theater, but did not get well
into the story; it was only the first
week of the Prologue, and the main
action did not come on till month
or SO later.
But the plays above alluded to are
comparatively easy of constructions
hi ln Al ,f T,..t
States are not. In the European
play, you are safe of touching your
audience if you abuse and belittle the
enemy. In war plays such as Shenan-
doah, and Held by the Enemy, the
susceptibilites of both sides have TO
be considered, and the work has 10
be OF very delicate character That
success follows the effort speaks very
mighty for the skill of the writer.
Held by the Enemy gave good OPP
portunity to u number of the MEM
Ders of the Frawley Company. AS n
play | regard it as superior to Shen-
andoah, the lines being brighter ana
the character drawing more clearly
cut.
The honors of the piece last night
may be fairly divided between Frank
| Worthing and Wilson Enos. The for
mer's Colonel Prescott was good
picture of a dashing soldier. whose
love of country and honor, even un-
der the strongest temptation surpass-
eS the love of woman. Rachel
(Blapche Bates) puts the colonel TO
a terrible test when she promises her
hand and heart if he will connve at
the prisoners escape. He loves the
girl. He knows she loves him. The
prisoner is the only obstacle between
them; if lie will only let the man es-
cape during the hurry and confusion
of the bombardment, the dearest OBJ
iect of his life will be gained. But he
is firm. The scene occurs at the end
of the third act, which throughout is
bustling and realistic, and the man
agement deserves great praise for the
manner in which, the scenic effects
were produced, especially the explo-
sion which blew open the door of the
prison home.
In the court martial scene in the
second act came Wilson Enos' oppor-
tunity. His by-play as he sits listen
ing to the evidence against him was
excellent, and when to save Colonel
Prescott from an unjust charge made
by Rachel, the Confederate lieutenant
rises and confesses that the incrimi-
mating papers are his, that he has
fought and will glory in death for
his cause, Mr.. Enos rose to real trag-
ic power, and won a deserved double
recall. The comic element was fur
nished by scenes between Bean (H. d.
Blakemore), a special correspondent,
and Susan McCreary Eleanor Rob-
SOM. In this Mr.. Blakemore did cap
ital work, and proved himself good
light comedian. AS for Miss Robson
she was charming, and as cute and
lively as such part calls for. There
can be no doubt now about the young
lady's talent, it is the most important
part that she has played and she prov
ed herself quite equal to the task.
like her young fresh voice, her pretty
actions and her air of youthfulness.
Phosa McAllister's Euphemia Me
Creery was a thoroughly satisfactory
presentation of self assertive, deter
mined lady of the old secession school
With all her crotchets she never lost
her dignity In such parts Miss Ne
Allister does excellent work, and she
shows herself very able actress
Work of this kind adds wonderfully e
the success of play. Frederick Per
nv showed himself good actor II
the double parts of Judge Advocate
and Brigade Surgeon. The fourth ae'
: in which he suspects that the pris
oner is not dead, but going to Dt
passed through the lines, depended
largely upon his acting for its sue
cess. The minor parts were all wei
filed. Herbert Carr was a handsome
general. Harry Corson Clarke goot
Uncle Rufus.
am looking forward with mucl
interest to the Social Iiighwayman. |
is the best OF the Frawley repertoire
and is full of brilliant and witty dia
logue, depending upon that, and no
scenic display. II will be pleasan
evening for
) THE OLD PLAY GOER.
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