The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-29
SOME WOMEN OF THE PLAY.
a CLUSTER OF BEAUTIES IN THE
COMPANY At THE LICEUM.

Jhiie OPP In New Association with Mary MAN
nerinE-Adn nehRn Renppearu In broken
HenIth-EIltn Tractor Otis In the Gui-e OF
y Fortune Tcller-NcyNa OF Players Abroad.
Ada Rchan comes back 10 New York In poor
health and unfit to rcappcar on the stage, but
she will resolutCly do so, though she will try to
stand II ono week only, and then will rest n
month or more. Miss ltchan hos been working
hard In England and not under buoyant con-
hitions. Days Theatre In London retains his
name, but he has not of late found II cxpcdicnt
to place his own company in II. Except for a
brief engagement in n London suburb, his
players tour in England was confined to the
smaller towns. The changes OF bill were fro.
quent, and the hard work of 'one night" stands
tired her out. Bcerbohm Tree offered u respite
and refuge in a short engagement at his theatre,
but did not extend the same hospitality TO her
companions, and Mr.. DAILY seemed TO resent
tho advance as unkindly meant.
Elita Proctor Otis. who went rather notably
trom drawing room TO stage, and subsequently
played several roles with strong distinction,
has OF late been the leading actress Of a West.
ern stock company; but she resigns that place
In order to take n part in "A Ward Of France"
the Forthcoming production at Wallack's. Tho
piece is a semi.historical representation OF old
creole days in New Orleans nearly u century
-eSt Nbe SAO ~ 49, ~ "t a
fortune teller. That is the part which Miss
Otis is to characterize. and. as the woman is
said to be not the conventional hug of stage
necromancy, but q handsome, opulent and
powerful factor in the affairs OF the Louisiana
will distinguish herself.
Elsie Pc Wolfe. who stepped from fashionable
circumstances is playing the part Of the
maid servant in "A Marriage of Conven.
ience'' at the Empire, and is doing it with ex.
CenttOnQl elayernRsa- II Ia n mart vet rlavAr
creature whom she impersonatos, a mental
with the graces of a fine lady. and the tcchni.
cal difticulties of the part are overcome ad-
mirably. Miss De Wolfe has hitherto appeared
in raiment more modish than almost any other
actress on the New York stage. She came to
be regarded rather as n d~isplayer of toilets than
OF talent, but she now acquits herself differently.
Daniel Frohman has gathered some excep-
tionally interesting actors in his company at tho
Lyceum this season, and among them is a
quartet Of beauties that would be q delight to
the eye in whatever play they appeared.
julie Ops beauty is SO closely associated with
the English type that, considered in connection
with her English accent and her way Of dress.
ing, it is nearly impossible to realize that
she is a New York product with a London
veneer that was acquired in a very brief
period. But she is positively charming in her
1.-the comcliness, whatever its kind may be, and
there is already a grace in her statuesqucness
"AASA 40 Siebi WILL luTlutT OK
perience. The suggestion of sensitive and
tender womanhood is not in tho least az
fected by her uncommon height. Mary Man.
ncring's dainty beauty Is shown in q fashion
which gains intensity as the play proceeds,
with the momentary interruption of the mas
querade scene, in which us a Han teguin her best
qualities are not shown. But in the last act
she is a picture Of loneliness which, contrasted
with the blonde beauty of Katharine Florence,
gives to both the most favorable circumstances
for their display. Allison S%kipworth is a blonde
now, although as the unidentified charm Of
"An Artists Model her effective locks were
OF q darker hue. But she is as placidly and
immovably handsome as ever. and seems not
nearly SO English as Miss Opp. This comely
quartet of actresses docs not include the only
slightly ones In the Lyccum's new play. Helen
Macbeth has a girlish attractiveness, and Nina
Morris Is luxuriant enough in dress and figure
delights of eating. Miss Lamison, who has
taken Miss Tyree's part temporarily, acts with
with distinction. Grace Root has only to play
an incidental role well, and she accompanies
to the Primeess. and IS Shows Sst that thu the ,S ehanraeter
10 a S~entiewoman reduced to the necessity Of
her position. This she keeps continuously in
mind. and never once docs q false touch de-
stroy the proportions OF the scenes in which she
appears. Indeed, the Princess is fortunate in
her maid, as Evelyn Carter embodies her, is
as acceptable a figure in the brilliant episodes
All tho honors in the acting of the new play
arc not on the spindle side. Edward Morganrs
h ins and lone in,e mskins RSi e 1sll cSS1 4ieiI Of s5 feel:
pears a as a French diplomat ion ptoR With Hn a cI hs nEI;
met with, but good looks are universally un.
d%erstood, whereas the manners Of tho French
aristocracy have a less general recognition. lie
acts with ease, and the few episodes in which
no figures gain force from his participation in
1 ness of t yeui ha0 aed F Fei s'MMo oyris sh pla S!,r a abSS.
acter part with all Of his excellences and none
fSs his nl, fSSit IS In b,o yie nh,.d He figures IN g type q
certainly imputed to her. The members OF a party
by one taken their leave. Finally the husband
and wife are left alone. He pours out a whis,
b holding 1t in her hand looks contemplatiyei
before her for gfew moments. She has just
her husband ehatters In a way which shows how
deceived he is, the woman makes no answer
Suddenly she arises. carrying herdrink along with
stairway. Just as she disappears from view
her husbands presence occurs to her. With
Indifferent manner sr' possible bic Ike husband ,ne ni ief'
TO himself, looks about the deserted room, and
door leading to his apartments and staros out
for q moment Then he goes out, and the door
hf~ "Yes tot seTs e snd dra s,@i himself MP; Norris aInn0 %I N Il!
old manner until the scene endured half an
hour; But he withstood the temptation and
" ~ JUDY IAO iiBhb tcllpO. MAY ne lOl
backslide.
Two characters in ''The Princess and the
Butterfly" are unusual enough to impart a rare
,harm to the play. Ono of these is tho Princes.
Pomona, a figure SO little touched by the
realities of life that she might have stepped
from the pages Of some fairy story. There are
no defining outlines about her. The character
is blurred and misty in the ether of a modern
romanticism which is delicate and subtle al
the air in which an earlier Princess Lofnt ain,
might have lived-far away in a land of lovln.
and singing. This Pinero Princess was born II
England, and when she was only 20 years ole
went to live in a castle in Hungary with a hus
band twice her own age. There she remained
with him until at 40 he left her a widow. IL
all those years there had been no diversions il
her life beyond an occasional visit to Buda
pest or Vienna. With the husbands deatl
her life of exile ends. The play introduces he
In London ~prodigal with her great wealth ant