The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-06
MORE PLAYS BROUGHT OUT
nm, POWERS'S CHINESE 3ELO-
DR4MI, "THE FIRST BORN"

DR4MI, "THE BORN"
The Tragic view which IL Gives or People
uItherto Deemed Only Comic on the
atnvr-An accompanying Farce, "The
wight session" Taken from tho French.
The Chinese play, 1.-THE First Born" was per
formed nj the Manhattan Theatre last night. So
much has been published in THE Sun about tho
nature OF this piece, In connection with the dis
mute ns 70 its priority. that no long description
of IT'S pcculiar!tics need be given now. Most
readers know that 1t was written by Francis
Powers. that it depicts a vengeful muir
der by a Chinaman, that Its novelty lies
in its tragic exposition OF life and death
among Cinnamon in San Francisco, and
that II has been remarkably successful in that
city, Tho expectation OF the audience
at tho Manhattan had been reused to
q high pitch. and the assemblago was
composed almost altogether Of people famil-
lar with the latest and strangest that Is
being done on tho stage. Nevertheless, the
piece disappointed nobody II it did not please
everybody, and rs q revelation of dramatic art
In a new aspect it was intensely interesting.
1t Is classiblo as a melodrama, and its
incidents of ordinary theatrical value are
only two or thrcc-the stealing of n little
child from its father by Its disgraced
mother, the recovery OF the dead body
OF the child by the father after II had
been killed in n struggle for possession,
and the assassination Of the mothers paramour
by a single stroke of a Ratchet welded by the
fathers hand. These things were done in
the II eral manner Of 1bscn and Maeter-
linck, boldly and grimly. Without illustrative
adjuncts, and the creation Of what is commonly
called atmosphere. the play would make no
deep impression.
But 1.-The First Born " is given in no bald or
barren fashion. 1t was described by the San
Francisco newspapers as wondrously en-
crossing there, but we may well believe
that David Bclasco has not handled it for
this New York production without leaving the
marks of his dramatic genius upon 1t. The ex-
hibition of everyday occupations in Chinatown,
the g~limpses OF manners and customs, the
naturalistic yet essentially dramatic manage
ment Of the three scenes mentioned, all
seem to bear the Belasco brand OF keen
discernmcnt and artful manipulation; and that
ers for his discovery that a Chinese melodrama
WIS possible. and in writing 1t simply and well.
The ready and unequivocal acceptance Of this
play ms u good artistic thing upon it's Broadway
advent was due in part to first putting the
lights IN the theatre. the burning Of joss sticks
Of perfume, and the PLAYING OF Chinese music
had modified some Of the harsh Chinese airs.
blended them with melodies. and was himself In
the conductors chair to see that a very large
tnrc. but also to a similarly appropriate compo-
sition between the acts. The company was the
same that had been employed on the Pacific
sSs ees ors sRn e q he ss.'f but 0n It W %ishf f.m ahss
them ~satisfac 'rlly. The performance lasted an
hour and a quarter. 1t held tho assemblnge
spellbound. and was indeed q rare theatrical
enjoyment.
Half the time at the Manhattan last night
was occupied by something quite different
from the Chinese piece. "A Night Ses-
Bion." a farce taken from the French
Of Adolf Feydeau, was brought out in
English. 1t was one OF those numerous pieces
OF wicked nonsense that are a plentiful output
at the Paris theatres, and which sometimes
serve the purpose of laughter in New York.
That was done in this instance beyond o
doubt, and quito viciously, too. though
very neatly and with despatch. Tho
piece was in q single act, which lasted less
than an hour. For the thousandth time
and upward the basis Of q French farce
was q husbands escapade with another
woman than his wife. The scene was q res
taurant. to which the lascivious man took q
supposed wanton from a masked ball, but upon
and ugly: Some Of the hilarity arose from that
and was heightened by May Robson's dexterity
m mine ecfSent Of criynn as wen snd as nnc II ! M. az h9 }hs Sss
fooled fellow. Other complications of Husbands,
csrnsa h. Gs tbsiS sc,,o and vn maids Hr snsT To1.; and S con;
Arthur. Maud Haslam. Margaret Gordon,
n xsoSsI HI aIHsn and nd r; !: Cotton. Tho
acteristic Frohman cast for farcical work was
given to this piece. That is to say. the light,
joyed such an assignment OF capable interpreters
as commanded artistic respect for 1t, while
and strongly. These actors MADE Of !" A NiFthit
Session" a diversion OF a kind that New York
S Sfress st Miin co %Sths an so OF fts really no Gep @Hssef
slble character may say against it.
Fun 10 the pter,ainman ofarad nj the Grand
Opera House this week in the form of Eight
Bells" readjusted and freshened for the seasons
tour. De Wolf Hopper and his comic opera
company have gone to the Harlem Opera House
with "El CAPTAIN" Nance O'Neill is playing
the hectic woman in Camille" at tho Murray
Hill with much original force and an abundance
of vividness, but none of the Partisan polish
which it has been accustomed TO. James ]. Cor
bett is a mimic fighter at the Columbus in 1.-THE
Naval Cadet" The Third Avenue has THE
Electrician" and Tho Peoples" has THE
Sidewalks Of New York"
A removal to the Bijou by what Happened
to Jones" has not affected the performance, ex-
cept favorably in the advent of Matte Ferguson
as the Swedish maidservant. Half q King" Is
provoking laughter at the Broadway as given
By Francis Wilson and his company. Tho
"a Stranger il Nsw York. at the GsrrieE,,%ia
~o','' ~ iAio AIN hO SiIl
At Days. The Fair in Midgettown' at tho
Star, and THE French Maid" at the Herald
6quare. Mature" IL in its final week at the
Academy OF Music. with its spectacular bright
ness undimmcd, and that exceptionally impress
eiyc Christian drama. The Sign OF the Cross"
Is in Its last save one at the Fourteenth Street.
where Il is drawing audiences of q quality much
above the average. Die Goldne Eva" Is tho
German play al the Irving Place.
Iheatricsls show a good increase in the num-
Der OF seriously worthy plays In use. and In some
or them stars" are placed to excellent advan-
Lhge. MSude Adams, the newest TO take rank
with the leaders, has won a positive success at
the Empire with The Little Minister" Rich
arc Mansfield has again trinmphed by holiness
IN art with " The DEVILS Disciple" at tho Fifth
Avenue; Z. S. willard has fully maintained his
reputation as a delineator OF Intellectual char
scters with The Physician at Wallack's.
Dol smith Russell, has gained the attention and
approval OF New York with "A Bachelors Ro-
nance at tho Garden. Edward ii. Sothern IL
Hepicting romantic heroism with "Change Al
" "t bGe Lyesrm, but viii spare Thursday
One OF the weeks recruits to our music hall
torces was Nesta Tillcy, who was at Weber g.
EIal1G'E lnRanan -