New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-21
THE DRAMA.
GARDEN THEATRE-sOL SMITH Russr,,

GAhDEN lHEA iHE-SOi| oMlIH RUSSELL.
The acting Of Sol Smith Russell is refrsshmsr,
and benefit. 1t is simple sincere and nat,r.,
He gives an inpersonation full of unconscious do.
nifty calm and quiet kindness and gentle hume.
His drolery pervades whatever other qualities he
displays. and brightens them all. He can maxi.
his audience laugh with him, even in his sorrow.
and without losing a whit Of sympathy for ths
sorrows.
Mr. Russell appeared last night at the Garde,
Theatre in play by Miss Martha Morton called
"A Bachelors Romance" and charmed and gra,,
fed a large audience that welcomed him back aftcr
a long absence from New-Ycrk. The character
which he presented Rad points in common with
those In which he has usually appeared OF late
years ard of the sort which he apparently
prefers to act ard which he can probably act beat
IT has individuality enough. however, TO be freshly
interesting Its likeness to the for character,
in which the actor has appeared in the evil
dorce OF a hopeful and patient nature ready 70
accent disappointment with fcritude or happiness
with gratefuness and ready also for unfnchlnc
self-sacrlcc IL II should he called fer. IL Is the
part of a man of middle age who loves youns
girl and gives her up to a younger map Shom he
supposes that she loves, and who finally discovers
that his generosity has been uncalcd for and that
she loves him. after all. The story j. thus 10
be both simple and familiar. The play derives Its
interest from Mr.. Russelrs Interpretation of the
central part In II and from the pleasing acting Of
two or three of the lesser parts.
The play is written with a hand which Is capable
but not Quite firm. Portions Of IT are extremely
pretty but the author falls away from these into
wastes OF mere conventionaity. Filling was needed
and fing was provided with the exception Of
three or four characters the parts seem TO have
been put into the play with mere workman idea
that such a component part of the structure was
needed here and such another there. the result
WAS A number of exaggerated personages who filed
the places that stage usage has long decreed must
be filed The secretary OF the editor should be
character part and so a character part Il vas. II
had no particular character. II was simply char.
acier part. and. as NIniam S3Inpson played IL, IL
was ABOUT > much like Wun HI as Il was like any
creature could possibly live in the same rooms
Neither would "A modern literary man" however
UNUSED polite society be likely TO dance about
the room AT the first sight OF "A pretty woman Nor
does "A ricn young New Yorker. however frivolous
he may be by nature. come into the presence Of
vine women and song arc what he cares for. The
who shows unbelievable n-preeding. in considera.
ton of the decent society IN wnich ne appears 10
civilized communities If the ramrod that was
evidently run through thiS person Iehg 'nwise
have finished him and relieved the play Of an m
cumbrance and the audience OF buTdeh IL Is lar
10 say OF Orrin Johnson VINO played the part, that
no was most agreed bic In the last act. where this
creature suddenly turned into good young man.
IL simply played the part In .nonsehslcal man.
rtr that was worthy OF the nonsensicdI way N
which IL was written. ,. -. -, -.
The part OF the young girl about whom the story
turned was played most sweety ana llgntfuuy
bv Miss Annie Russell. and most gratifying DIT
OF acting was done BY Miss Fanny Addison PIT, az
"A faded woman who was troubled about many
things The part played with such dellcacy
and taste that IL was pleasure. and not the pore
that such a person usually X on the stage. Miss
Blanche Walsh filed the character for which she
was cast with sufficient skill for It's rather simple
requirements. sydney Booth acted wei tho part
Of the lover about whom the mistake was made.
lie was \ good and industrious Fellow at hrst, but
he won q big prize for story, and after That he
was worthless Mr.. Ruskin has said. very wise
spirit of competition. and this may account fo'
the unbea ra BILE sef-conceit that devourcd this poor
Young man as soon $ he successful. Tho pur-
pose of turning the sympa ihies Of the audience
away from him that the hero might take his
sweet heart in peace. obvious, but II was &C.
compiished deity and naturally.
called before the curtain and expressed his graft
tude for his reception. The cast Of the play fol-
lows:
uavid Holmes. editor and literary critic OF The Re-
Sol Smith Russell
Martin Beges. Davids William sampson
a modern literary man. william Seymour
'i'' '' " W. sydney Booth
Mr. Mulberry. antique literary man. ALFRED Hudson
James 80,
sylvia. Davds warn anne ttussh
Helen Le Grand Davld's sister Blanche Walsh
Harriet leicester. narsaIrt hopson
Miss Clementina Fanny Addison Plu