The times., 1897-09-26

called Prince RUDOLPH and 1T is founded
on Robert Louis Stevcnsuu's novelette,,
Prince otto" Packed into the smallest
compass by Hepburn Johns, the story Of
Prince Rudolph" may be said to run as
follows:
Tie prince by accident becomes aware
Uhat hei despiS ed by his people, practically
betrayed 10y his wife and IN danger OF
losing his throne IN revolution engl-
neercd by his prime minister. This he
learns in a peasant s cottage, to which
upon a hunting trip he has reSOrted. He
returns hOtly and huTriedly TO the palace
and finds his fears TO be Well founded
To upset the plans of the plotting premier,
which involved war with a friendly state;
TO catch him also in the act Of ma king,
hyp0CriuCally, a declaration of love TO
the princess, and To precipitate d crisis by
fighting and WOnndlng the false steward,
Ia kes Prince Rudolph but two swift,
gingerish acts. Knowing the story, we
understand why we next find the prince
III prison, but the audience, II is TO be
feared, hardly understands the begin
ming OF the last act The fact is
that the revolutionary statesman COntriyeS
by ShreWd use OF the princess signature
10 send the prince and his chief adviS er 10
Iail- from which, however, q second order
from the princess speedily frees them.
Then prince and princess are free, bat
fugitiVes. They come tOge her in the
farmhouse where we first found the prince
and, tired out, she repentant, he forgiying,
She unGerst audiEg his nobility at last, he
embracing lDI Ilt IIHI bflltF lilt beauty
and sweetness Of her wOuanhuud, they
fall into each others arms Just as the
cries or their adneFentS are heard outside
proClainlng the victory Of the princes
forces
The dramatist has improved onthe novel.
The novelist made the prince very pliable
clay; Mr.. Skinner has made him dreamer
awaked, man who has suddenly found out
the meaning OF life, a forcefuI soul in
n u1rr
dolph-you must be charitable to refrain
from despising Prince Otto, despite the
marvellous glamour which StevenSon's $ ex-
quisite style casts about every character
he draws, every scene he describes But
there is no need TO talk about the novel,
and our advice to the theater-goer is not
TO read it, at least not till he has seen the
play. There is wide abyss between the
stage and the study"
Miss Maud Durbin, Frederick Moseley
and Frank Sylvester are still with Mr.
Skinner, who has an excellent reputation
for his supporting company. Washington
may not see Mr.. Skinner soon, for Chicago
VIII support his newest success for many
weeks TO come and his prestige therefrom
in the West VIII probably keep him beyond
the Aleghanies for many months. But
memory OF his Soldier OF Fortune, his Romeo
and his Incompatible Hamlet will make his
return welcome when he finally comes
to US.
1t is not generally known, by the way,
how narrowly Mr.. Skinner escaped a long
confinement in a Gotham theater At
the time Z. II. Sothern had a rupture
with Daniel FrOhnan the latter cast about
for a histrion who could take the SotIlern
place in the Manhattan affections and do
justice TO The Prisoner OF Zenda - He
selected Otis Skinner and made a flatter-
ing offer, which that actor could not well
refuse- Mr.. Sothern heard of this, so
the storT goes and, realizing how quickly
Mr.. Skinner would detlIrone him, was
on his knees in an instant, an humble peni-
tent, begging MT. Frohman TO take him
hack, with the result we all know