The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-12-08
THE PLAY AND THE PLAYER
FRAWLEY THEATRICAL SEASON
CLOSES.
A Review of the Season-What Style
of Plays are Popular With Honolulu
Audiences.
The play is done the curtain drops,
slow falling to the prompter's bell;
A moment yet the actor stops,
And looks around, to say farewell

Our little season of theater going
has come to an end, and those who
have alternately played upon our emo
tions, sometimes thrilling us, and
again touching a tender, or sentiment
tai cord, and anon arousing us to
laughter, will soon be dashing
through the salt sea waves on their
voyage to the Coast.
In the weary months when we have
no theatrical amusements we are IL
ways groaning because the town has
no amusement. when the amusement
comes we patronize fairly, but not lib
orally. The present engagement of
the Frawley company has not been Il
financial success, and unless an en-
gagement proves financial success it
is not likely that other companies Will
make the venture. nor will those who
interest themselves in theatrical mat
ters here feel disposed to take any
risk in bringing companies down. The
town will. for some time to come,
have to content itself with the limited
eXertlons of some passing star with
out a company. or with amateur eff
forts, which, however good they may
be, are far behind the work of the
trained actor.
A case in point on the latter is very
clearly shown by William Levers. As
an amateur. among amateurs. Mr..
Levers was a brilliant star. AS u
professional actor. among profession
al people, Mr.. Levers is regarded as n
promising young actor, who, by hard
work, and much practice, will rise in
his profession. In such a company
. r
is so good all round that one asks for
the very best, and an audience be-
comes exacting. 1t is a high compli-
ment to the company. but ! think It
is an unconscious one.
In bringing down company to
these Islands, as large as the Fraw-
ley company, there is very large eX-
pense. The fares. down and back.
cost S2100, the salary listIis say $1,000
a week. Then there is the cost of the
theater, the employees before and be-
hind the curtain, printing and adver-
tisiDg, which all go to swell the total
amount of expense. The largest num-
Der that attended the performance IN
any single night was 900, that was it
Shenandoah, and S1037 were taken in.
The smallest attendance outside the
of Love was played, and little over
$3.50 was taken in. | do not think
that the Frawleys received a Just
amount of patronage for their enter
prise, but that, after all. is not my
pigeon. 1t is matter between them
and the public, and is only matter
of whether Honolulu is a good show
town or not. Some one asked this
question month ago, and I had half
mind to answer him, but I thought
| would let the season speak for IT.
self. The person who wrote can now
judge for himself
In looking over the season one sees
that as far as the general public Is
concerned melodrama is what is lik-
ed Pieces like Shenandoah. Held by
the Enemy, the Fatal Card, and the
Lost Paradise, draw larger audiences
than the polished wit and bright die
tion of Christopher. Jr.. the Railroad
of Love, and Social Highwayman.
For myself / enjoy everything on the
stage. | can even find amusement in
a play that is very bad indeed.
think | never laughed so much in my
life as I did at Crowley's play Of
Captain Cook, which was given a few
years ago. The dialogue was chiefly
carried on between the gallery, and
finally the audience took possession Of
the stage. But the Frawlcys never
gave MS anything that was poor.
Among the company We're old friends
like Blanche Bates, Pbosa McAllister
and Madge Carr Cook. Frawley. Wor-
thing, Harry Corson Clarke, whom It