The morning times., 1897-02-09
GOODWIN AT The NATIONAL
An Enthusiastic Audience Greeted
the Actor Last Night.
Dixey Welcomed at the Lafayette.
Strong Plays ut the Other Houses
Attracted Large Crowds.


Give the public good thing, in other
words, what they want, and they viii
crowd the theater. Hard times disappear
like feathers before the wind when the
desirable bill is on the boards Last night
there was given renewed and emphatic
testimony Of these trite truths I the New
National With Nat c. Goodwin as the
attraction there could be none other than
packed house. II was a case of stand
Ing room only" long before the first cur
tain.
The audience which gave him welcome
was qualtatively distinguished in spite of
weather and the cotilion, Mr.. Goodwins
father, Nat c. Goodwin, Sr., came all the
way from Boston to greet his son, whom
he had not seen since he left for Aus
tralia. Charles Richman, Days leading
man, being out OF the production OF The
Magistrate made at the home theater last
night, came on to see his friend in his new
play.
And such a welcome as everybody gave
the comedian. 1t was a demonstration from
all parts of the house The ladies in the
orchestra split their gloves applauding, IL
substantial clapping came from the banks
OF the balcony, and up i'll the gallery the
boys shrieked and whistled for minutes at
a time. Mr.. Goodwin refused to take half
dozen curtain calls, which might have
been his after the second act, but after the
third he accepted the ovation and made
facetious little speech in just the words
that everybody wanted. He alluded TO the
exile in Australia and the glad feeling
which homecoming brought, and other
wise tickled the risible ribs and warmed
the hearts OF his audience in his own in
comparable way.
As for his performance and the play
There are some dramatiStS who ask that
the verdict be in the faces of the audi
ence. That is usually g truce to technique
For two acts of AN American CitiZen.'
Madelaine Lucette Ryley's new play, in
which Mr.. Goodwin appeared, there was
more hope on the physiognomy OF the
audience than in the promise of the play for
the people laughed every minute, and APP
plauded some of the time, though the
story struggled vainly TO assert its weak
self. After the second act, however the
play took coherent form and from that on
was unexceptional
The proposition of the evening reduced
itself to this. For two acts Goodwin
had the lead. 1t was Goodwin the audi
ence saw, heard, laughed at, applauded
and found the most delightful entertainer
imaginable. Mrs. Ryley and her Mr.. Carew
weren'tin sight for moment However,
in the third act the dramatiSt took a
brace, Carew came in sight, Goodwin
didn't hold the stage entirely by virtue
of his entertaining qualities, the audience
found an interest in him for the Story's
sake and soon arm in arm, Goodwin and
Carew cantered down to magnificent
finish.
Though Mrs. Ryley has only two acts
Of particularly good drama, she has writ
ten four acts OF exceptional lines The
speeches are bright, even scintilating,
and the players denoted every possible
atom Of meaning and fun Mrs. Ryley
is under many obligations to her inter-
prefers. The obligation is reciprocal.
AS Carew, or Cruger. Mr.. Goodwin is
his same Fascinating self He has part
which reflects his own personality and
he walks through it with naturalness,
withal seizing every one of the numberless
opportunities for expressive fun. He
convused his audience at every stroke and
confirmed the popular Judgment so long
held that his methods are inimitable and
his results all that could be ainbitioned
Supporting Mr.. Goodwin is q company
Of good players. Miss Maxine Elliott as
Beatrice looks as beautiful as ever, and
treats her admirers 10 a display of more
substantial art than has before been their
portion. Miss Gertrude Elliott, the sister
beauty, reflects the charms and talents
OF her sister in only little less degree
Mr.. VIII Ingerson made a great deal of
I bury hardly ever leaving he stage with
( out the echo of the audiences laughter
/ in his ears. Mr. Frazer Coulter did the best
possible with Brown, but none of the
players had opportunities which remotely