The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-11-24
FlaVley Company Presents Rail-
road Of Love-"
IT is AN ORDINARY PLAY
Weak First Act-BrightenS Up as
Work Proceeds-Real Parts for
Only a Few People.

Considering the amplltuue OF the Or
binary Frawley engagement house In
Honolulu, there was rather small au-
dience in the theater last night In the
vernacular of the show people the up
stairs was light This is not disap-
pointing during the week. There were
quite a number of vacant seats in the
parquet. There was no jam in the,
dress circle. 1t was not a case of slim
attendance, by any means, but it was
not an instance of the entire town be-
ing there.
It was we'll along in the evening
when the audience warmed up. But
then this is the regular thing. Just
why, it is little use undertaking to
explain. For one thing the first act
of "The Railroad of Love- was unsat-
isfactory as waiting for a slow train
at lonesome junction. This, however,
may be said to be fault common to
the modern society comedy. Action is
what the people who sit before the
stage want. The prologue may be ne
cessary, but too often it seems waste
| full A first act that leaves one won
dering if the play will really amount
| to anything is not a good first act.
There seemed quite a wait before the
curtain went up. The swapping of
watches could be heard everywhere.
Good breeding put restraint on con-
versation. It is not everyone who can
| completely best nature or habit and
there had been some half-concealed
yawning behind fans before the begin
ming of the play. The audience had all
been seated some ten minutes.
The players have now been on land
long enough to have recovered from the
fatigue of the voyage to the Islands.
Perhaps some of them will never re-
cover from fatigue sufficiently to have
their parts letter perfect in coming on
the stage. A good many of those who
patronize the theater here prefer the
| language of the author of play to
words and sentences supplied by the
| individual cast for character.
Advance notices fail to describe "The
Railroad of Love" as it is It has not
the continuous flash of searchlight
nor yet the undiminishing, unchanging
brilliancy Of comet it's first night out.
Nothing of the sort. 1t is common, good
comedy retaining most likely fair
amount of the strength of it's original
German. 1t sparkles some as polishing
process proceeds at the hands of the
players. In the main 'The Railroad
of Love" is love story with nothing
at all remarkable to recommend it..
The lines are bright. Any compost
ton presented to the public as come
dy should be both bright and clever.
There are several decidedly fetching
situations Any kind of a play to be
any kind of a success at all, must
abound in these ''The Railroad of
Love- was liked in New York. 1t was
accepted at San Francisco. 1t is not
rejected in Honolulu. 1t is disappoint-
ing after being heralded as something
delicate as butterfly's wing and sub
tie as the intriguing of a monarchs
favOrite in an oriental court.
The play last night was carried by
five people. They were Miss Bates
Mr.. Worthing, Miss Wren, Harry Cor.
son Clarke and Miss McAllister. Those
next in importance were Mr. Frawley
and Mr.. Levers. The latter, perhap:
deserves especial mention. He did thu
best acting he had done here so far
Mr.. Frawley was up to his usual stand
ard, but had part that was almost ;
: duplicate of the one in which he ap
peared on the opening night Their
was something new for Miss Bates ant
. her gowning was really captivating
She was in the piece a young widow
and gave most finished and artist
rendition of the character. In severa
situation her by-play was delicious an
when there was demand for powerful
r portrayal she was not lacking. MI
e Worthing appeared more careful an
f more devoted to his work than he ha
1 been at certain times since the engage
ment began. He was stunning in tn
full dress uniform of a lieutenant. L
the fencing with the witty widow an
in the love-making in earnest he wa
. skillful and satisfactory. Miss Wre
+ ran the gamut of from grave to ga
:. and back again a dozen times wit
e varying bouyaney and sadness tha
: were natural indeed She had som
@ new and neat costumes. Mr.. Perry ha
O very little to do. 1t was trifiing even
a ing for Mr.. Enos, though his cold man
uork wac commented unon noct favO,