The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-19

after every act The applause was so contin.
uons after the bridge sceno that Mr.. Pitou vas
the author, who was mot present.
Highly entertaining was IAN American
Citizen at tho Kniokerbocker last even.
ing, and both Madeleine Lucetto Ryley. the
writer, and Nat Goodwin, the chief actor,
were deserving OF praise. Because OF sew.
eral months use Of the comedy out OF
town, there was none Of the signs OF rouehnoss
common to hrst nights. and both interpreters
and author gained thereby. A farcical strain
will DO apparent from an outline Of the
plot, which had one member Of q
firm that was on the verge OF ruin be-
cause of q heavy dofalcation OF one partner. take
advantage of the provisions Of q will from
which he had up to the last minute
refused to benefit. It called upon him to
renounce his American citizenship, swear
allegiance to the Queen Of England, and take an
English woman for his wife. Two days we're all
that were left him to accomplish all this after
he had changed his mind, and the marriage was
planned merely as an oxpedient.
So much was in Now York city. and a year
later, in which husband and wife had not met,
the two came accidentally together at
Nice. Meantime, tho dofaulting partner and
q former lance Of the wife's turned up
in the same person, although in zach capacity
he had caused himself to DO reported dead:
the same name and cousins. so their newer and
closer relationship was not disclosed even by
s fhsis pTsss %ns , In M s1 in his hot Sitc. sp np waGn IhS
through Ignorance OF their relations on the
part Of their host. matters became complicated
renewed his claim to the womap's hand. and
persisted TIL he learned that she had lost her
cause being a successful contest Of the viii by
which both had %protted., In the fourth and con-
Guiding act he was in lodgings and office com.
from a stove polish. Hero the love between
husband and wife. which each had been conceal.
Ing. was potent in clearing away the remaining
In this at times were moment Of extreme seri-
s s%s a f Sa. tn, 5ns .p SShs"et Sf this MT' ds sSSs%,n
were Invariably momentary. A, happyRo.
lucky chap. Of the sort that &c. into novels
with, worth and likablc qualities always In view.
Bright speeches were his in extraordinary nun.
COMPANION in the dialogue was a too bald
feeder, was the at attainment OF them unskilful, It
Sest. q ana PSdrt even ie w drSRri ine o S9ne the ppewrf ns M. y
effectiveness. A fno aid TO Mr.. Goodwin was
s for her " . w''s salte S zig tF 81 Ser IN ra %o" "imo.st
ing passion for her; and the rise of her own
affection was followed in most tinished
acting. Two of the amusing subsidiary
characters were q man servant who was
stolidly loyal 20 his duties. though convinced
that his master was q deep, rogue, and a deaf
seemed to hear whatever he took interest in,
and who told every woman he met that her
voice was the only one he could hear perfectly.
Now recruits to continuous vaudeville were
several at Proctor's Theatre yesterday. and
among them was Ethel Chase Sprague, q
daughter of Kate Chase Spraguc. Her new,
ncss was to the variety stage only, for
experience in dramatic performances had
rid her of all the characteristics OF q beginner.
The medium Of her essay was unlike most OF
the short plays that get into ten.houI
programmes, being entirely serious. Called
Tho Black Butterfly" and written by
c. p. Flockton. it showed q dancer
dressing room in a Paris theatre and had hel
preparing for her evenings inning. Among tn,
offerings that had been sent in TO her were roseI
and a note from a Roumanian Prince
On his appearing to her it became
clear that tho proposal Of his mott
was not one OF marriage. Then she told hin
that she was the woman whom he de
ceivcd years ago and had SO completely forgot
ten TINT he did not recognize her, and demanded
his name for their son. On his refusal sht
killed him. and rushed away from her dressing
room in response to warnings OF the next act
The title was n nickname given to the woman
because of her costumes in her dances; Thi,
sns sSnnf ed 9shta4 q sha fFs 's street h attir.
and the change excited some noisiness II
the upper tiers Of the gallery. As intendedly
shown, it consisted Of an evening bodice, L
which WAS added a trained skirt. slit, from
waist to hem at ono side. Includint
heshings. all was black. The methods o
the player could not fairly be judged
from the opportunities the sketch afforded, fo
its author had cut Off tremendous slice TO fnisl
In twenty minutes, and his work was not contin
uously diver,ing. The assault on her betraye
was finely realistic, and the final climax. too. wa
good. +. J. Rstclit;e was her companion. ant
he suffered from the matter OF the play, where
perhaps, another ACTOR would not have been a
a disadvantage for some Of his remarks on low
and marriage were met by snickers.