The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-22
NEW IN A DIVERSION.
FUN Nv THE SECOND VERSION OF
"I ROUND OF PLEASURE"

As performed ut the Knickorbocker Theatre
last night, "a Round of Pleasure was largely
now. Tho spoken matter Of the FIRST act had
been written afresh by Clay M. Greene, and the
Shakespearcan burlesaue in tho second had
been rearrangod, while several topical songs had
been intcrjected. The matter put into the
extravaganza was 30 much better than
that which was left out that, for the nrst time
since tho use Of the piece began. the words took
rank with the music and with tho splendors OF
scene and costume. In this second version the
foreign nobleman In search Of an American heir
ess to marry becomes a prctendcr. He ia, in
fact, an east side barber. whose idiom
and manners obtrudo themselves into his
crude assumption Of English speech and
department. This change In tho carl
caturo makes It really funny. which before It
was not. The electrical inventor, too. has been
developed into nm amusing individual, whose
device for making people speak the truth when
under his spell fails comically. The jests no
longer conceal thor points. the colloQuial humor
II we'll above the average, the personages have
become moro distinct creations. and the COM
edians get enough to do that Ii oongenial 70
their talents.
A now song worth mentioning especially had
for q theme Tho villain still pursued her" and
It was illustrated with the case of q girl who, to
escape from the viliainous pursuit, fed through
many countries, but without avail. Her griev-
GUS vicissitudes were related in James Thorn
tons popular sort of rhyme and tune, sung with
admirable humor by Walter Jones.
The proof Of this pudding. which has boon
mixed over and baked again, Is in tho eating.
The audience. which filled the theatre in a more
fashionable manner than Is usual at this season,
laughed much and heartily. The new nonsense
ference between tho impression made here
and at the first performance was radical.
caused by the things sung or shown. and not BY
the things spoken. Last night the libretto held
its own Win me rest OF the entertainmenti ena
Round OF Pleasure ~ not only a beautiful exhi-
bition. but an irresistible blend of farce and bur
lesque.l II has now u vim OF rapid movement which
is making him laugh. When be has quilted tho
self for having been diverted by. foolery. he re-
MEMBER 50 many melodies and spectaGles, so
much that 10 rich and artistic, that no can hardly
help admiring the entertainment
There Is some encouragement to be found on
the programme of Proctor's Twenty-Five Street
Theatre in the announcement OF the first appear
ance of the Bronsons. There is n warning to the
effect that the sketch in which they act called
"a Fail from Grace is copyrighted. It is COM
forting to think that nobody can ever take that
effort from the Bronsons. 1t is their property.
apparently, and whenever New York is
called upon to see them 1t will DO in that
work The arrangement Is admirable. The
medium suits their talents exactly. "a
Fall from Grace" and the Bronsons are
perfectly mated. The prevalence Of the
vaudeville stretch" has produced some
remarkable results. But this particular speci-
men seems to mark what is commonly known as
1.-THE limit" For stupidity and inanity II has
never been equalled. and even uninitiated spec
tators sat in their seats last night and wondered
at the discrimination which had selected such O
performance.
The Bronsons, who. after the vaudeville
fashion. arc specifically distinguished as
Fred" and Rita" represented a wife and
husband. The husband was drunk and the
wife shocked, and some persons were puzzled
enough by that situation to lose their reckoning
OF the correct proportions for the rest of the
narrowing twenty minutes through which the
| couple stumbled. The husband wanted a drink
10 give 1t TO him. There the absorbing dramatic
interest halted. What followed bore no com.
Indian and tho Bronson wife ran about the
stage. Then she, gave him u drink. and the
pcnse Of this act. broke into, u jubilant
pecan. the act d sfa fell. and the H;oI BFons TSs
tormanGe had never before revealed THO
| like OF the couple ana - Fdll T rom Trace. IL
cd. The Br9nsons do not need it. for they are
n .t,ss. Likely s female to Be ss rgn.Sn had on r Isfs
shoulder that was worth going miles to
see, Probably. the right one was just as
did not lack in selt.possession. and. in the words
OF the illustrious Matthews and BulEer. seemed
ito know s,Nn a shin Ds. or two; Or three or fC %5. .1 The
once was apparently stunned.
80. A.. - zu.oII-,, 49, 49,.
deville are out-and-out faroes and most OF what
ever seriousness its short plays have is literally
supplied with what the humorist styles a I" comic
snapper" But about the new short play that
was tried at Keith's yesterday there was moth.
, ing in,endcdly comic. II was A Man About
Town" by Stan!slaus STANCE, and was modestly
described in the programme ms a dramatic cpl.
sodc.'' All OF its four characters were men.
Charles Dickson was q gambler. spick and span
OF attire, iron gray OF hair, and very good at
heart, while very naughty in all his practices of
stage. His wife. Lillian Burkhart, was the son
OF a puritanical man OF means. was being
plucked of fathers money BY nnthestric game
sters, and bore the process tearfully. Forres;
Flood was the straightlaced papa. and .
mighty serious old CHAP he was, with
Lncoln's beard. George II. Leonard was an
aged servant, appropriately solicitous for The
gamblers welfare. Tho gambler Of this east
the incxperience OF the young men with his
hand on fathers profits. and the two came to
Ecther because Of the gamblers desire TO warn
the youth. The warning came too late. $1,000
OF fathers money was gone, and the shurn one
WAS suicidal. lie had introduced himself under
an assumed natIe. but on his real name being
known the gambler learned that the girl he loved
was the others sister. As the gambler was pom
dering the question OF raising this sum the
father was announced. He came to demand the
letters that had passed from his daughter to the
gaInostcr, and after some parley securet
Them for the desired check. The boy,
tears Immediately had a new meaning
and no went away happy with tht
assurance that the money lost could he made VI
on the morrow. Outside he met his father ant
confessed. Then the two came back. the paren'
to tear up The surrender OF all pretensions TO hi
daughters affection. which tho gambler hat
written. and to assure that worthy that he wou!i
DO welcomed TO his firesidc. Painstaking prepa
ration was apparent throughout the shor
drama, and Messrs. Dickson and Flooi mad,
their scenes satisfactorily narrowing. L.iiliaI
Burkhart was a good looking bay, though
whether youngsters who lose $lo.oGO OF a nigh
are quite such ready sobhcrs Is u question. h,
the time the picce had nearod rs end it's atmo.
phcrc OF gloom MAS convincingly thick. and |
had 10 DO cleared away. II WAS no easy task 10