The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-03
A Play Replete With Incident
Won Applause.
FROM A POPULAR NOVEL
Original in Plot and Turn-Restraint
Argument-Efforts OF Various
People in the Capable Cast.

Mr.. Frawley's players seemed to be
a bit under restraint in "a Social
Highwayman" last night. There is a
guarantee with the piece that it is
not a melodrama. If the classification
were changed it would be better. OF
course it seems preposterous that a
melodrama should be prepared for Mr.
Richard Mansfield, from whom Mr.
Frawley has purchased the rights" OF
the play. But it is true. That does
not spoil it, though. The story is re-
markable in sustained interest, in vari-
ETY. and fertility of incident, in con-
ception. The novel was by Miss Eliza
beth p. Train and it had a great vogue
when it was brought out. The plot for
originality and turn might be French.
1t is rare and spell binding in it's way
as the very best mystery story could be.
Miss Trains work captured both the
critics and the reading public.
The play is very much the same as
the book. Little is lost in arrangement
the stage. An almost incredible
amount is compressed into four acts
and three scenes. The scenes, by the
way, were all very pretty. Twice the
apartments of a bachelor were shown
and perhaps set some thoughts surging
in the audience. Then there was a
very correct and very luxurious stu
diO and finally a country home of easy
comfort and elegance.
About the restraint. It wasn't to be
noticed to any extent as the play pro-
gressed. Perhaps after all it was only
the absence of the high pitch which
an audience has grown to anticipate
when men and women in a smart set
are engaged in desperate games for
| fortunes, regulations and loves.
Mr.. Worthing as "Courtice Jaffrey'
was the central figure. He had the
very trying part of man living dou-
BILE life. Some of the situations were
extremely difficult even for the most
skilled actor, but Mr.. Worthing gave a
clear, realistic portrayal of the inter
esting character He was best when
with his friends he just approached
the point of confession of evil-doing
land then veered away from it. OF
course in the quarrel scenes with the
Sonora Miss Johnson) and the love
passages with Eleanor Burnham,' y
Miss Bates, Mr.. Worthing was fairly
in his element. Miss Johnson had
about the same chance" last evening
that she had in the Fatal Card" and
did her work even in more finished
style. That she was under restraint
was joy, the offering of which has
no doubt cost her many hours of down.
right application. In that Miss john
son is not staggering, screaming,
spitfire of an adventures when cast in
that role is her art and she deserves
credit for it.
Miss Bates was exceptionally pretty
and dressy and clever. In all the
scenes she was good as at any time
during the engagement. All the ladies
had stunning" gowns-a different one
in each act. Miss Bates creation of q
carnation and MALE boa was very
neat. Miss McAllister did some very
exacting work in her own best style
as a spiritualistic medium. For this
there was a curtain call. The othel
ladies had very little to do. They were
| Miss Cooke, Miss Robson and Miss
Wren.
Will Levers was an artist with {
Vandyke beard and was graceful ant
natural in every scene. Mr.. Enos look
ed odd with a black moustache, bu
gave his lines with confidence ant
effect. Mr.. Frawley was happy as usu
| al-that is in his acting itself. Tn
part had it's trials and tribulations
Harry Clarke was an admirable clu
man and told story with fine gusto
Mr.. Perry has been best liked her
in the military dramas. 1t may o.
that his work in GA Fatal Card cal
be excepted. He had last night wha
might be called a character part. Cal
it anything, he did some finished act
| ing. His friends were delighted an
the audience showed it's approval.
Tomorrow for the matinee there VII
be "a Matrimonial Maze" with Mis-
Edna Kelley in the cast. In the even
ing the old favorlte 'The Ensign" WI
be given with real bluejackets, !.
wealth of special scenery and ltti
Miss Roth in the cast.