The morning times., 1897-02-21

The ''TnIby" Company. which played
at the Grand last week. closed its sea-
son last night, and the players return to
Their homes today. to await the wind that
will blow them another engagement. This
is probably the last OF ''Triby.' There
is no other company producing the Potter
Gu Maurier piece in America. Australia,
England or elsewhere. And here ends
the career Of a notable work. The story
ran through Harper's in 1894, and was
Immediately put into book form. The
book achieved distinction at once. Paul
Potter scented opportunities for a play,
and submitted his ideas to y NJ. Palmer.
An ARA ngeuient was perfected. and MIR.
Potter wrote the play in two weeks time
This was just two years ago, this time.
1t seems almost incredible. hut this most
notable play OF this end Of the century,
'Cncle Toms Cabin only excepted, has
not yet had dramatic entity for two years.
] am not positive but it is possible that
the play was first produced in Providence
for preliminary shaping. The test was,
however made in Boston al John SteCsof's
Park Theatcr, ana the first night was
March IL, 1895. The only member OF the
original cast who was in the cast OF its
last presentation. last night, was Reuben
Fax Last night ne played svengali; on the
first night he played the Insignificant part
OF Coz. Kaw. Wilton Lacsaye was the Sven.
gall and virginia Harmed the Trilby Of that
memorable premiere.
The play at once became a success. Not
q Boston critic dissentcd from the general
verdict of praise. Then it really was that
the Trilby rad began. The sales Of the book
multiplied by ten. There were TrIby hats,
Tulby taffy A shrewd Yankee in Boston
advertised "a Tnlby shoe 10 fit a Trilby
foot" Bare feet We're threatened as n
fashion. Even Tnlby corn cures were adj
YeTtlsed. Everything was Triiby.
A first company was succeeded by
second, prese ntly it was produced in
England, then in Australia. at one time
five companies We're playing it at one
time n American; il made half doZenmen
wealthy, its success killed DuAiaurier
and last night it was played for the last
time nthe very stage made historic by the
last appearance Of Mary Anderson on any
stage All in less than two yearsi
The success of ''Trilby'' actually OBJ
liberated the prejudice against the drama
tization of novels and the flood has since
been all in the opposite direction. 1t was
followed by The Prisoner Of Zenda,"
..ChimnIie Fadden,' and other successes
and failures The Seats of the Mighty
Carmen" DIR. Claudius,' Under the
Red Robe and others, besides many
dramatized novels now under conur aet
for production. ''Trilby' was the pre-
cursor if not the cause of this most
significant reaction in end OF the century
drama.
Now like a skyroeket it has come down
again after its swift. short. brillianE flash
athwart the sky of fame. The most pe-
culiar and unaccountable feature OF its
career was the fact that il was not, what
in theatrical parlanee is called re
peater." 1t never played a money making
return engagement anywhere save in San
Francisco. When the company here last
week returned from Australia the noise of
its success and the revival OF interest in
cident to DuMaurier's death at that time.
stimulated curiosity, which found sub
stantial expression in the kox-office.
1t may be OF interest &c know that, be-