New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-07
THE DRAMA.
LYcEuM THEATRE-E H. soTHERN. y

LYCEUM THEATRE-E. H. sOrHERN. y
When the public was invited to visit the Lyceum
Theatre and see and hear the new play entitled
"Change Alley" It was warned that 1t to ex-
pect a series Of pictures connected with the cpl
sode Of the famous South Sea Bubble and was
not to expect anything In marked degree dra-
matte II confession Is good for the soul the pro-
iectors Of Change Alley" have that benefit. But
whether every confession necessarily Involves abb
solution Is another question. When the writers
and the managers place work on the stage, IN.
nouncng that II Is not much In the way OF
play and II turns out to be truly not much In the
way of a play, they must indeed receive credit Tor
frankness; but the spectator may still nave feel-
Ing that while they were about IL they ought 70
have provided play.
The authors of tbis york Louis n. Parker and
Murray Carson. and the manager evidently made
1t their effort to place before the pubic something
that should at least convey. pictoraliy, notion
Of the days when the South Sea Bubble swelled
UP and burst. And this they did. They stopped
at nothing that would add to the effect OF the
that they showed so far as the satisfaction
Of the eye concerned. II was indeed, VIVA
Nttle shock that the antiquaries OF the aud'ehce
incandescent lights Frightening the Sadlers
Wells Gardens Of 1870. but they were probably used
as the easiest imitation Of something else The
lights themselves seemed to feel that they were
not at home for they all went out few minutes
after the curtain rose. Mr~Sothern was obliged
to make an apology. and then the curtain was
lowered again. and in few minutes the act went
on without the incandescent lights
This was little accident that was accepted with
entire good humor, and everything else about the
staging Of the play went right. The swinging ring
Of lanterns with a rope and pulley to let II down
for trimming and lighting: the muff carried by the
dandy the dismantled Sedan chair used seat
IN the garden: the dishes. the dresses-everything
OH the stage was the subject Of thorough study
and care, Such fathfulness in the production Of a
play and such richness Of mounting and scru-
pulousness OF detail most pleasant TO see. They
are not new at this theatre but they were never
more conspicuous and they reflect credit that
should not be forgotten on the management that
provided them and the research that made them
possible.
Thus the Lyceum Theatre and Mr.. Sothern begin
their season in an suspicious manner. even with
due allowance for the meagreness OF the dramatic
element III Change Alley which has been alluded
10 before. II takes story TO make an enter
tainment into q play. There is a story TO Change
Alley" but there were many times when the story
cane u dead standstill and let the display Of
amusing antiquities go on Ike panorama Chris.
TOPPER Heartrght tMr. Sothern) was poor adj
venturer, who had a faithful attendant I'm an old
sailor called One Hundred and one who had cared
for him when he was a helpless boy and continued
to do so when he was man. Heartright sudde!-
" became rich. through the death of an unknown
for ' him IN the South Sea Company with the pia,
Of making both Of them richer cher Hea5 nh won won
Meartright thought that his friends had all turned
away Ike another Timon OF Athens. But they
had not turned against him. They were only struck
specchess, a situation which does not look exact.
e goS %a ,na PGy c I'll and W sHG
proGched by two outcast women who had knoHn
him In his days Of poverty. The situation was IN
nocent. but she drew hasty conclusions OF worse
nature than would be likely In so brave and de-
voted girl But she soon took the old sailors
view OF t. Could he help 1; II those poor souls
throw some papers out OF The window. The sweet
heart picked them up. the fortune was found 70 10
not wholly Cst. and all was wei.
This simple tale. as has been Unlimited. was sur.
rounded by a good deal more sceTer", and talk. and
!ncllen, and display than were really Required 70
o,l ship fitted up as a tavern there was another
IN a country h)use ana one In its garden, white one
At sd!eIs. Wells and one In Change Alley isct
all were largely devoted TO the exploiting OF such
passing Incidents az might be expected to betal
ho 'es pTe aay tbat has been tae 10 10 VII"
iIr Sothern found slight opportunities for the ex-
ercisc OF his talents as romantic actor, but SUCH
dsshfuy Mss Virginia Harmed appsarcd to u
commonly good adva ltage, acting well aad looking
most beautiful in gowns OF the period which lie.
well provided with part for his peculiar talents.
ard Rowland Blackstone achieved one OF the mos.
marked successes OF the night as the faithful old
providing IL capitally The whole play was, in:
deed excelently cast II moved rapidly. in spite OF
the occasional respies which allowed 10 the
story. and II was never dull It's subject Is fresh.
eye and probably be found pleasing enough gener-
ally 20 serve the medium between Mr.. Sothern
and the many persons by whom his acting and per-
sonality are Justly admired