The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-09
THREE NEW PLAYS ACTED.
JOHN DREW IN A COMEDr DERIVED
FROM DUMAS ny GRUNDT.

hencun at the Etnplro Theatre, 'atths
prnncin OF Ynior Mt the Manhattan. and
"The Heart or the Eklondike, at the Star.
John Drew began his annual term at the EN-.
pire Theatre last night in q comedy newly de-
rived by Sydney Grundy from an old ono by tho
senior Alexandra Dumas, and produced on
our stage by Charles Frohman. Those
four names were quito sufficient to raise
expectations OF merits In acting. writing,
and mounting, and therefore q big and brill
liant audience Of professional and amateur ex-
perts was present. The outcome was no disap-
pointment, but very positive satisfaction,
and this success was of a kind that de-
serves to continue with the moro general
public. Dumas's original French piece, L
Marriage Sous Louis XIV" was horo pre-
scented in a version entitled "A Marriage
of Convenience" and the alterations con-
pisted OF considerably more than a servilo trans
lation of tho language into English. The
purity and fuency OF Mr.. Grundy's style
characterized the adaptation, and. besides
that, tho art OF the modern playwright
had been applied deftly. Tho outcome of
this working over of material was, firstly, a
piece Of fiction to mi praise as literature.
and, secondly, to entertain people who go to the
theatre for intellectual diversion. without al.
ways demanding dramatic stress or turmoil.
Mr.. Drew appeared as the man who had made
. convenient marriage. He cared nothing for
his bride, while she was similarly regardless OF
him, and each held sentimental relations with
somebody else than tho other. Both be-
lieved that they could complacently treat
their lovcless union as merely nominal,
while letting their informal affairs OF the
heart remain actual. But that arrangement
lcd to trouble. Jealousy was aroused. Mutual
love ensuod. The end was conjugal felicity,
but not until things of sufficient account
TO keep tho action alive had happened.
Tho role Of the husband. cynical and
wicked at first, but tender and true
at last. was treated by Mr.. Drew in his best
manner as a light comedian. His fuency Of
diction, his easy distinction of bearing. and his
seemingly unconscious art OF full expression
were all expended upon the part with care and
effect. His performance, like the play. was of n
quiet sort, to DO quietly enjoyed, and 30 the au-
uience was not noisy nor frequent with in.
terrupting applause, but at the ends of the
acts he was recalled many times and heartily.
Several English forms of the Dumas fifty
year-old play have been seen in New York
within easy recollection. They have ranged
from bald translation to a transfer of the time
and place to modern London, with farcical as
poets impaired to It. Then, OF course, there was
Bardou,s "Divorcons." on the same theme OF a
married pair repenting Of a resolution to seek a
tss III s sseondSr9' a msn lgi S fSe cass. making RHt !, a m I4oi
30 said Of Mr.. Grundy's Job that 1t is distinctly
almost SHases t as ao saay in,rlns slsils t as tha ss Thiie at t the
Same time respectfully preserving and measur-
ably adhering to Dumas's work.
neatly, 'daintiIy, and beautifully. The, single
room in which the four short acts took place
was unimpeaohable. The costumes of the men
Of the period in satins. laces. and gay ornamen-
teton. There was Incidental music by W.. w.
turst, and other fanctful Embellishments which
naQ not been fOnnQ in the London per-
f9rmances. AS to the cast. it added Elsie de
employed her pianantly as the teaching
Seryant to the learning mistress. II introduced
daiis sS d as III in fSS piSe. sns RRe with ar sHs sSms;
was not detrimental to the part assumed.
Arthur Byron played the husbands friend
Daniel F., Harkins was hearty as tho
honest uncle from the country, As a study in
nature anywhere, and as an example Of the high
point attained in modern stags. art In New York.
"A Marriage of Convenience is admirable.
F." 1t is possible that audiences may laugh at
"Miss Francis of Yale, for that happened last
night at the Manhattan Theatre. Otherwise
such q production could never be made. for a
moro dispiriting effort to entertain intelligent
people has rarely been witnessed in New York.
Michael Morton, the author of the farce. plainly
has . talent for devising comic situations. But his
play was based on O motive which almost entities
It to DO called a worthy pendant to A Florida
En~chantment." As q piece Of dramatic writing
It 10, Of course. superior to that misguided at
tempt. But q mere statement Of the theme
will explain the resemblance. A man who
Is SO eheminate in manner that he
II called by his friends "Miss Francis" is
mistaken for a woman through his way
Of dressing and his conduct. An old man
makes love to him and women talk tenderly to
him. The humor Of the play arose entirely from
this suggestion, and 1t must have had its iniu-
0nce on every spectator In the theatre. Unlike
figure was not forced into this position. He as
suped ~ because he was wonanish, and that
t tSsSsd in the o, fsae9 pie ei any % s aueR q c shat ess at.
Sometimes Mr.; ,Morton's crudel knack of build
moment this disagreeable suggestion. But it
was. as a rule, unfortunately conspicuous.
Whatever enjoyment the play will afford to
amusement at its boisterous movement. 1t is
doubtful. however,, If the vehement uproar
come its underlying theme sufficiently to
make 1T generally popular. Its development
SCENES attn i as m0a'o Whole oHn Mis-" GiGss1 Francis smedsit Of
Yale" has little continuity; Possibly that is no.
the toughest sort of, burles9ue. Etienne Gil
rardot, who has proved himself an artistic actor
nis Iaaer T Rhaey rest T Of the hSs c osrS nSp Bay % pia With i the
necessary violence.
A most singular lot of folks was concerned in
"The Heart of the Klondike." the new mclo'
drama by Scott Marble. that held the Star last
night. 1t was not because they wero the rough
and simple folk Of the Alaskan mines that made
them seem remarkable. but 1t was their ~extraor
binary denseness that marked them as unusual
The hero loved, yet would not speak, and
for four long acts tussled nightly with
himself that he might screw his ,our
age up to handing the object Of hi,
passion over to another man. The latter was
as anxious as he could be that the other should
win tho girl. and she was head over heels In love
with the chap that wouldn't announce himself
With these three characters the play wright had
to resort to the weakest OF devices to keep III
the tripartite misunderstanding. and with hi
a other folk the case was not much better
While the man who had but to lool
and soy ono word was glum. q rogue
OF most transparent villainy was heard
~ an eloquent ploader. and for a time thu