The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-08
ADJUSTMENTS.

The Shaw company packed the Met
ropolitan Theater last night Not only
were there no seats that We're not oe-
cupied or reserved, but many people
were turned away because nothing but
standing room was obtainable. The
Record Unions" prediction that the
troupe would become popular and
crowd the house was thus early ful-
filled. The play last night, "A Ken
lucky Girl is far and away the most
absurdly mixed and inscrutable con
coction that any erratic genius ever
fancied, or yellow covered literature
ever put to print. 1t would weary the
most sturdy to attempt to accommo-
date its plot and it's situations with
anything probable. 1t is as full OF
ridiculous situations and tomfool
propositions as a sensational journal
Of the present day is of boastings oil
its achievements But it served pur-
pose, and possibly was built for just
that; it gave splendid opportunity TO
a number Of capable people for capital
speciality and eccentric character i'm
PRESERVATION, and they successfully
availed of it. Mr.. Shaw's Holford, the
decayed parson, was as strong ana
clever a piece Of character work as
we have seen in a long time. II II
was not a creation it might well have
been If it was an imitation it was
not the less highly creditable to Mr..
Shaw. That one character in MS
hands rendered all the rest of the play
endurable Mrs. Shaws Charity re-
vealed her to surprisingly good ad-
vantage. The lady has marked ability
in comedy lines, and stood next IN
favor with the audience last night TO
the Holford of Mr. Shaw. Miss de
Vaults waif, the pale-faced, crippled
boy pursued by human hounds, was
a sad pitiful and effective personation.
The advance this slender little Wo-
man has made since she appeared here
two years ago is remarkable. Mr..
Hooley was very happy in low-com-
edy role and Mr. de Vault would not
have been less so but that he exag-
gerated the half-witted character com
mitted to him Mr.. Hallett moved
down out of his accustomed realm and
for once was the victim rather than
the villain. and quite as good in inno-
cence as in guilt Both Watson and
I.lewelIyn gave excellent impersona-
tons of wild. reckless mountain char
acters and moonshiners, and Miss Alice
Saunders was effective as the self
seeking grass widow and a tyrannical
wife The piece was we'll staged, the
scenery being special and was full OF
sensations, such as train saved from
wreck by the closing of a draw bridge
in the nick of time; the rescue of the
hero from the log carrier of saw
mill that was rapidly wheeling him
to a position that would have resulted in
his being neatly cut into two equal parts;
plunge from a parapet into braWl-
ing river; escapes and pursuits through
windows: assassination averted by the
praying Of the victim unconscious of
Impending danger; discovery of Sc
cret whisky still by a wall trap, and
any amount Of hOld-ups of various
kinds. at the mouth of pistols and RI
fies In short. it fairly ran over with
the thriIingly romantic but absurdiy
ridiculous At the same time, 1t is an
uproariously funny play, and the skill
of the people in it, their fine adapta-
bility to the calls of absurdity, kept
the audience in applause as we'll as
roars of laughter, with just a lew
resting spells when rascals attempted
dark deeds. In one act Mr.. Hooley and
Miss Kelton gave a song and dance
act so we'll that they were twice re-
called. Tonight the play will be The
Shadows of a Great City" The excel
lent band of the troupe paraded the
business streets yesterday. and to-day
win give a concert and drill at Sew
enth and K streets about noon.
The reconstructed Clunie Opera-house
approaches completion, and will be
ready for occupancy in a few days
The reopening will take place Sunday
night next, and the boX-office viii open
Saturday morning for reservation of
seats for the engagement of Frank Ba-