The times., 1897-11-23
AT THE PLAY.

Chas. Coghlan N ''The Royal Box"
CHARLES Ccghlan presented for the first
time on any stage, last night, his drama.
The Royal Box founded on Dumas
play, "Kean, or DiSordered Genius" There
was large and manifeStly friendly audi
ence present, distinguished socially and in
Guiding q number OF members IF the Cabi-
net and diplomatic circles.
Mr.. Coshianin in rewritin the Dumas pieee
inevitably suggests that it was capable Jf
Improvement, else why rewritc il? Back eJl
by this inference The Royal Box" is Il
severe Commentary on "Kean.' The new
play is more coherent in plot than in its
eyolyemenr. The story succinctly ted
seems 20 suggest a strong play, yet when
the play is given the situations are n,,t
convincing, the points arrive padded anl
strike without force, and much is made
conspicuous which does not seem to justify
itself.
A work is usually as weak as its weakest
part, yet not necessarily made up entirely
Of such parts. There is much to praise
In The ROYAL Box The rhetoric IF
the piece is scholarly and beautiful Scat
tered through the lines are pearls Of thought.
Though the first two acts lag, the third
picks UP and closes with fine speech
and the fourth embraces scene Which
is tie stIoke depended upon for the naIpc.
and, indeed, the fame OF the piece. Inh II.
emily the scene is strong and can be given
so as TO irlpTess the auditor more fOrcibiy
than last hight.
Much has 10 be considered on a first
night, the friction of fresh association
with new roles Insecurity in lines, ner-
| vonsnesS, and the fatigue consequent upon
tedious rehearsal When this is Worn out
Of Nj. Coghian and his company, "A
Royal Box viii be very different play,
| but It win need be 60 demand pernanency.
Last night all these negationS upon GOOD
Work Were more or less in evidence. The
(, star himself displayed marked difficulty
in remembering his lines He SPOKE los
his voice was not clear, and his whole atten'
! tien seemed to be centered In recalling
the words he himself had written VI IRE
| attention to make up viii assist he
! Illusion. The audience is called upon 10
believe in the potent magnetism Of T. e
| great actor Of his day, vet Mr.. Cogaan
is at no apparent pains to make him
! physically attractive
Miss Gertrude Coghlan made her thea tri-
ca. debut last night, appearing as Juliet
in the play within the play, in which
| Clarence recognizes bis sweetheart
in the royal box with the Prince
OF Wales The young lady has the
familiar features OF her fathers fam
| ily. and displayed a marked dramatic al biz
| ity. She reads naturally, with sweet modC-
| lation OF the poetic cadenees, and in her
| brief scene charmed her audience. There IS
| strange irony in the fact that Mr.. Coga
| Ian introduces his own daughter to the life
of the stage Tot half hour after Car
| ence, the actor. tells woman who would
| go on the stage that the life is compromis-
| ing to the honor of actresses. But that's
only in the play.
| Albert Brunjng acted the part of the
Swedish minister agreeabiy. E. j. Rat
! tliffe was equally acceptable as the Prince
| OF Wales. but more finished than either
We're tue brief scenes IN which Cherries
| Stanley appeared as the Cehsta BILE. He
| made the audience feel that a fine. nattHed
| artist had the matter in hand and the
| Illusion was complete and the sympathy
| and admiration marked when he was in
] the scene. The ladies were nervous, but