The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-31
THE LOCAL STAGE.
strong Presentation OF Gillette.
WScCref ScrxirnN

"Sccret Service"
But few. II any. American author, have
succeeded in giving to the public n. play
as strong as is william Giliette's, "secret
Service" which was presented at Sweeney
Coombs' optra house last night II liz a
production which not only has that much
to-he-deslred tendency towards the eleya.
ton of the stage but also tends 10 make
tno people who witness II NIL the better for
having seen It, and that lis something
which Is extremely rare at this day ana
time. II does not picture the glorious side
OF the bloody struggle with which II deals
II does not portray the excitement OF bat
tie nor the deaths which soldiers meet
therein; 1t does not tell OF men who fight
out In the open air with their comrades
around them and tie inspiring scent Of
battle In their nostrils. Instead OF these IL
tells of the dangers through which PASS the
secret agents OF government in lime OF
war; of the men who go into the lines
OF the enemy and who freely offer up their
lives in the service of their country With
out the hope OF Il soldiers death when they
fail In their MISSION; without the hope OF
any glory or In many cases. any reward
unless IL be the consciousness of work we'll
done. And the story that Secret Service"
tells of these men IL SO cleveriy construct
ed. Its plot and Its situations are 30 true
TO nature and the play is withal, 20 In
tenseiy interesting as to furnish "A perform
anco which leaves little or nothing to be
desired even by the most captious critic,
The part OF the brave and chiyalrous Colo
mel Dumont, whose character is of such u
noble nature as TO prevent him from send
ing out valuable Information to mis- gov
erEment because the power to do so has
been given him by the woman he loves, VINO
would become irretrievabY involycl were
he TO act rs his duty impels him to. is one
which appeals to every American IN whose
nature there Is that Innate love OF game
uess and grit so characteristic OF the race.
The play is American. every line OF it. and
Tor such plays. when properly presented,
thH,e are no substitutes.
The cast seen in last nights perform
ance, with the exception Of the three people
wro essay the roles formerly portrayed by
Mr.. Gltlette Miss odstte Tyler and Miss
Amy Busby, respectively is exactly the
same as that which gave the piece its
original production in the metropolis. The
company is exceedingly strong and well
balanced throughout. Mr.. Alsop who plays
this part OF Lewis Dumont is capable
actor OF decided talent. as he must neces.
sariiy be to succeed such an eminent de-
lineator OF the character as Mr. Gillette.
Mr.. Alsop does not overdo his work In
any particular. His Interpretation OF the
part Vi LHe ICdTltSo oeNIct oei WV "eSbe -
finished and complete thioughout and he at
all times shows the results OF careful and
Intelligent study. Miss Perry, VINO plays
Sarah Varney, Is a more than clever actress
and her portrayal OF tho character entrust-
ed to her Is 1, smooth and artistic one, III
Though her peculiar cnuncia,aon. which may
or may not be the result OF an effort 10
edye a correct delineatlon OF the manner
OF speech common among Southern peopac,
detract somewhat from her otherwise
n Va nlli ,t.nl
Milford is decidedly n success, The part
Is a omewhat difficult one, but Miss Ross
has no trouble in getting out OF 1t all there
Us in 1t. to the complete satisfaction or ma
auditors Among the other members OF inc
cast who are deserving of special ment on
are MIR. Gollan, as Arrelsford. Miss Water
man. MS Mrs. Varney; Or. lv,-nas, as Will
fred Varney; Mr.. Brennan, AS General
Randolph and last, but by no means least,
Mr. II. d, James. as Jonas, me minor
characters are placed in the hands OF capa-
Bile people and details are looked after in
manner which has been seen but seldom. " |
evog. on the l1aal stage The company Is
on unusually large one for n road attraction |
and every Individual member OF II may be
said to have been especially selected. There
is no sMrring over of the sma'l parts ou,
ali the work Is done as IL was IN the |
original metropolitan productions ot the
y-thoroughly and we'll. Tho complete
cast Is as follows:
Brlgadier General Nelson Randolph,
commanding in Richmond. ..........
..... $50. -. .Mr Joseph Brennan
Mrs. General varney. wife OF a Confed-
crate officer Of high rank. ............s
.....,....... Miss Ida Waterman
Edith varney. her daughter. .........'.
Observation-Disclosures. aitss Sara Perry
wilfred Varney. her youngest son..
.............,,....., MI. waiter inon'as
Caroline Milford. from across the street
......................M Miss Hope Ross
Lewis Dumon,. Uaited Statce secret SER
vice: known in Richmond rs Captain
Thorne. .................M Mr., M. l., Alsop
Henry Dumont. Unitsd States secret ser
vice: Lewis Dumong's brother. ........
...............Mr Joseph NJ. Francoeu.
Mr.. Benton Arrelsford. Confederate Sc
cyet service ....,., Mr.. Campbell Gollan
Miss Kittredge. sewing for the hospitals
......,...... ..........Mise Dallas Tylei
Lieutenant Maxwell. presidents detail
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ar, 9. w. Gloiyn
Martha, negro house servant ,,.,.,.,,,.,
...... Observation-Disclosures. Miss Alice Leigh
Jonas, negro ho,rae servant .,...........
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Mr.. II. y. James
Lieutenant Foray, first operator military
telegraph lines. -. Mr.. Charles Crosby
Lieutenant Allison. second operator MIL
itary telegraph lines Mr.. Hugh Chatham
Sergeant Wilson. MI. i, N. Drew
Sergeant ELLINGTON. Mr.. Raymond Buchan
Corporal Mason. ...... Mr.. II. A. Morey
Sergeant Tyree, aFsiiHry,.........,,....
r Observation-Disclosures. Mr.. q. l.. Steveus
Lieutenant Ensing. artillery.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MIR. c. C. MerriHeld
Cavalry orderly Mr. Frederick Maynard
Artillery orderly. Mr.. Arthur Price
Messenger from hospital .....,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Mr.. Percy Lennon
First war depa,tment MESSENGER. ...,...
.,.........,.......... Mr.. N, r. Walsh
Second war department messenger......
.............,......M MIR. Stephen Stalnacn
Thiid war department messenger.
Observation-Disclosures. Mr.. w. s. Preston
Fourth war department messenEer......
-...,.......M Mr. Henry Koerpsr
Messenger A..........M Mr.. 7. w. Goodwin
Messenger Mr., Juies Fora.
I1ddinger. Mr.. James Richard
The play u. on the whole, handled in
nanner which Is seldom seen outside OF
New York or the other large cities. The
scenery carried IL elaborate and complete,
the accessories are what they should be
IN such . production, and, In short the
presentation Of the piece lest night was a
treRt the like Of which Is seldom enjoyed
ina city the sIEe Of Houston.
. IN ppite Of all this. there were some
few vacant a00fa In the 6nttae M hextar | q