The times., 1898-11-29
AT THE TKEATERs.
NationaL"Hon. John sGrigsby.

National-"H0n. John GriRsby."
Some time ago-so the theater-going
public is informed-Soi Smith Russell
failed to find the opportunities he desired
in a play with which he had been. sup
piled by Martha Morton and straightway
gave the contract for another to Charles
Klein. dramatic author who has sue
cessfully fitted a range of actors be-
ginning with De Wolf Hopper and ending
with Wilton Lackaye. Mr. Klein went to
work Immediately and broke several
dozen records in long-distance writing by
supplying his prospective star with a
three-act comedy in something like five
weeks time. This comedy, duly embel-
lished and carefully staged, was exhib-
tied to the usual large and cultured audi
ence last night at the National.
Just what kind of merit the effort con-
tains would be somewhat hard to deter
mine. Chiefly, it is novel, unique, quaint.
Not that the vehicle does not achieve the
conventional effects In the conventional
manner and with the conventional people,
but then all sorts of houses may be built
OF bricks and Hon. John Grigsby is dis
ttnctly u departure from the general run.
Much of this result is caused by the
witching time in which the piece Is set
lSoO-and more by the studiously praise
worthy detail which has been employed,
both by the actor and the author, In Civ
ing 1t that atmosphere which proves so
great charm. For the rest.g there Is a
rather pretty little love story that is not
above exciting conflicting sympathies-in
so far as 1t eXcites any-and a number of
laughable or weepable situations that
pleased the house immensely. -t.-
Hon. John Grigsby'' is not a great play
and in many respects 1t is not Il good one,
but ii affords entertainment of the clean
est and most wholesome variety-it
amuses if it does not inspire-it gives Mr..
Russell several opportunities for good
work, and so the constructors probable
purpose is fulfilled. To compare the pre-.
sentation with "A Bachelors Romance"
or even "A Poor Relation would be little
short of folly. The methods displayed in
its building are too primitive, the tale too
simple and too little touched upon, and
the entire work too different in reason and
result for that. 1t contains great deal
of rich humor and a great deal of pathos
some of 1t tenderly natural and the rest
of il rather strained. Neither IS overly
legitimate but both reach the public ear
and eye with all the effect that they were
intended to have. And so Hon. John
Grigsby" is a pleasing play-just pleas
ing play.
Its plot is probably already familiar and
so may be sketched very briefly. The
principal parsonage in the piece Is poor
LAWYER, whose honesty has cost him
everything excepting a bare living ana
threatens to deprive his son Of the woman
he loves. Alienation from this distress
comes with the attorneys nomination TO
the Supreme Court-a nomination bought
by a certain widow who has an aHectlon
for him and secured by a villain OF dye
so deep that he might pose 10 advantage
on the advertisements of color factory
The candidate Is elected and all goes We'll
until he discovers how he has been put
into office refuses TO forsake his princi-
pies and is In fair way to resign when Il
better way opens to him and all ehds
happily for everyone In the company
The Star gives a portrayal of the title
role that is astonishing or must be TO those
who have always refused TO believe that
he is possessed of any versatility MT.
Russell makes up the part to look ike
Henry Clay, and plays ir' as Abraham
Lincoln might have, had he been tIat
kind of an artist There are in his work
many of the lovable mannelisms and
characteristics that We have known so
long. but it is still very different from
the things that Sol Smith Russell usuily
does and proves that he can act cleverly
without destroying the even more ENJOY
able qualities of his entertainments.
The supporting company is partially
good and would have been better had its
members seemed less nervous and more
familiar with their lines. First in order
of merit. perhaps. comes William Far
num-the Don Jose Of OlGa Nethersole
Carmen" and the lieutenant OF Tn
der the Red Robe MIR. Farnum has lit
tie chance to do anything. but he Is an
intelligent, capable. conscientious fellow
and gets more out OF that little than most
people would from a great deal. Alirti
Hudson is good in a low comedy role. as
are William Sampson and Jacques Mar
tin. while both William Cullington and
Lionel Barrymore strike one as being ar.-
ateurish and tiresome. James Lack7ye.
who looks and is very like his brother
Wilton. is excellent in a heavy part,
Fanny Addison Pitt thoroughly artistic
in a light one, Lila Convere and Alice
Thiel appropriately glrlish. and Florence
Rockwell unconvincing, displeasing, and
utterly without conception of her cart.
Two matinees.