The times., 1898-11-15
AT TaE TREATERS.

Nntiouni--..The Tree of Knowledge"
Ii was by no means an unusual attrac- |
tion which Manager Rapiey offered last |
night at the Nationah Thea;er, though in
most respects a good one. James h. |
Hackett who then made his initial local
appearance in Stellar capacity. is not
and never will be "a great actor. while
THE Tree OF knowledge" in which he is
being seen. gains nothing by seeming in
style Il sort of compromise between the
problem play OF the Empire and the milk
and-water comedy of the Lyceum. That
the organization supporting Mr.. iIackett
is not altogether competent is a detail
that will probably escape those who de-
vote much time TO looking the
merits and demerits of the drama and its
chief exponent.
''The Tree of knowledge might be,
from its general outline. either an ad-
apted Laura Jean Libbey novel quiet
ly-acted thriller from the pen of Frank
Harvey. Its plot has been used, to
greater or less extent, by both of these
eminent authors. while portions of it have
/ apparently escaped from range of sue
| cessors beginning with "A Partisan Ro-
| nance" and ending with "Tennessee's
! Pardner" in brief. the tale relates TO the
! adventures OF one Nigil Stanyon, VINO
| has Il troublesome conscience and a dis
! agreeable past This-the past-concerns
/ an episode with certain adventures,
/ who has discarded Nigil before the first
/ curtain of the piece. only to turn up
| afterward as the wife of his best friend.
Sfnn 10 rtsrr a In rhafn nar
or not to betray her to the husband until
he finds that she is about to eIope with
still another gentleman OF his acquaint
ance. Then he steps in and gives the wo
man lecture that ends only with at
| tempt a force the entrance of her liege-
lord. an accusation from the spouse to the
| effect that Stanyon has attempted her
honor. and final exposition of the whole
affair that awakens everyone and places
the characters in their proper positions
for the dramas close. The latter opera
ton finds for the said Nign Stanyon the
girl he loves, and allows the audience to
go home happy in the surety that virtue
is not always its only reward
This interesting. II conventional, story
is passingly well told-sometimes sharply,
often strongly. and never DULY The piece
is. above all things, cohesive and well
built. so that one has no reason to be
wearied even II he fails to be becom-
ingly thrilled. The characters are more
unusually usual than is the play itself.
There is hero who wears riding boots
and calls people liars, scoundrel who
smokes cigarettes, and says epigrammat-
ic things, two old gentlemen of the gen
, eral order, heroine who loves flowers.
an adventures who sits on tables and
has regretful thoughts of what might
have been, an old mother, cockney SER
want, and butler with side whiskers. So
the offering is all that it should be-the
sort of thing q manager fits with tive
interiors. an exterior and a company OF
eleven before sending on the road to GER
tain profit
But this Is not all that may be said OF
THE Tree of knowledge" 1t is. in add
ton. convincing drama with many in
herently good qualities. The scenes are
forceful and often bright, sympathetic
and always pleasing. easy of understand
ing. and thoroughly enjoyable. There are
two three excellent situations and a
good part for Mr.. Hackett-the average
theatergoer could ask little more.
The star and the members of his COM
J pany impress one as being so anxious "a
exhibit their accents that they have little
time for anything else They catch few
OF the subleties of their lines and. while
many of them give clever portrayals. are
neither uniform in merit nor we'll balanc-
! ed Mr.. Hacketts nIfnSelf mas not lost nj;
e tragedy-queen air and still uses his deer
voice to advantage. He seems thoroughly
honest and sincere In his efforts. how
ever and gives distinct promise of bsins
some day an actor of merit 50 distinctive
as to give him an excuse for appearing
l at the head of his own organiza ton
p George Alison is weak and altogether In
5 capable in the role of the friend, an'
Longley Taylor seems amateurish as al
old major whose only characteristic /
! the dropping of certain pronouns an'
: adjectives in his speech. One who criti
: cises both is at first inclined to accus
4 Arthur Hoops and Mabel Amber of ex
i aggeration. though the work of the for
/ mer speedily becomes notural and schol
e ary while that of the latter Is a'so ex
ceptionally good. E. W. Thomas is
fair old man. and Mrs. Owen NARROW
a worthy old lady. Marian Nesbitt ha
many virtues of omission and few fault
n of commission. while William Eyille car
features a low comedy part with lac
OF conscience that makes one think eithe
- that he is the product of school OF act
l. ing or that he should be. Henry Mott
r. and Gertrude Rivers fill in the remainde
ut of the cast.