The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-23
Tl,E local STAGE.
Large md FRshtonablc Audience
ass Pleased by the Meddicr.

y
Pleased by the Mcddicr.
Mistakes, according TO some DEAD and
forgotten philosopher. will happen even In
the best REGULATED OF families. This is as
applicable to dramatic critics as 10 any
other class OF people. Whom stuart Robson
Tho first 20" Is pronounced as In Robert,
II you please produced Augustus Thomas
Few play The MeddIer' In the metropolis
early In tho season. some OF the theatrical
writer's TO use the vernacular, didn't do a
| thing to him. They said that he was get.
ting slightly ancient, thar the funny littIe
break In his voice was all affectatlon and
that II should not be inflicted ON the pub
nc or words 70 that effect. LIN fact, they
Werc even uratini enough to hint that Nh
Robson was deve.oping into a has been.
All OF which, however, bothered Mr.. Rob
son not bit He played his New York en-
sageinent TO good business and then started
- d tour Win exactly the same company
tnstt no had used in the metropolitan plo-
"uotiohs. lie yis.tea number OF the largest
| cities or Tho country and everywhere he
wei ne was greeted by large and highly
pieased audientes. Without a single excep-
| .,on the papers at the points he visited paid
! sioWihS tributes TO his ability and to the
abiilty oil the excellent company with which
ne was surrouaied. In short, his tour was
completely successful from both the stana-
loiul OF the manager ana OF the artist.
Last night Mr. Robson and his company
Paved 'Tno Meddler'' at Sweeny a. Coombs
oIera house to an audience which packed
! the mouse. 1t was an enthusiastic aud ence
100, ana was ITO less fash. onaba than 1t
wi,a enthusiastic. Tho Meddier" is con-
structed on delightfully."- original lines and
is an extremely dover production. 1t treats
oil mo troubles OF one Fitlcis Ed, a gentle
man who is afflicted with the idea that 1t
| is his duty to attend to the domestic af-
, faiis OF all his friends Macy complications
I being thereby caused. Mr.. Eli has a sweet
, heart--a blonde wiiow--whom he all but
! loses through that unfortunate habit OF his
ana no also has sister whom he complete
ly loses for the same reason Ana right here
occurs the one a5ttie rift in the lutte which
causes a discord In the otherwise perfect
harmony. The sister in question: sweet.
unaffected little maiden the very persoui-
hcatlon OF simplicity and ingeniousne $
marries the Only man In the play who is
anything like william He Is a person wi Ii
a past. There are several ugly stories told
ABOUT him aud there is nothing to Indicate
mat they are not true Nevertheless Mr..
Ihomas places the fate of this innocent
young girl in his keeping. ami while the
auuiy nee is led to believe that the union Ia
4 most happy one, there Is still something
abcut the affair which does rot favsrably
Impress the average observer. This bushes,
uf marrying men in order To reform them
may be all right, but some people 10 not
think so. IL Is a dangerous practice which
Air. Thomas thus portrays, and ii is really
about the only thing In the play which 5
not entirely original Other dramatists and
nGvelists Of note have rewarded the man
VINO has gone the gaits" with pure anu
Innocent girl for wife after his mlsdeeds
are old enough 10 have been partially for |
gotten, All Of which however. nd is no |
Act tIn Nil ,ll
way, where the good nan gets the prize |
and the bad man is thrown into that region |
where there Is weeping and wailing and !
gnashing of teeth.
Aside from this feature, the statements |
made regarding which are, of course open !
to discussion, the production is as near per
rect as such productions can be made to b.. |
tn piece is Handsomely staged and Man
ager Arthur has paid great deal of alten-
tloa 10 those little details which are so
essential to the artistic whole.
The people in tho play are as follows:
Francis Eli. the Medder Stuart Robson
NJ Chand.er- Theo lore Babcocll
CAPTAIN oliphant.. Theodore Hamilou
Mr.. Bancroft....- 49,. Harold Russell
Mr.. Shilaw, novelist. George Pauncefort
HENDERSON, a colored servant. ...,.....
49,. -. -. -. ~. Goodman Braye, Jr.
tldiaNd Bnncrofts servants S. Whitbeck
James, Oliphant's servant. Waiter Deming
Mis-. Porter, bethrothei to Ei.......
Mrs Oliphant. ........ Miss Maud Granger
Bessie, ELS sister. Miss Gentrude Perry
Mrs Bancroft. ..... Miss Marie Burroughs
The east is an unusuAny strong ont
The work OF Mr.. Robson a.mself is so we'll
kntiwn to make comment almost super
huous, With tho exception, possibly. of
his presentation of ''l'he ,Iuokins' he new
eT appeared TO better advantage. His
many opportunities in the character of
Fancis Ell are improved to the fullest
ft,I. ha
audience has laugh coming nearly every
time he speaks or performs an action OF
any kind. Miss Burroughs is by no means
50 well known here and her appearance
was, therefore. looked forward TO with a
great deal of interest, She Is Il very capa-
bic actress and has a thoroughly congenial
role as Mrs. Bancroft. The handsome
gowns She wears add no little 10 the artls~
tic effect of her excellent work Mss Perry
makes a delightful Bessie and Mrs. Rob-
son as Mrs. Porter ami Miss Granger as
Mrs. Oliphant are thoroughly good
Theodore Hamilton of last seasons
"Pudd'nhead Wilson" fame portrays the
character OF Captain Oliphant in an OK
tremely satisfying manner. Mr.. Hamilton
is getting well along In years, but he has
lost none of his old-time ability Mr., Bah
cack plays the part of Chandler, the man
Of the world, with an ease and natural
ness which IL absolutely refreshing in these
DAYS of unsuccessful striving after effect. |
Mr. Russell az Bancroft throws all his
energy into his work and gives a very |
clever portrayal of die part. Mr. Paunce
fort as the novelist is satisfactory Alto |
gesher the cast in probably as strong, II |
not stronger, than any organization OF Its |
kind on the road
Hettie Bernard Chase will be at Sweeney |
4 Coomhs' for the remainder OF the week |
at popular prices, The bin for tonight |
nee Little Coauette;" tomorrow IL ght. |
Under Two Flags Friday night. "The |
widow and tho Fool:" Saturday matinee |
and night, Yankee Jack IN Cuba"