The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-22
MORE OF THE NEW PLAYS.
TIE BIJOU REOPENBD WITH 1.-THE
MARQUIS OF MICHIGAN"

and "a Daughter of Cuba,' Eng
Iish and American Crude MelodrRma'
Sam Bernard made his plunge at the Dijou
Theatre last night, and 1t was uncertain
,,hether no would sink or swim. though
tho probability seemed to be that he
would fioat ptosperously. Few ventures
OF the stage have been 30 difficult to
estimate as to durable value. But some things
were sure. Two OF them were that Mi.
Demands friends present were anxious to be
pleased and that he was anxious to please
them. No actor ever worked harder. That
was the fault in his performance. He was all
the while at a stress and strain that fatigued
him and some OF his audience alike. But
he was funny, and the question Is whether he
will be sufficiently funnier when he 10 castor
and duieter. Alice Atherton was another factor
to puzzle the prophets. She has had long experi-
ences OF many kinds as an actress. Neverthe-
less, she was as nervous as an amateur, Much
OF the material Entrusted to her was Intellectual.
as she mlstreated II, The Efforts OF minor
member OF the company were affected badly by
lthe lack Of confident authority in the princl-
pals. Under these disadvantageous circum-
stances, the new play. The Marquis OF Michi-
gan" by Glen Marlborough and Edward NJ.
Townsend. Jared badly In the Interpretation.
But II was not killed. nor even injured
beyond quick recovery. 1t was an un-
commonly meritorious farce. packed full
OF witty remarks. humorous ideas. and
original devices Of comicality. There was
more OF clever matter In 1t than half o dozen
pieces OF the same type ordinarily contain. and
this abundance OF ~facetious material needs
only a facile delivery to an audience to realize
its worth.
Mr.. Bernard enacted q German-American
artist. who. while travelling in Europe at a
tune and place where neither paper nor ink
was at hand with which to write the will
OF a dying friend. had 1t painted on his
back. Thus he came home o living doc
ument. and the vicissitudes which beset
him arose from that fact. As has been said.
Mr.. MacDonouRh and Mr.. Townsend had been
ingeniously prolific in evolving droll conse-
quences to the fellow whose legal status was
so curious. They were quito as unconven-
tional, down to 'the smallest Of them. as
the concelt from which they were drawn. Mr..
Bernard showed q keen appreciation OF his
principal part in the complications. and he
should be able soon to become as amusing as
he tried too hard to be last night. Miss Ather-
ton had the role Of a strong woman
from o circus. The part depended
mainly for its fun on the woman's
ACTRESS was a weakly Feminine: It Is to be
hoped that she will learn quickly to initiate the
ters talked about. but which she failed
to indicate in her handling Of the men
who Ga. came al int sovs collision sion With With her her on HOY NTd
ioyment.. There we're other Interpretations Of
thoroughly by a kindly. enthusiastic and de-
ond act, Just such a procession OF ushers oyer
laden with flowers as are a part OF the show
Music Hall, and which may have come from
Mr.. Demands former companions at that
safneG the %as ssass id dSH q s fae G sFhISit f1slo' f fPs
actor was compelled to make a speech, and he
did so with a modest confusion, In pleasant
comedians Of greater celebrity.
TIT plays that have returned to us this week
with suitable travelling companies are THE
White Heather" the English melodrama
which was here very prosperously last season.
and is now showing its scenic qualities at the
Brooklyn Montauk; Sweet Inniscarra." in
which Chauncey Olcotthas during the past year
increased his popularity. and which is at the
Harlem Columbus: In Gay Manhattan" at the
Harlem Opera House and Wine, Women and
Song at the Grand orera House.
The Castle Square stock opera company Is
engaged in a weeks revival OF Dorothy" at
the American. and the Donnelly organization
Is presenting Young Mrs. Winthrop" at the
Murray Hill.
William Illl0tU6 Win DeCEeU o6TVlC0 al LILO
Empire. Stuart Robson with THE Meddler" at
wallack's and Denman Thompson with 'The
Old Homestead" at the Academy OF Music are
In their last week. De Wolf Hopper with
THE Charlatan' at the Knickerbocker. Francis
Wilson with 1.-THE Little CORPORAL" at the Broad
dom. at the Fourteenth Street. Otis Harlan
ward Il. Sothe a4u With hh'hhTffh e &dYentare Of Lady
Ursula" q the Lycepm', the LiliputianS with
the Strand co@Pany with "A Brace, Of Part;
El dx SitS at The, thS M fdaDsb saa Sids' S 9h sbs H eIsSSi
sauare. Charles, Coghlan with THE, Royal
Box at the Fifth Avenue. The TuEtle' at the
6a asino Sndi "A f Ranswa goe Girl" p at Days SS come
plete the list of current dramatic entertain
Fortune Teller" with which the Alice Nielsen
comic opera. company, will come to- Wallack's:
81 te eSs 1l Enpilr Sni snd wy asp S!FfG So hiie HEG an f FEnEl
= Hen drama which, Jacob Lit win bring, 70 the
fThe Meddier" to Brooklyn next, Monday and
there 1t will be the first In a weekly succession
Of pieces at the Columbia under Col. Sims
management.
The dizzy heights and awful depths OF a dia-
mond mine in South Africa. A big basket
suspended to a trolley wire stretched across
from brink to brink. The wall OF earth and
rock at one side ready to break of. A woman
abandoned at the p~recipice by the villain to be
killed in the impending disaster. A second
woman in the trolley basket. endeavorinG to
rescue the other. but not quite In time to reach
her. The mass falling into the mine with a
dreadful crash. The seemingly doomed wo-
man leaping desperately and catching the bas-
ket with her hands. That is what happens in
John Martins Secret this week at the Star.
But 1t is not as impressive an episode on the
thor doubtless hoped for It.. The mine does
not through any illusion look bigger than its
shown would have to be as little as dolls. The
women do not seem to be In danger Of being
hurt much II they should be dashed to the
ground. The landslide is too palpably a mat
ter OF painted cloth to suggest weighty conse-
ouences. The woman who leaps for her life Is
plainly supported by a wire. 10 the spectators
are not much thrilled, and they laugh a great
In a ten-to.ffty theatre as In any other. In
spite OF the lack OF scenic success In its sensa-
tional act. however. this play by sutton Vane