The times., 1898-10-04
AT THE TEEATERS.
Lnfnyette-"On und on

personality that reaches the general pub
lie, that manager is Charles Frohman,
whose new Madison Square Theater
Comedy Company produced for the first
time in this country last night, at the
Lafayette, the Partisan success, ION and
on" Mr. Frohman had spent his p-oxied
time for the last two weeks in explaining
To local theater-goers that his latest ac-
quirement was racey in the extreme,
complicated to a degree, and a dozen
other things that are not exactly pleas
ant to a man who has already purchased
his seats for an evenings entertainment,
Further than this. in a seeming effort to
conceal the merit of his presenting or
ganization, the metropolitan purveyor of
theatrical amusement went SO far as to
cail Reuben Fax and f. NJ. Holland by
the picturesque cognomens of Fox and
Edward Holland. And then a good-sized
audience went up TO Nixon and thinner
mans playhouse yesterday evening and
there discovered that the Offering is one
of the brightest, cleverest and most fin
ished farces of the year, with just enough
spice in it to make New York approba-
tion possible.
ION and OF" is one of the sort of
pieces that one has always associated
with Augustin DAILY. 1t is brilliant and
smooth, quiet and orderly, rather smii-
able than uproarious-a comedy with
more incidents than situations and more
enjoyable dialogue than either. In fact,
there are many points in the play that
remind one forcibly OF the last of the DAILY
successes. Number Nine" Incidentally
it is also reminiscent of some three score
other presentations of the sort, but then
all farces are alike when one scratches
them deep enough, and it is no sign, be-
cause the horses in a race begin at the
same time that all will reach the goal in
that order.
When il is considered how little really
new material the author has used one
cannot help admiring the ingenious things
he has evolved from his initial story.
While neglected wives and secret hasons,
ingeniously coi1triyed excuses and blund-
ers that render them valid. suspicious
mothers-in-law and loving partners, be
| long TO ancient history. the idea OF
| bringing St Michael into such a mixture
/ through the medium of phonograph
and of introducing a lady with nervous
]
( members of the cast are not only or
/ iginal but decidedly ingenious. And Bis
son has woven them in with his tangle
of other matters so evenly and grace
fully that one cannot help being pleased
at his craftiness. Roth plans are used
: to consistent advantage, and though the
4 fire. named of chem needs more build
ing before il can be made to serve as a
4 second-act climax. no one can complain
- NJ rendered lanub9 HE
The play, by the way. is constructed
( in rather unique manner, and has more
/ separate and distinct themes than d
Sousa march. But this fact initiates
rather in its favor than otherwise. since
/ all begin from the same root and ar
audience has hardly a chance to weary
| of one idea when another is supplied. The
original story admits OF no end of humol
1 and this is so aptIy handled that pene.
| tration of plCt may be said to be one
of the first virtues of a piece that is al
ways pleasing and often very funny in
| deed. The tale told by the comedy i:
! too complicated and too creditable to de
serve spelling by repetition in cold type
MIR. FrOhman's presenting organization
is one of almost unequaled ability and
merit. 1t works together with smooth
ness only possible to an aggregation o
artists. +. NJ Holland still chooses Il
assumption of a farcical role and does
so well that he makes the house disre
gard them, too. His impersonation o
George Godfray, the deceptive husband
is artistic in every way-quite the clever
est thing of the sort ever seen here
Fritz Williams gives a portrayal that, il
its methods, Is only trile different from
the book agent of Charles Evans and no
less enjoyable while Samuel Reed make
his old man Brumaire so consistent,
characteristic that a spectator canno
help wondering how he has managed [
keep his name off the Autographs so long
| There is not much for Reuben Fax [
| do in his brief part. but he does 1t vel
the same praise being admissible in con
nection with the Du Patty de Clam o
Kearney. Amelia Bingham does not loo
the part of an ill-treated wite-har CHAIR
is so great that one cannot ;.'imit tn
possibility of a spouse being EnkiEd [
| her. She is, moreover. a delightful
! legitimate comedienne and clever al
round actress. Maggie Fishers mother
in-law is something of a novelty, thong
, not altogether a pleasant one and III
impression created by her work IS tina
she is under too heavy steam pressure
Katherine Florence makes a dainty In
genue. while Anita Roth, May I.amber
Augusta Close and May Gallyer are a
exceedingly good in smaller characterize
tions. The entire presentation is dc
light to eye and ear, and its success
, assured.