The times., 1898-12-13
AT THE TEEATERS.
Coiumbia-.'A Stranger in n Strange
LHnd.r

After an hour of patient waiting on the
part of a rather good audience and sort
of promenade concert by Sol Minister'S
orchestra. the curtain AT the Columbia
was rung up slightly past o'clock last
night on the first act Of Sidney Wilmer
and Walter yincents farce, "A Strange.
In a Strange Land" The presenting e m
pany had just finished long trip from
the Canadian border and had been so de-
layed on the way by the afternoons
heavy snowfall that it only arrived in
season TO reach the theater at the usual
time for beginning a performance. In
spite Of this genuine frost" and its con-
sequences, the piece scored heavily when
1t was finally shown and really proved
the hit OF the year at Luckett & Dwye. q
comfortable little play house
Notwithstanding the claims that have
been made for it, "A Stranger in a
Strange Land" is not wholly original
Indeed, its central theme could never
have been used had not the copyright on
THE Comedy of Errors run out some
centuries ago. The story is treated in
manner that makes one think a BIT Of
what Happened TO Jones' and Char
leys Aunt, too, even though the latter
impressions are likely to be vague. Still.
the farce is as much a novelty as fare
ever are-if not more so-and there can
be no doubt in the world that from first
TO last it is uproariously funny. The dei
Of making young reprobate Introduce
into England his decidedly Londonish
friend disguised as an Indian from a
Al ranch near Buffalo-of letting a m, ddling
\uncle provide In addition the most dis
reputable specimen of the nobe red man
handy, of mixing in this combination a
detective with a similar outfit and then
of getting all turned topsy turyy through
a dozen dominant motives is so fe,t le of
opportunities and SO absolutely absurd
that had the house been filled with other
Cherokees than those on the stage the
laughter that punctuated the enactment
of the offering would probably have been
decreased but little.
"A Stranger in Strange Land" is still
talky and so filed with explanations that
IL drags occasionally, but these are small
faults that may be easily remedied. That
II is not strictly legitimate nor wholly con-
sistent will perhaps not worry audiences
any more than 1t has the authors. What
will be noticed is the fact that the COM
edy is smoothly constructed, that its plot
is told gradually and gracefully and that
every one of the many chances the tale
exhibits is used to the utmost There are
many spaces for brilliant lines in the ex-
plantations ignorantly given an English
family regarding the geographical and po-
litical situation in this country and none
OF these has been passed by. Then the
incidents, episodes and situations that
would naturally suggest themselves in
connection with such a story have been
cleverly handled. and the complete result
is one of the most amusing productions
Washington has had in a very long time.
The company was generally good-de-
spite the harGships of the day preceding
the exhibition Of its work George w.
Leslie impersonates a gilded youth whose
scintillant qualities are described by his
not unusual effort at dancing the can
can in the plays first act. The portrayal
Is all that could be asked Robert Fis her
Is not only good actor. but an expert
writer of shorthand, If one may Judge by
the rapidity with which he reeled off va
rious letters during the evening. white
Ihomas kierGs seconded Mr. Fischer's ef
forts as the Uncle with representation
OF the snobbish friend that was enough
ike Etyine Girard to be comicaI without
resembling him in a sufficient degree 10