The times., 1898-02-08

ing versatility from his cast he has
made pronounced failure Those who
were good in the drama were wretched
In the farce and those who were fair
In the farce were wretched in the
drama. Most OF the cast of THE Cat
and the Cherub" were apparently inca
pable of any human emotion and the
emotions portrayed in the lines were
so notably human that even the iTu-
piled excuse that the Chinese charac-
ter is absolutely imperturable failed TO
its purpose. William Beach, as Wing
Shee, and Fred Holland. as Chin Fang
were above reproach, the latter giving
bit Of work that was remarkably con-
else and coherent. Neither was Char
lotte Deane bad, as All Yoi, but the rest
of the players needed every breath of
the incense burned behind the setting
to preserve the atmosphere of the play.
Emile Collins and Harry Mills We're
particularly bad and the rest of the
company was not of nature to need
careful or painstaking distinction.
When 1t is said that "A Gay De
ceiver' is nothing more or less than
Paul Wiistach's screaming farce, His
First Offense," done over il will be un-
derstood that all required in the way
of criticism is q comparison between
it's present state and that existing
when it was presented by the Columbia
Stock Company. There is no doubt
that in the form in which it was seen
last night the farce has few equals as
q laugh provoker. but it is equally true
that in cutting ii to suit dozen pur-
poses Joseph Grismer. named as CO.
laborator. has sacrificed much OF the
charm III the farce. He has succeeded
in quickening the action considerably.
and. by the introduction of several
new complica tions, has kept the pace
up all through the play, but in so doing
he has not only given the impression
that he has been hurrying to get
through but has been Obliged TO run in
various things at various times without
the slightest regard for rhyme or rea-
son. Still the fact remains that "A Gay
Deceiyer'' is really one of the brightest
things the season has brought forth and
the screaming absurdity of the whole
thing leaves only laughing time
throughout the performance.
Though the cast probably did not av-
erage as we'll as that seen here last
summer. some Of the characterization
were excellent. w. @. Beach was de-
cidediy creditable in the role of Homer
Lovejoy NJ. A. Kennedy kept the
house roaring with his droll way of
speaking the lines of Major Gaibyrd.
ana Harry MllIS dcHieFsu no SIldll
amount of success with his rather novel
handling of the part of AdOlphe, the
Lovejoys confidential servant. Lizzie
Evans and Marie Valleu We're both
winsome and charming in congenial
roles. while Edwin Holland George
Conway, Charles Sinclair. Charlotte
Dean. and Dolores Lettani We're more
or less clever in the other characters
in the play.
The final triumph of the evening.
however. was reserved for Anna Held.
The house greeted her as IL might have
greeted a long lost friend.aud applaud
ed her efforts with reckless disregard of
their relative merits She was a huge
success from beginning to end-from
her song to the contra bass0 via Won't
You Come and Play with Me- to the
human music sheet accompaniment Of
Il Want Dem Presents Back" N. 4.
Kennedy was utilized as a foil instead
of poor "Old Hoss' HOey and aided in
the brilliant finish To a brilliant even
ing.