The evening times., 1898-06-03
THINGS THEATRICAL.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES John.-

To the many who took advantage OF
last nights performance of Brother
John to see the Columbia Stock Compa-
ny for the first time, the presentation was
In the nature of a revelation. 1t seemed
impossible that an organization playing
at popular prices could produce as effect
ually and with such a cast, plays which
as yet command a royalty, and when 1t
Is understood that within the brief perioi
between each the combination is brought
down to work as excellent from the stand
point of the stage manager as of the crit
ic of individual merit the Careful prcsea-
tations being given become nothing less
than wonderful.
1t is a long step from Held by the Enc
N.Y. to Brother john" but she company
make it with seeming ease. In fact, It's
performance of W. H. Cranes pristine
success is even better than that of Gil
lette's roaring war drama, If not in the
minor details at least in the worth of The
principal players. James o. Barrows. Ag-
mes Findlay, William Inge.son and Mild
Baslam are a quartet the excellence of
which would cover ~ the 1eferrs o. the
most imperfect production. And in Mar
tha Morton's beautiful comedy all are af-
forded parts that seem to suit them as
though cut and made to order.
Mrs. Findlay contributed bit of char
acter work unequaled in its inherent
merit Her Beck Hackett was fun of real
humor brought out with care and intelli-
gence. Mr.. Barrows, too. made the title
role as rugged and forceful as it could
possibly be, his comedy coming in its
usual happy vein while his pathos and
power created their impression in con-
trast. Miss Haslam and Mr.. Ingersoll
are always good and therefore need bur
scant praise. Their versatility was prov
ed in a rare degree by the difference be-
tween their roles of Wednesday and of
last night. Both were excellent. John
Lancaster presented a well conceived and
executed juvenile impersonation. Mar
garet Mayo did her little to better advan-
tage than her much in Held by the
Enemy" and Elenora Browning, the lat
est addition to the company. made a
pleasing Pickles" even though her girl
ish righteousness seemed frequently fore
ed and unnatural.
After his strong work in the role of
Surgeon Fielding ii was a disappointment
to find Alexander Kearney ranting his
way through a mildly heavy part as
might have done any of our notorious
not up to his former standard either, and
a strong suspicion exists that he did no
worse simply because the role did not ad-
nit of it. Though plainly an amateur
Lillian Evans got much out of her por-
trayal Of Maria, while both ]. r. Fur
long and j. A. Bass were fair, though
awkward and i'll at ease.
The most reprehensible part of what
would otherwise would have been we'll
nigh perfect performance, was the work
of Carolyne Shirley and Annie Alt, as
Mrs. Van Sprague and her daughter. That
two such important parts should have
been entrusted to people who have evil
IDENTIFY never before been nearer a stage
than the first row of the orchestra, seems
inconceivable, but it is nevertheless a
fact. Mr.. Barrows may have labored un-
der the impression that both were geni-
uses. They are not. Neither has one iota
OF talent, and neither has any reason for
her appearance. They seriously marred
the entire entertainment. and completely
ruined some of its most notable scenes.
The piece was staged with scrupulous
regard for eXactness in furniture and set
tings. and was, in all respects. save those
mentioned, one of remarkable and uni
form excellence