The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-29
NationnI-~Too Much Jo,nso, :,

Too much audience was face 70 faro
with its old friend. Too Much Job,so,,.,
at the New National Theater last nfebt
Each appeared to enjoy the experience
OF seeing the other again, and each GER
tainly was 1oath to part at the end of
the three hours spent in the others COM
pany. The stage was sufficiently commo
dious to contain the Johnson portion OF
the mutual admiration society, but the
auditorium was hardly sufficient to prom
erly allow the audience to make itself
as much at home as was the manifest
intention of it's host. 1t oyerran the gal
lery, filled the orchestra chairs and cir
Gle. made space in the balcony at a very
decided margin to the good, and an emp
ty box a feature of the evening. All in
all, it was sight which makes mana
gers enthusiastic and an audience forget
the ills of the day in the pleasures of
the evening
Mr.. Gillette's comedy has stood the test
Of time and every year appears to add
to its popularity. TOO Much Johnson"
IS an impossible play, which interpreted
by an inferior cast would be simply un-
bearable. but presented by such people
is and cannot be anything but an arts
tic and popular success. Many of the
comedies which have succeeded It have
been based on situations original with
MIR. Gillette. and of such merit have
these borrowed ideas been that the newer
pieces have been most successful As
imitation is the sineerest fattery. Mr.
Gillette is naturally gratified that his
ideas are so fertile in possibilities.
a cd
be conceived than that of the scout in
Secret Service" and of Augustus Bill
linss in ''Tco Much Johnson Yet Mr.
Gillette imparts much of his personality
to each. and so they are equally pleas
ing As an enduring bit of neat, clean
and artistic comedy. the name of Bill
lings viii long appear side by side with
that of Sir Lucius in THE Rivals or
with David Holmes in "a Bachelors Ro-
nance"
Added interest attaches to the present
engagement of Mr.. Gillette by reason of
it being the last in America before the
long-looked-for presentation in London
For this cause. perhaps. the company in
support is exceptionally we'll balanced,
Washington being the gamer by the Lon
don engagement. The comedy does not
admit of any strong work by the Ia
dies. yet none better could have been Sc
lected had more arduous duties been
placed upon their shoulders. nor could
the parts have been better taken than
a present. Miss Conquest, we'll loved by
local audiences made d sweet Mrs Bill
lings, the one legitimate bit between she
and Mrs. Gillette in the third act serving
only to add color to the comic situations
before and after Mrs. Patterson, the
mother-in-law. is as natural as of old
and most pleasing character study is
that of Joseph Francoeur. who rather
underdoes than overdoes the part. Sam
Reed is unique in his line and Joseph
Bremen does the best work of his life,
as the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and much-be-
fuddled Johnson Petite Hope Ross. she
of the tiny voice and Mr.. DAILY do the
small parts as they have done larger
ones. with rare ability. The cast is so
competent and the lines so bright and
snappy that the production goes like
clock work. each member of the company
doing his or her part with his or her whole
heart. A complete investure of new and
elaborate scenery is an Improvement on
that used in the former presentation.