The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-23
IT WAS ALL FUN
Arabian NIGHTS Proved to Be a
Ldlgh Producer.
THE 0'REIL A SURPRISE
Out in an Entirely New RoIe-StoCk-
well at His Best-Carr-The
Cool Audience.

The only fault TO be found with the
theatrical company now here is that
there is no character in the piece for
Mr.. Mckee Rankin. He was somehow
rather expected and was missed.
Arabian Nights is a capital comedy
of the better or best class. 1t is a
polished work with witty lines and
situations TO amuse. The laughter IS
produced in an entirely natural and
easy manner. There is substance
TO the involved story of Arabian
Nights. The thing was done through
out in such real style by the players
that the audience was often nervous
for the characters and particularly for
Stockwell. The veteran comedian did
so well and was such a lamb in all his
dilemmas that he had the sympathy of
the whole house. Stockwell has the
walk, the facial expression, the voice
infection. the gesture, the original air
that in an Interpretation such as he
gave makes result well-nigh perfect.
Again was the O'Neil a surprise. Her
part was that of an actress-no not
real actress. but a slack wire perfor
mer or gymnast or something of that
sort. In dress, in demeanor, she might
have stepped off the stage Of vaude-
vile into Grundy's delicious comedy.
She smoked a cigarette, too. And this
is the woman who has played Magda
and Leah and who is to appear as
Elizabeth. All that her admirers can
say, is that she is an actress of the fin
ished, able, talented type that has been
so rare to the American stage, at least,
in recent years. Miss O'Neil contribu
ted more than her full share of the fun
to Arabian Nights. In giving her lines
in this comedy, she afforded all full
opportunity to judge of the wonderful
voice she has. She is wizard with
that voice as she is a mystic in run
ming the gamut of stage characters. AS
the breezy woman of the world last
night she was a picture true to the
straight test line.
Herbert Carr is well liked here in
comedy. He did some of his best act
ing last night. In the quarrel scene"
with Stockwell, Carr was more than |
admirable. His simulated anger and |
his panic over danger of losing the |
lady in the case. were given fine
touches.
Miss Gertrude Foster comes in for a |
oh Of 2 ha 70 . hA |
of Arabian Nights. Her acting upon |
every call was neat and life-like as
usual, and she gave much pleasure 10 |
many in the audience by showing a |
travelling costume and a house gown
one a conception and the other a
dream" as the calander of the
modiste would put it. Miss Foster was
decidedly attractive last evening. In
dressing she had the unusual lot OF a
member of q supporting company
that is to outshine the star. Miss O'Neil
was in one costume throughout the
three acts. but this costume was a
regular sumner" especially the pock-
cts, which however. should have been
OF so much in front.
Mrs. Horace McVicker was an i'm
provement on the conventional moth
er-in-law, giving the part with an ef-
|fectiveness and care too often lacking
in others.
Miss Ricca Allen was scarcely al her
best last evening. She seemed TO be
under restraint. but gave a quite salts
factory rendition of her part.
The liuIe Miss McVicker did the best
thing she has shown the audience since
the engagement opened. when she
made the limp and Hfeless faint into
Carr's arms. In the fainting scene
Carr's manly bosom was doing more
than double duty for minute
Leslie Morosco handled we'll the
character of a johnny" Morosco is
good dresser on the stage.
There was a full house last evening
and the audience enjoyed the fun and