The times., 1898-04-17
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK
Nothing is more gratifying or more COM
mendable than the example of a player
who appreciates and understands her art
and is willing TO venture and endure
much for its sake. Whether she Is or is
not always successful has no bearing
upon the matter, excepting in so far as
1t concerns the intelligence of her patrons
Such woman Is Julia Mariowe, and to
the credit of theater-goers be it said that
she has achieved more than any actress
on our stage has in equal time. What she
has done is not due to cheap advertising
or cheaper notoriety, but to the honest
appreciation of honest endeavor. Miss
Marlowe is so sincere and earnest in her
work that perseverance, seems to come
with energy and last as long. During
the years she has been in the profession
no scandal. however trifling. has ever
attached itself to her name and what one
individual could do to show that the
stage possesses womanly women and
manly men she has done
And Miss Marlowe is distinctly a clever
and intellectual actress, who has broad
ened with endeavor and lost nothing of
her fire or originality as she acquired art.
Her impersonation of the Countess Val
eska was lacking in none of the essen
tials of such a part, and, Furthermore,
brought with it a conviction of reality
that was satisfying and praiseworthy.
The wayering noblewoman, uncertain as
to whether it We're better TO espouSe the
cause of Cupid or of Mars, was clearly
and distinctly portrayed. the one forming
q strong background for the power of
gr~t.- ri
art lost little if anything by the realism
of her interpreta tiOn, and the careful
building of situation, incident. and climax
established a sequence and formed foun-
dation for every Weighty bit of work.
Altogether the Characterization was al
rnirable and went far toward increasing
ones respect for Miss MarlOwe's ability.
There is a great deal of science in run
ming poor attraction and making money
on it. and Flynn and Sheridan have had
sufficient experience in the science to
open an institute in which to teach it,
The policy of carrying around the coun-
try a catch-penny aggregation of inferior
talent that il is possible to praise only in
advance notices can hardly be called COM
mendable. IT is not more so when peo-
pie are drawn, in larger towns by the en-
ployment for a brief period of notorious
performers whose names may be counted
upon to fill the house. Often even these
attractions are so wretchedly worthless
that they are boldly hissed. irrespective
of the fact that the management have
beforehand acknowledged the lack of
merit in their entertainment by inserting
such lines as wait for the finish" and
''Yousouf Will wrestle in the burlesque-
wait all through the program.
Though il is often impossible to obey
such Instructions they have least
the result of filling out tho bill and max
ing the dreary outlook seem longer # not
more worthy. When the features of
the entertainment are given out as being
one manager and the wife Of another
there is additional cause for anger. In
ficting the public with a poor show does
not give the management the right to
throw themselves in, and when the pair
are no more capable or good looking than
John Flynn or Crissie Sheridan, the result
is not very pleasing. Both should learn
that public opinion and not big types
makes stars and that the former is TO
be gained by years of good wOFk-not by
the science of exploiting prohtabIy a poor
entertainment.
One of the best heavy men seen here
recently is Henry Testa. of Thomas e.
Shea's company. Mr.. Testa is master
of his emotions as well as his face and
body and his work is, therefore. that
of a man who feels as well as under
stands his lines There is a sneerins
way in which he delivers his remarks
that greatly enhances their value. and
altogether. he realizes fully that most
difficult of portraits, an unconventional
villain.
Little Franz Ebert. of the Liliputians.
is one of the most enjoyable comedians
in the world and the hearty laughter that
greeted his work last week at the Co
Iumbia must have been very pleasing to
him. Mr.. Ebert does not rely in the least
upon his size to produce merriment but
is himself master of dry sort of humor
that proves irresistible TO those who hear
it. His bright way of speaking witty SEN
tences is especially provocative of mirth.
while the little mannerisms with which
his comedy is filed rather attract than
detract from its value. One of the fun
niest things in the entire performance of
THE Fair in AIidgettown" was hearing
Mr.. Ebert recite American slang with
that droll German accent of his. One
could not help being impressed with his
jovial good nature and, all in all, Mr.
Ebert would stand an excellent chance of
becoming a big comedian some day
were he not so small.
Winsome Truly Shattuck came back to
the Bijou last week, as the best people
on Manager Grieves' bills have a habit of
doing, and, what is more, she added to
her friends and multiplied them by six
There are few singers on the vaudeville
stage who present so clean turn as that
of Miss Shattuck and the neatness and
dignity of her work really deserve eX-
tended comment. Not only has she de-
lightful manner and sweet voice, but
her songs are well selected and given
with expression and feeling Further than
this, the vocalist has a charming face and
one of the finest of forms, two requi-
sites that would make the fortune of a
woman not half so clever and great
deal less beautiful.
There is no small amount OF magnetism
and charm about the work of Katie EN-
nett. She is one of those jolly little
women who has the faculty of pleasing
/ without seeming to try, though she really
does labor hard for every bit of recogni-