The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-11
rnE LOCAL STAGE.


THE LOCAL STAGE.
s,myth & Rtce's Comedians in "My
Friend from india"
"My Friend from India" Was accorded
a yeritatls ovation by the large audience
which saw him at Sweeney 4 Coonips
opera bouse last night, aud he and the
other members of the smyth & Rice COM
pany, which presented pu souchets clever
fierce comedy, showed their appreciation OF
the enthusiastic reception by furnishing an
endless amount of good, old fashioned fin'
Nothing more amusing than My Friend
From India has ever been seen on the
local stage. The complications which re-
suit from the introduction, under pecu'iar
circumstances, of theosophically- Inclined
barber into the New York home OF
wealthy pork packer from Kansas city,
and the formers transformation into an
Eastern wizard by the rich mans son. who
is striving to escape the parental storm
.'whig." IS SO we'll known to the people
who read the play when II was given its
initial metropolitan production as 10 rem
der synopsis of the piece entirely super
duous III Is only necessary To say that the
farce is remarkably smooth In conseruc-
tion and In execution, that It's situatiohs
are overwhelmingly funny, that Its lines are
extremely bright and clever throughout,
and that il was well put on last night by
a capable and evenly balanced company.
TIE Laughter and applause ELECTED by this
pleasing combination was 40 pronounced
at times as to interfere with the action OF
the piece--and en- PEASANT, there is plenty
of action--by preventing the members OF
the cast from taking up their cues as
rapidly as is demanded by the nature OF
The production. IL was one long laugh
from start to finish, and the asser-
tipn is yentured that there WAS not dis.
appointed person in the entire audience,
There are no star parts In MY Friend
From India" but all of them are good.
The character Of Shaver, the borber, is
IN an extremely clever manner by
George Mack, whose performance Is ensy
and smooth throughout aud whose facial
EXPRESSION alone is enough 10 make ono
ln,irb. Charles IL. Bradshaw plays the
part of the millionaire who although well
along in life, still shows that certain por-
lions of his education have been neglected.,
and he plays It well Ernest Wardc gives
an eminently pleasing Interpretation OF
the role of Charles Anderhoit the young
whose designations cause all the
trOuDlg. am MlSS LNdh Iiihob ''N''
very clever work as the German maih.
Miss Gilman Is not as large, so iar as
stature goes. as some OF the other members
of the cast but That but in TINS M
stance is meant TO express great deai.
Miss Gilman has an entirely original con-
ception OF the character she portrays, an"
her Interpretation OF II Is very, very 'up,
ny. Her every appearance Is the sisnal
for expressions OF approval. Miss Arnot
Nf,. ms trCpt lS DlBuBlnR
at all times, but In the mirror scene WIN
Mr.. Mack she appears to especially goou
advantage Miss Even, Miss Strickland
and Mas Otis, in The respective parts OF
Marion. Gertrude and Bernice, are AZ
good. Miss Ewen's opening scene WIN
Mr.. Wafde In the third act, during when
shc sings Because" In very pretty. The
nusical number introduced by Miss Strick-
lend I'm the first act. In which she is as
sisted "a by Mr.. Bradshaw. Is another
clever feature. The other members OF the
company. Lutte vroman. Charles Il. Mitch
ri, and Forrest Seabury, are all satIsiac-
tory.
The performance was on the whois
very pleasing one. and was only mhrreh by
the audience, wfich. ~ 'ts nsua' ,na n,,e,o
to escape from the house, ruined the hnaie
If the last art Most Of the women IN thc
house took of their hats when the curtain
first went up. but many Of them replaced
heir exaggerated head covering before me
last act Was half over, and the lives OF
those behind them were made burdens
during the remainder OF the performance.
When Houston audiences learn to remain
seated until the end of a performance, ana
The women among them-God bless EN-
are made aware OF the fact that big velvet
hats and waving plumes are not nearly so
easy TO see through as pane o. glass.
Ho,ston will have much 10 be thankful