The times., 1899-03-07
AT THE THEATRES.
CoIumbin-"Hrovn,s in Toy


In common with most other forms of en-
tertainment. farces are built TO please the
public and often those which accomplish
their purpose best are least attractive to
the critical eye. This being true, it might
be well to state before beginning a review
of Browns in Town" the J. j. Rosenthal
offering which was staged last night at
the Columbia Theatre. that the thousand
and odd people present appeared to enjoy
the piece hugely. Most of them laughed
from the first to the final scene, and while
there were no real curtain calls. the gen
eral amusement was unmistakable.
To the man who went to the Columbia
for purposes of close examination, how
ever. the work soon ceased to be a subject
for yivisection and became one for dissec-
ton. Browns in Town is formed of a
series of conventional complications strung
out upon thin cord of dreary sameness
and told in lines that are not only of doubt
full wit. but frequently anything but origi-
nal. The story at one time promises to be
a good one. but soon becomes incoherent.
and is followed only with such effort
that the spectator is prone TO give up the
struggle.
Mark Swans product has many of the es-
sential features for the construction of a
notable farce, but it falls short of the
mark. Eggs. butter, flour, and water are
all included in a sponge cake. but unless
a cook mixes them properly the baking is
not likely TO be palatable. So Mr.. Swans
concoction has secret marriage, a father
with a fortune, some obstreperOuS servants.
and number of episodes that seem to
tain the stimulus to mirth, but has been
so hurriedly put together that it is not an
admirable play. A tendency to horsiness
and an evident desire 20 make several OF
ters in the least.
The plot OF the piece-which should be
told for the benefit of those who go TO see
it-concerns one Dick Preston. the not-too-
obedient son of an old gentleman who is
strongly opposed TO matrimony. Notwith
standing paternal objections. this youth
has welded girl of his choice. and be-
cause of them he takes an -of-the-way
cottage and the name of Brown. Shortly
after Suzanne Dacre. friend of the fam
lily, arrives and is let into the secret, sym
pathizing so much with the pair that when
a former admirer OF the wife comes she
permits him to think her Mrs. Brown.
Then the father puts in an appearance, and
takes the friend for Brown, and the real
Mrs. Brown for his spouse. while the false
Mrs. Brown enters and proclaims herself
the legal partner of the aforesaid bogus
Brown. Whereupon other troubles occur
and end with the old fellow taking the visi-
tor for a bigamist-with a final explana-
ton and a conventional blessing.
The best spot in the entire performance
is Belle Davis. an octoroon, who is really
funny in the role Of a cook lady" and
who sings coon songs in a manner fully
equal to that of May Irwin. There is :.
touch of genuineness to Miss Davis rem
dering of the rag time" ballads that most
entertainers lack wholly. and her success
last night was memorable. She was not
only thrice encored after her speciality in
the second act. but was brought forth
again in the third by general request. and
again scored heavily. In the words CT the
Snowman. Miss Davis alone is worth the
price of admission
Apart from slight tendency to take the
entertainment for an athletic exhibition.
the cast is notably good, and gets the
most possible out of the very impossible
material it has TO handle. James o. Bar
rows is the senior Preston. and his work
in the part is Incompatible. while John
Lancaster is fresh and convincing as the
unfortunate guest, and Mark Swan is
boisterous but fair as the junior Brown.
Anna Belmont, whose tendency to stout
ness is greatly aggravated by the assump-
ton of a hideous bicycle habit, is less
natural and quiet than of yore, but still
vivacious and magnetic. Her impersona-
tion of Suzanne Dacre could hardly have
been improved upon. Kathryn Osterman
the role of the wife. and yet makes the
creation iaughable. Josie Sadler does well
as a German heiress. Edward Poland is
rather an unusual dude. and Andrew Lee
shows intelligence in his assumption of
the small part of a gardener. The pro-
duction is lavishly staged and acted with
spirit. All Mr.. Rosenthal needs is play.