The times., 1899-06-11

worthy of the customary prices of first
class theatres.
\ brief retrospective glance OF the ten
weeks will prove interesting. The plays
presented we're "Trilby." The Charity
Ball. Lost, "a Hours Alabama" 'All
the Comforts of Home" THE Wife"
Sweet Lavender Private John Allen"
THE Dancing Girl" and London Assur-
ance.'' Sweet Lavender" and The Dan
cling Girl" shared the financial honors,
while the reversals artistlcally were "All
the Comforts OF Home, - Lost "a Hours,
and Private John Allen" The clientele
won by the Frawleys did not want farce
or melodrama. They wanted to weep and
be pleased in the same evening. Many
of the plays gave them this combination
of sweet and sour.
Washington is permanently indebted to
T. Daniel Frawley for one thing. Here
after no inferior stock company can be
foisted upon the National Capital. The
city has seen what can be given for sum-
mer prices and will hereafter demand the
best that is securable With few excep-
tions, the artists now engaged by Mr..
Frawley are first class. The plays have
been as a rule selected with a proper care
for the tastes Of the audiences and the
mounting of them far above the average.
When Mr.. Frawley gets ready to return to
Washington for another season, he will
find here an extended circle of friends who
will welcome him and his company. He
has been tried in the furnace of public
criticism and has not been found wanting.
Washington seldom forgets a good thing
and never fails TO remember bad one.
Even the wise man can be once fooled,
~ l.
to be imposed upon.
Reviewing the season, three exceptions
are noted to the general run of good judg
ment The first mistake was made when
"Lost-24 Hours" was put on. 'Trilby"
and THE Charity Ball" had prepared the
the growing clientele OF the Frawley COM
bine for something sad and wholesome.
This was not found in billiards old farce,
never good one, by the way, and now an
tiquated beyond reinvigoration. There
was not the least heart interest in the
piece and that is what was desired by the
Columbia audiences. Then when "AIaba-
ma" had won back a fair measure of the
prestige lost, it was again driven away by
the presentation of "All the Comforts of
Home" From this week on, no errors
were noted until London Assurance was
staged. Now, the best of plays would have
done bad business last week and it is not
Boucicaults farce was not noted for its
immensely The cast was unsuited for
the piece and the four performances were
simply agony for the sweltering and suf-
fering Thespians. There is just one crumb
of comfort in the whole thing and that is
that no royalty was necessary for use of
the old comedy.
Considering the Frawley company as
individuals, many OF them will ever
he FGFa nod in hn
tonians. George CASTOR, Jack Amo-
ry, Georgia Welles, Mary Van
Buren,, Blanche Bates, and Mr..
Frawley are assured of a hearty welcome,
however whenever they return Geoff-
rey Stein does not need this assurance
since Washington has been proud OF him
and his work for years back Others OF the
company have made good impressions. yet
the real popularity of the organization de-
pends upon those already mentioned. Some
have been badly cast and had little oppor-
tunity TO display their powers and will be
watched with interest in their future ca
reer. But individually and collectively,
the best wishes OF theatrical Washington
go with the Frawleys in their coming
trials and triumphs. Then next spring
when the nights are cool and the season
old, all hope to see them come back to de-
light again with their comedy. thrill with
our reservoir Of tears with their pathos.
They Will then be thrice welcome.
From time to time mention has been
made OF the work of Frank Matthew of
the Frawley Company. As a rule these
criticisms have not been nattering. for ius-
tice alone is administered in these COL
umns. But candor compels a good word
Tor the handsome young fellow even at
this late day.
With but scant six months experience
MIR. Matthew is thrown in contact with
some of the most experienced actresses
and actors upon the stage He has no
chosen line of work, but by the force of
circumstances is shifted from heavy" to
Juvenile business upon short notice His
Monday performances are seldom good, yet
later in the week when more familiar with
his lines and situations he shows decided
ability. His work last night in THE Wife"
and as quick supply as Mark Meddle in
London Assurance are indicative CT an
increased understanding of the fitness of
things. Those who have observed his i'm
provement during his engagement here
have concluded that some day he may come
out OF the contest of appreciation with fly
ing coiors. When he gets an opportunity
to rehearse and study a part for three
months or some such period. and Is care
fully directed in his work, Frank Matthew
may be heard from. 1t was not so many
years ago that e. H. Sothern was consid-
cred hopeless proposition, bearing the
handicap of parents greatness. With his
eyes filled with tears from reading cruel