The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-15
ADJUSTMENTS.

"Friends" was played at the Clunie
Opera house last night by the Daley
Stock Company. We have seen II given
bv several troupes, and are prepared
to say none have done it better than the
Daley Company and few as well. Dra-
matte art finds it's highest development
in the closest approach to nature. Inc
over-coler that is demanded of the
painter in order to express within mar
row limits the thought of a broad land
scape, or to give to portraiture sem
blance of life, is likewise necessary IN
the work of the dramatic artist who eX-
presses heightened history in the mimic
show of an hour or two. When, how
ever. this is used in excess, it becomes
extravaganza. and an offense. That
nice discrimination which is manifest
in the work of the careful student of
the dramatic art, is what characterizes
worth. So it was last night. In slight
est degree overdone Friends" becomes
farce, a burlesque upon the passions
and motives of men and women I'm
dercolored it sinks to the level of the
dull and inconsequentiaL 1t was re-
served for Mr.. Daley, Miss Nannary,
Mr. Blunkall and Mr.. Clayton to pre-
sent the pretty, touching story, relieved
by some warm beams of genuine humor
and many sweep of pathos, with con-
summate skill. They have played the
parts very often doubtless, but last
night they seemed to be less acting and
more moved by. real feeling than on any
occasion in which we have witnessed
their dramatic work. However that
may be- assumption or feeling, the old
lotto" Of Daley is a mastery piece Of
acting. 1t is the part Of an aged Ger
man musician, broken by drink and the
use of opium, who retains the refine
ment of the gentleman and the Sensi-
tiveness of the man of honor, but who
has unwittingly been led into misuse
of a trust for an adopted child, who
has crept into his heart and absorbed
the wealth of his affections. Confront
ed by the crime, tortured by conscience
crazed by liquor and enslaved by opium,
while torn by the unmeant reproaches
of his ward, he contemplates suicide
but dies in time to save himself from
that additional crime. To depict such
character and not spoil the picture
requires more than ordinary skill, it de-
mands q fine conception of the truth
of real art. In old otto Daily proves
that he fully realizes this, and the re-
suit is remarkably fine piece of artis-
tic work. Miss Nannarys Marguerite,
whose devotion to her old guardian
who has been to her a father does not
blind her to his faults and weaknesses,
but whose womanly dignity forbids her
even to save the wretched man to whom
she clings, by sacrificing herself to a
schemer who holds the secret of her
guardians dishonor, was an admirable
thing, full Of feeling and tenderness,
of womanly courage and maidenly re-
serve, of the indignation of assaulted
honor, and the pity of a suffering heart.
So with the others, they were true to
the keynote struck by the leaders, and
the play was given therefore, as such
dramatic stories deserve to be told. 4
/ little tot, Baby Bennett whose rela-
tives in Sacramento are many, and who
We believe was born here-certainly
her family tree is planted here-ap-
peared for the first time in Sacramento
/ in character presentations. She won
storms of applause and numerous re-
calls. Scarcely six years old, she is far
and away the most intelligent child we
have evsr seen upon thu stag, and good
ness knows they have been many billed
as such-scores of them. But this lit
tie one has what few child actresses
possess, facial control and expression.
She expresses the part she assumes and
easily, naturally. 1t shines forth from
her features, it is posed in her move
ments, and in each it is the least-ap-
rarently-unstudied The little one is
more than a child of precocity, she is
of adult conception of the work given
her to do. If we are deceived and it
is the result of training alone, we pity
the child deeply, for her skill will end
with her the length of her skirts. But
if We are right, it is genius under
training, and these write her down a
wonder. AT the three remaining per-
formances this Baby Bennett will APP
pear between acts and she is we'll worth
seeing if one is entertained by child
actor character sketches, and when they
are natural with the child they are
| pleasant to witness. This afternoon,
for matinee performance at which a
present is to be made to some one IN
the audience, there will be a double bill.
Dream Faces" and the farce of Con
fusion" Tonight the comedy drama
Filtration" and tomorrow night. to
close the engagement with Marie Vain
wright's great success, Shall We For
give Herr"
Articles Filed.