The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-28
THE LOCAL STAGE.
"MistaISes VIII Happen" the Comedy
Hit of the Season.


Angels may be entertained unawares in
the theatrical world as well as In other
spheres of life. When it was announced
that The comedy entitled, mistakes WIN
Happen" would be presented here there
was nothing to recommend the piece fur
Their than the fact that 1t was under the
management OF Mr.. Jacob Lift and that
tho company appearing in 1t was headed
bv Mr.. Charles Dickson. The play itself
was an unknown quantity save 10 the few
who pay more attention to dramatic events
in the East than does the average theater-
goer. Thus 1T was that the pleasure given
those who saw the piece last night was
accentuated because IL was unexpected.
Other standard attractions are by no
means reflected on when 1t is stated that
Mistakes VIII Happen" Is the cleverest
aud best thing OF its kind ever seen on
the local stage. The story IL tells Is
simple one and is SO thcuighly natural
and true TO life in every detail that 1t is
delightfully."- refreshing. especially in com
parison with some of the alleged comedies
which have been inflicted on the theater-
goers of the South this season. 1t is one
of those plays which leave a pleasant
tdSte III Out mouth, rs IL were, ana
which make one regret that more like II
nre not written. The people It tells of are
an actress and actor who have contracted
secret marriage, an ultra moralist who
Is really just a little worse than the
average man, his stagest wife.
boarding house keeper, German house
maid. an English cuachman. Il typical
plumber and theatrical manager. There
is not a single line which is not bright
and witty the situations are eXcrucating-
" funny as well as intensely interesting
and thoroughly orieinal and the piece Is
dressed in n manner which is In keeping
with its countless other merltorious teat-
ures. Details are looked after so very
carefully that nothing is left 10 be de-
sired and the production as a whole is
anished and artistic In the extreme.
\ better or more evenly balanced COM
pauy was never seen in Houston and per-
haps in but few other places. Mr.. Dick
son. who plays the part of Tom Genowin,
the actor, is delightfully."- clever. his abso
lutte originality and freedom from aftecta-
tion adding materially to his otherwise
The part could not possibly have beeii
placed in more capable hands. Tho work
of Miss Elsie Esmond as the actors
charming little wife, Is so very good that
one experiences difficulty in finding fit
ting words to tell of It. It is dainty and
,
please even the most eXactng critic. Miss
Esmond is refreshingly natural and in
genuous and her intelligent conception
OF her part Is no less pleasing than the
exquisite manner in which she portrays It,
a prettier bit of acting than that done
by this clever little woman and Mr., Dick
son In the first act would be difficult to
imasine.
! The other members OF the company arc
so uniformly well cast and clever In their
respective roles that much more space
than The Post has ut its disposal this
morning would be required to tell OF IT,,
/ NJ A. II. Stuart plays the unsympathetic
! role OF Mr.. Hunter Chase In n manner
which wins golden opinions for him and
which stamps him as n player of unusual
talent Miss Lansing Rowan as Mrs Hun
! ter Chase adds the effect OF beautiful
face and figure to the art of finished
actor and her work could not be improved
upon. Miss Adah Eckert rs Mrs. Price,
Miss Lottie Hyde as the German maid.
| Mr.. j. w. Standish as the coachman and
MIR. Ben Deane as the plumb,r arc all UP
to the high standard of the piece, while
Mr.. Dean Raymond is satisfactory rs the
theatrical manager.
mistakes VIII Happen" will he repeat
ed this afternoon and again tonight and
all lovers OF true art should see II. Other
wise they will make greater mistake
than do any OF the characters In Mr.,
/ Grant Stewards clever play.