The evening times., 1899-06-06
THINGS THEATRICAL.
CoIumbia-.LonGon Assurnncc.''


ties are the atmosphere producers" at the
Columbia Theatre this week, where Dion
Boucicault's premier comedy. London As
surance,'' is being produced by the Fraw-
ley Company. The alteration from the
present day romances customary for this
excellent organization 10 this oldtime
| comedy is a rather notable one and the diff
fculties encountered in il have been many
and large. All things considered. the per-
formance last evening was good one,
though far from the iiawless entertain
ments previously the custom with Fraw-
| leys. "Lumpiness" is the chief defect OF
| the performance. partially due TO the i'm
mature planning of the comedy itself and
| in portion attributable to the company
presenting il.
The original FIVE acts of Boucicault were
last evening condensed into -four without
materially detracting from the original
plan. Commendable enterprise was shown
in the mounting of the comedy, the second
scene OF the initial act and the last three
being especially suitable to the time OF the
play the furniture being antique as were
the hangings and other investitures But
the play is Old-styled in every way, with
out the merits of present day efforts and
minus their brightness. a feast to the eye
are the crinolin skirts and the immaculate
hosiery of the ladies, while the men do not
appear so outlandish as might be supposed
in their peculiar trappings.
The ostensible reason for the selection
of London Assurance for the final week
of the Frawleys, was to display the versa
tility of Miss Blanche Bates. In this. it is
a great success, as greater contrast can
hardly be imagined than that of Drusilla
Ives and Lady Gay Spanker. AS she has
previously electrified by her magnetic i'm
petuosity she last evening amused by her
winning wit and sparkling and spirited
reading. 1t is a treat to hear her recite
the description of the fox hunt, especially
as contrasted with the bungling tactics in
vogue with the customary entertainer. Mr..
Frawley re-assumes his really suitable line
of work in the light comedy role of Charles
Courtley and gets good deal out OF the
part Godfrey Stein is irrepressible as
Mark NEEDLE, despite the fact that the role
is incongruous and impossible. In vocal
control this is probably the best work of
this talented young character actor this
season. The Dolly of J. A. Amory is wor-
thy of him, which is saying considerable.
His drunken scene in the fourth act is es-
pecially good. A tedious monotone wear
ing to the ear mars the impersonation Of
Dazzle by Harrington Reynolds, while
Charles King makes a comedy role out of
the part of Sir Harcourt Courtley. usually
played as grand old man. Augustus Cook
is none too familiar with his lines and
quite inferior as Max Harkaway while the
trifling bit by Alfred Hickman is worthy
of more than a passing note by reason of
its excellent taste and color impaired: Miss
Van Buren, has at last a role to her liking
and suited to her merits and makes the
most of it. Her comedy is excellent and
she resembles an old-style print in her
crinoline dress and quantity dressed hair.
Miss Bates is similarly attired and equally
uniquely attractive. The smaller bits are
well done by Georgia Welles. Thomas Phil
lips, Frank Matthew, and George Ga,ton.
In response to general requese, Mr..
Frawley has decided to again put on "The
Dancing Girl on Thursday night so that
the hundreds deprived of the pleasure of
seeing IL may be satisfied. Sweet Laven-
der will be done on Friday night, the en-
gagement concluding Saturday with the
afternoon and evening production Of ''The
Wife"