Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-30

EDicuous about the theatrical agencies.
4 Ia enjoys the temporary Importance
attaching, Ia Rialto circles, 10 any one
I WAo occupies the pleasant position of
icing able to offer an engagement for
ne dull season, even. though the sala-
Nv promised is always very small and
that which is paid is usually nothing
! beyond board and railroad fares.
Sometimes, and not infrecuently at
that the unfortunate victim of one of
Chess GUNNER snaps" finds himself
st q wayside station debating upon the
simplest manner to get back to New
York without walking, while his trunk
xepoSes quietly at the hotel as security
Tor the bill contracted by the manager.
Once Ia very great while one Of these
companies pays salaries, or, even more
remarkable still, actually makes a few
dollars on the season. This news
spreads rapidly into the byways of the
Rialto, with the result that the actors
pack away their oil stoves and sally
forth in search of similar employment.
Actors are most optimistic people in
the world, and one instance OF success
IS sufficient to dispel for them The
gloom Of thousand consecutive fail
urcs.
some time ago tht fact leaked out
that Charles Coghlan had written a
play dealing with the stirring incidents
following close upon the heels OF the
French revolution. The wiseacres il1lt
mediately jumped to the conclusion
that Mr.. Coghlan had determined to
emulate the example OF Sir Henry IT.
wing and at the same time get ahead CT
the distinguished English actor by pro-
dlicing a play based upon the life OF
that brilliant arch tyrant, Robespierfe.
AS usual. the wiseacres were wrong,
Tor Mr.. Coghlan's new drama, which
was recently produced at the Fifth
Avenue theatre, in this city, the name
OF Robespierre does not occur more
than once or twice, and he is not one
of the dramatis personae. The ex-
srunor further had it that if the play
was not Robespierre it would certainly
Be Marat. The leprous coadiutor of
Robesuierre is not a character in MI.
Coxhlan's new play either and I think
that his name is mentioned only in a
casual way.
When an actor of the ability and
commendable purpose Of Mr.. Coghan
writes play and mounts 1t as extrava>
gantly and withal in as good taste rs
Is the case with Citizen Pierre" it is
always pleasant to record its success.
Any shortcomings are likely to be ex-
cused on the ground OF inadequacy OF
preparation, or something of that sort,
and there is usually every disposition
to declare that the piece will probably
twin OUT after it shall have been
whipped into shape.
OF "Citizen Pierre" however, i.
seems incomprehensible that consci-
entious critic can say any of these
things. The piece, as it was given at
the opening performance, seems to be
we'll night hopeless, unless, indeed, Mr..
Coghlan should decide so to alter it az
to make practically new play. In
fact, it Is not play at all, but merely
& series of interminably long eXplana-
tory dialogues, with an episode or two
thrown in toward the close The last
act is the only one which can possibly
be regarded as strong, although the
third is much less bad and uninterest-
ing than its predecessors. The stcTy
would be absorbing if properly handled,
but its futile treatment makes OF 1t IN
stead drcary mess.
Citizen Pierre is sergeant of the
guard, who is of noble birth and yet
sympathizes with the people who chafe
under the conditions which have
brought the country into a condition
of dccadence. At the same time he
does not approve of the violent meth
DDS adopted by the powers that be. AT
least that is the inference which the
ovid anti i,fo dc no hc
drawn from the sketching of the char
acter. Pierre is in high favor with his
general, but he falls in love with a
young girl of humble birth who has
enjoyed gentle rearing through the &C
cident of having been adopted by a
highborn family. Her foster sister,
Hermance, is the unwilling wife of the
brutal general, whom she has welded
~ order to save the lives Of her fam
1ly. In this latter category she has
included her real lover, the Vicomte
de st. Anne. Hermarce is to visit the
Bastille, and she is requested by Hello
ise to carry to the imprisoned Marie
Antoinette bunch of carnations. The
petals of the flowers have been foreel
apart, and In the calyx a mote in Mip-
lature to the unfortunate queen has
been placed. This informs her that
plot for her escape has been formed
and directs her as to the part, she is to
play in its execution. The young wife
leaves without getting the flowers.
which Heloise then allows Pierre TO
snatch from her hand and give to Her.
nance, whom he overtakess The fow-
ers are suspected, and Hermance is ar
rested and later condemned by the tri-
bunal. Heloise is in an agony of fear
and remorse for having been the means
OF getting her dearly beloved foster sis
ter into trouble. She Is found to be
connected with the plot, and a squad
OF men Is sent to arrest her. They are
too late, however, for she has taken
poison and dies at their feet.
Pierre then visits the prison where
await the prisoners who are to be food
for the Unsuitable guilotine. He has a
passport, good for any one. This he
hands to Hermance, and the condemn
ed young woman is allowed to pass
out to liberty and life with the Vicomte
de st. Anne. Pierre is naturally COM
PEELED to remain with the full realiza-
ton of the cons e-1ences of his act.