The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-08
THE LOCAL STAGE.


Morrison in n Magnificent Produce
ton of "Frcderick tho Great"
Last night for tho first time in the long
period OF years which has elapsed since
Lewis Morrison made his initial appear
auce before Houston audience. he was
seen in character other than that OF
Mephisto in Faust" Tho new play
George Foster Platt's Frederick the
Morrisons portrayal OF the title role is OF
such nature as to add materially to the
proud record which he has built up through
years of endless labor. As is explained in
a note appearing on the programme, the
events covered in the play really extended
over a period of twenty years. but they
have been Joined in such manner as to
appear as il consecutive and as occurring
during the years 1851 to 1854. The many
sided character of the great ruler is
brought out In a mastery manner. In
ono act of the play he is depicted at enc
time as exchanging volley OF books and
manuscripts with Voltaire, with whom he
has had reason to he dsplcasei, and Ave
his court. in tho act OF refusing tho de-
mands of Austria and announcing to the
envoy of that country a declaration of war.
This is only one of the many instances in
which the varlegatei nature of the great
ruler is laid before the audience. He is
taken down the scale from the sublime to
the ridiculous and then hack again. At
one time he is directing with a master S
hand the destiny of grea. nation; mo-
ment later he is engaged in verbal
fencing bout with an Italian dancing gri.
AT one time he is soft aud tender as a
woman. at another hard and firm as
adamant. The changes are so many and
are depicted in such a clever manner as
to make 1t difficult for the observer to
decide in which mood he likes the i'm :
mortal Frederick hest.
| The piece is referred to en- tho bills as
d Historical spectacular comedy, but ele-
ments other than those of comedy enter
into its composition. The serious vein
which runs throughout predominates at
I times and OH one occasion, in the climax of
the third act. the border line between the
romantic drama and melodrama is APP
preached SO dangerously Close as to eau so
/ the observer 10 be somewhat In doubt.
AN in all. however, the play is little short
OF masterpiece of its kind, aud great
things are to be expected of its author,
II would be hard to improve upon Mr..
Morrison's conception OF the part he plays
or of his portrayal thereof. Neither leaves
anything TO be desirad. The eminent actor
is afforded much the same opportunity for
the display of his unusual talent as is
7 given him in the old part with which his
admirers are so familiar. His work is
/ powerful, artistic and finished in the ex-
treme and only lack OF space prevents The
| eyit-tn hi o1t no he
deserves
1t is seldom that the qualities of the
successful playwright and the accomplish "a
player are combined in the person OF one
man, but in George Foster Plat, wbo
wrote the play and who appears in one
of the principal roles with no end of credit
to himself, they assureily exis. Mr.
Platt's rendition of the part of Lieutenant
HUDSON is wonderfully clever pie Of
work He plays naturally and withau, al
fectation. and, outside of the star himself
no one appears to better advantage thar
he.
Miss Roberts makes an almost ire.
sistible La Barbarina, and yet, notwith'
standing her finished portrayal of the role
one finds oneself wishing TO see her agar
as the golden haired sweet faced nader
10 whom Faust brings love and happiness
and death. Miss Roberts Temperament
Is more suited 10 such work than 10 tn'
playing OF the part of the tempestuouI
Italian dancer. who so Frederick believes
was born in the crater of Mount Vesuvlns
or something to that effect. When tn
, character requires no strong exhibition o
lemotion Miss Roberts is seen at her best
i At other times one is led TO believe tha
somethinga little animation, perhaps-i
4 lacking. and that the part would be mad
even more enjoyable by its presence
S The support is uniformly strong. Mrs
Adele Clarke mother of Harry CorsoI
s Clarke, whose splendid work in Broad
4 bursts What Happened 10 Jones" las
Y season is we'll remembered, plays the par
, of Countess Srhwartzfeld about as well a
II could possibly be played. and Miss At
wood is a sweet and lovable Prime
Amelia Mr.. Scott Henley does some un
:, usually clever work in the difficult part o
!. vohaire and Mr.. Frank Tanning is salts
y factory as Baron Won Trenk. The othe
n members OF the cast, all OF whom are good
J are Mervyn Dallas. as General HUDSON
O Clarence j. Arper, as Lord Marischall "
: w. Crfmans, as Colonel Wallis: Louis Gil
L bert. as Federsdorf, and Miss Lillian Arms
: by as Madame De kleist
Everything considered, 1t may truthful
be asserted that no finer production of II
kind than Frederick the Great" was eve
made known on a local stage. The LAWS
: dressing given the piece Is evidence Of tn
a expenditure OF much money and the displa
! OF even larger amount OF thorough goo
taste. The costumes. which are unusuall
: handsome for road production. are his
: toricaIly correct and details are locke
r after In a manner which leaves absolutel
. nothing TO be desired. The play Is yer
? new enc. but Mr.. Morrison and Mr.. Plat
o may rest assured that both IT and III
company presenting 1t are thorough sue
cesses.
The next attraction will be furnishe
bv Roland Reed, who viii present Len
= Me Your Wife" at Sweeney & coombl
n opera house next Friday night one POI
! formance only