The times., 1899-10-24
AT THE THEATRES.
CoInmhin-..fn pnrnai.n :,

t~ufn disc
Monsieur Pontbichot ........... Richard Golden
kaphael DelacrsiN ........,.-..... Walter Hodges
Monsieur Ircslll0n .-.-.-..-....... Hudson Ii,tou
Baron Flechard ................. HAIRY \. " ,tr
L!e9 -.,...,......... Robert Patton G. bios
t'alfe ianpln .......-.-.. Minnie 80 iguar
r,'I'1e IehLhleEot .........-..,-- Hattie Russell
Madame Gresillon ............... Flora FairchiII
Jeanne PoHtbichot -............- Eugruic HAYDEN
Justine '.-.-.-...-..... .Ndrgrcle Mcdonald
N's"is -featIiCe Morgan
In Paradise" which was done for the
first time in Washington last night al the
Columbia, is the product of an entire syndl-
cate. NM. Hennequin. Biiimaud. and
Carre made its risqueness, Louis Harrison
and B. B. Valentine completed the ratiG-
cation. and Alan Dale. Jessie Wood and
Ella Wheeler Wilcox established its repu-
tation. Perhaps the greater portion of the
plays success in New York was due to
the three persons finally mentioned. With
true critical humor this trio settled upon
the amusing possibilities OF the title and
the result was a facetious comment upon
the morals OF the farce that kept the
Bijou crowded for two months There be-
ing no such wits In this city, the piece
must depend for its local vogue upon its
own merits, and. if the judgment of yester-
day evenings audience be accepted, these
are not few.
In Paradise" is not exactly the sort OF
entertainment that could be given for the
benefit of an Oshkosh Sunday school, or for
an old ladies' mission. Taken seriously
and considerably, it is about as suggestive
in lines and business as the most blase
could desire The plot is deliberately un-
pleasant. But, except for occasional ex-
amples, the offering is without that strain
ING T. bar df-a .Sf,.-
in ''Papa's Wife" and THE Turtle" What
filth there is-and there is a good deal
seems to be necessary to the development of
what is undeniably a very fertile story.
Since there is art in winning laughter as
well as in winning tears, the questionable
deeps of the presentation may be said to
be partially obscured by its surface clever
ness.
There is no denying the fact that "In
Paradise" cOnvulsed the assemblage of last
night and that it is likely to convulse any
subsequent assemblage. Men and women
may roar behind their hands, but roar they
must. The theme is not new. The entire
play does not contain as much novelty as
might be found in a history of the Roman
Empire. And it is not dignifed As Je-
rome K. Jerome said of his Idle
Thoughts the whole affair wouldn't eie-
vate a cow The speeches are often wit
ty, but most of the laughter is gained by
bOisterOus and furious action that could
almost be described as Harlequinade. But,
as has been remarked. the laughter is
gained. 'In Paradise has a first act that
is funny, third that is funnier and a
second that, save only for one in Or.
BILL probably is the funniest ever writ
ten.
Briefly, here is the tale: Monsignor
Pontbichot, gentleman who has reached
the age of indiscretion, brings his wife and
daughter from the provinces to Paris in
search of a husband, mentally vowing that
this son-in-law shall be able to initiate him
into the mysteries of gay metropolitan life,
Unfortunately-or the reverse-RaphaeI
Delacroix who loves this girl. suffers from
a past that is utterly blameless Anxious
TO secure his inamOrata he engages Claire
Taupin, neighbor, to pose as his-hem-
sweetheart. This the fair Claire does SC
etfectually that she compromises everyone
concerned. and inaugurates series of COM
plicattons that are only unrayeled at a
quarter of eleven.
The cast is anything but that seen in
New York. Richard Golden continues to
dance through the role Of Monsieur POnt-
bichot as he danced through that in The
Fortune Teller" His work is the acme
Of boisterousness. If silence is Colder"
Golden is not silent-in In Paradise" "
But, like the farce, he is exceedingly good.
Notwithstanding. and accomplishes 4 great
deal Of what is accomplished. Minnie Sc
ligman seems unnecessarily coarse in the
part of Claire She is capable, though
her burlesque of a scene from Camille"
being admirable OF the support, as usual.
Robert Patton Gibbs. the original Gecko Of
''Trilby,' is best his impersonatiOn of a
lion tanner being quite as fine as was that
Of his predecessor. William BOnelH. Wal
ter Hodges is not an intelligent Raphael,
Hudson ListOn is an unctuous Monsieur
GresiilOn, Eugene Hayden is charming as
the daughter of the Pontbchots. Hattie
Russell is fair as her mother and Harry
St Maur contributes a remarkable char
acter sketch. Others who deserve credit
are Flora Fairchild. Margrete Mcdonald,
and Beatrice Morgan
In Paradise is staged with dis
graceful disregard for detail.