Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-17

him must suffer. In short, there is not
enough color in Mr.. Morgans Ben
Hur. He Is entirely too reposeful; he
does not act as a young Jew smarting
under a sense of the grievous wrong
done him would act. He does not act
as the adopted Roman who has had his
enormous fortune restored to him and
who sees the opportunity at hand to
crafty his revenge would act He
does not act as the ardent lover who
has his eyes opened after having them
nearly closed by siren would act. In
short, he does not act as any young
man of the period would act.
Miss Gretchen Lyons was a sweet
Esther, though her performance also
might be improved by the employment
of little more force in several scenes
which seemed to demand it. Corona
Ricardo made a pleasing contrast as
Iras, but she erred on the other side in
overacting it, as also did w. S. Hart as
Messiah and Emmett Corrigan as
Ilderim, although the latter was not
so great an offender as usual in that
respect. The worst performance in the
play was given by Henry Lee, the man
to whom was assigned the Important
role of Simonides. It is possible that
there are actors in this country who
are able to play the part worse, but it
requires even a sort of ability to give
so absolutely incorrect, inartistic and
unsatisfying a performance as Mr.. Lee
gave. AT times Simonides, who is sup
posed to be venerable and thoroughly
worthy old gentleman, became almost
a comedian through the misdirected eff
forts and absurdly sonorous intona-
tons of Mr. Henry Lee. It seems in
comprehensive that the management
will permit him to continue this bur
lesquing of the role They should
compel him to correct his methods i'm
mediately. and this, it seems probable,
they will have the good sense to do.
At Days theater what was formerly
the Lyceum theater stock company is
now appearing in Henry Arthur Jones'
four act comedy entitled 1.-THE Maneu-
vers of Jane" Mr.. Jones usually writes
entertaining plays, and this, his latest
effort, is no exception to the general
rule. But there are degrees of "inter-
estingness" and in that quality THE
Maneuvers of Jane" does not, from the
Jones standpoint, rank abnormally
high. As is usual, too, in Jones play,
1.-THE Maneuvers of Jane" abounds in
bright dialogue and delicate satire, but
even in these respects it is scarcely up
to the Jones standard. The story is
not thrilingly novel. and yet it seems
TO me to read much better than it acts.
Mr. Nangle. wealthy widower. who,
we are given to understand by the
vaguest sort OF inference. is probably
a rather sly old dog, has daughter,
Jane, who is headstrong, impetuous
creature No one is able to compel
obedience from her: she does precisely
as she pleases and SENS to glory in
her wilfulness. Her father induces
Mrs Becchinor Of CLANCY Lodge to
take the young lady in hand for a
period of six months. To this arrange
ment Jane violently objects, until she
learns that George Langton, her sweet
heart, rs to become steward of the es-
tate Naturally enough. she is then
perfectly willing to remain at CLANCY,
and her maneuvers are principally de-
voted to the throwing of dust In the
eyes Of the old folks. Finally things
come to crisis, and George Lanxtnn