Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-17

tCE III IulS GlUy dtIlu IthIlc VI VIC lttpSC
is "The Last Chapter" This is designed
to be serious play, and it is, in spots, but
it is likewise, SO far at least as New York
Lis concerned, an emphatic frost. 1t serves
10 demonstrate in striking manner that
MIR. Broadhurst is just as conspicuous a
failure as writer of drama as he is q
success as compounder of farces.
1t would be a difficult matter to tell the
story of "The Last Chapter" for, while
it does contain story, it. is so thinly
spread over the four acts and is so fire.
quently interrupted by inconsequential
episodes that it really forms only small
portion of the play proper. Then, too,
there is the always fatal introduction Of
the villainous phases of a man S character
in tho third act in a manner which is
manifestly an escape from dilemma and
a ruse, resorted to in order to make an eff
fective scene for the hero and a telling
tableau, which, by the way, isn't at all
telling, for the end of the act.
1t is strange that if one We're to attempt
to dissect any one act of The Last Chap
ter" he would find that he had undertake
en- very difficult contract, for, act by act,
there is little fault to be found with Mr..
Broadhurst' s work. The real trouble is
that when one comes to consider 1t as II
whole, he finds that it lacks completeness
and what might be called, for want of a
better term, persistent continuity. 1t Is
not IL perfect whole, but rather number
of very pleasing bits, separated by inter
walls of ten minutes or so, when the cur
tain is rung down. When it goes up
again, the auditor has no acute interest in
the fortunes of the characters. At least
that is the way the play impressed me,
and that there are others of the same opin-
ion is pretty clearly evidenced by the fact
that the attendance was anything but
heavy.
Mr. +. L. Davenport made manly
hero, and, in IA role in which it was an
easy thing TO ovcract, he wlthstood the
temptation and carried off the honors OF
the piece. Miss Grace F'ilkins, who, if /
mistake not, is the same young woman
who was such q charming and valuable
member of Rosina Nokes' company, was
the heroine. She either was Indifferent or
she has deteriorated woefully, for more
colorless performance than she gave has
not been seen iii n leading role i'll this city
in many years She has, however, not lost
any of her beauty or charm of manner,
and it is barely possible that she failed to
score in 1.-The Last Chapter" only because
of the discouraging conditions which pre-
vailed after the opening night at the Gar
den theater.
Mr.. George II. Broadhurst, the same
gentleman who wrote ''The Last Chap
ter" has branchcd out in still another di-
rection. His business copartner is his
brother. and tho fratcrnal team has been
unusually successful in the exploitation OF
| Georges farce comedies. After what
Happencd to Jones" had become pro
nounced success here arrangements were
| made for its presentation in London. Du
! Souchet's farce, "My Friend From India, u
| under the title of "My Friend the Prince
| had done well there, and it was argued
| that there was no reason why ZONES"
should not meet with an equally cordial
| reccption. At that time there was no thea
| fer available in London, save the Strand,
| a house which for q long time had been
reparded as a sort of plush covered edition
of n morgue. But ''What Happened to
ZONES" was nut on at the house of many
failures, and it enjoyed phenomenal run.
n was thus demonstrated that if the at
traction were sufficiently strong, the
Strand was still all right.
That is evidently Mr.. Broadhurst's view
ot any rate. for ithas just been announced
that he and his brother have taken q one
year lease of the Strand, with liberal re
newal privileges Their plan is to present
tho successful farces of MIR. Broadnurst
and. If they should fail to score, to produce
those of other authors.
If things continue at the rate at which
+hav are going, theatrical London will
soon be pretty well Americanlzed. With
Mr.. Broadhurst' entry INTO the held OF
British management, London will have
no less than five houses controlled by