The times., 1899-11-28
AT THE THEATRES.
I.afayette-"Arizonn.u

Lt'AAlA1 't'N Eleanor Robson
Miss McCullagh ............C C1enryr., I',pTscII
Lf. femon .-.-..........----.--,..Ml Malcolm Cunu
Captain HodSman .................. George Nash
Tony MoStano ...........-...-......E Edgar Selwyu
Lieutenant HallaCk .-...........I Lionel BARRYMORE
SeIstaht heiIar .---..'.''.-..-..A Albert Drumming
Lieutenant Young -..-....,..... Sidney Aiusworth
MAJOR Cochran .........,..., Amerie Grigsby
Clyde Fitch and Augustus Thomas are
two men who. for several years, have been
giving dramatic critics the opportunity to
pen smooth introductions to their articles
by telling truth that is hackneyed but
palpable. "He has been threatening to
produce something more than good
play" these reviewers always have said,
either of one author or of the other. dur
ing many seasons and at last, the threat
has been fulfilled. This is a great play"
OF Mr.. Thomas ARIZONA" " which was IRE
seuted yester- evening at the Lafayette
Square before a fattering audience, the
quotation may not be repeated with hon
esty. Arizona is a striking play; "Ari-
zona" is a play that must appeal ire
sistibiy to the emotions of the average
theatregoer: Arizona" is the most in
tenseIy human of plays-but it is hardly
more than another threat.
Were only a single element not lacking.
the offering would be not merely good, but
ing else has been left to the desire of the
spectator. There is a story that is roundly
and symmetrically developed, there is
notable plenitude of the fertile essentials
Of suspense and even OF surprise. there
are a number of clear-cut and absolutely
consistent characters, there is no end of
that quality which reviewers are pleased
to call atmosphere" there is dialogue that
IS epigrammatic without being forced or
extraneous, and there are situations nelo-
dramatic in their strength while sufi-
ciently reserved to have been planned for
John Drew and tea-and-toast comedy.
All of these things combine with the mar
velous humanness mentioned above in the
creation Of q theatric work that does more
that interest or absorb-that sways. But
there can be little that is worth remem-
bering in a piece which constantly is re-
mnding one of its predecessors. Ages Of
curtain -concealments and juvenile lovers
and predicatoFy conversations and cue
music have made it impossible that a great
play should contain any of the devices
described
Stirring and virile as IS the plot of
Arizona" this skein, perhaps, is the most
antiquated portion CT the performance.
Briefly. it concerns one EStreila Bonham,
the wife of an Army post commander, who
has taken to longing unujterably for gayety
sand and adobe houses. Bret Harte's Sue"
was in such a condition. Mrs Bonham
plans an elopement with rsscally officer
Of the fort Captain HOdgman and is
about 10 carry her plan into execution when
the pair are interrupted by the arrival of
Lieutenant Denton, the usual fine fellow,
VINO is desperately enamored of Bonita
Candy, a sister Of Mrs. Bonham. and
who has been befriended by the colonel.
This soldier, entering after the villain has
left and confronted by the H0bly silent
savior Of his honor, believes that savior
guilty, at least of the wish to wrong him.
Charles King always has delighted in such
episodes; the consequences of a similar mis-
take make the story Of Shenandoah
Lieutenant Denton is obliged to resign
from the service, and on the ranch OF
Henry Candy. resumes his Courtship of
Bonita. This cOurtship Captain Hodgman
attempts to balk, and the two men quarrel.
The injured one draws his revolver. and
has the weapon in his hand when Tony
MostanO. who is in love with a girl whom
the sCoUndTel has ruined. shoots and kills
her batrayer. Lieutenant Denton is ac-
cused Of the murder-again as in Sue"
But. by a device employed by Mr.. Fitch in
The Cowboy and the Lady" the hero
is cleared, aud all ends in a way prophetic
OF life in Greece, death in peace and burial
under mantelpieee. Which is not, of it.
self. unusual in plays.
All this, naturally, occurs only to the
confirmed theatregoer. So admirably has
ARIZONA been put together that reminis-
cences barely serve 10 mar, and do not
spoil even his enjoyment of what really
is a marvellous work. The less captious in
dividual viii find Mr.. Thomas recent ef-
fort quite the most powerful intelligent,
IL
common with his more critical brother he
cannot but enjoy the vehicle, together with
its beautiful settings ard the impersona-
tiOns of cast that has not wholly in
ferior member.
Mr. Thomas, by the way has hit upon the
idea of putting down the names Of people
in his company according to the order in
which they come upon the stage. For
I lack cf ability to differentiate in merit a
reviewer might do well TO adopt the sys-
TEN. Theodore Roberts, who was here last
with James X Hackett. seems not so much
to portray as to be Henry Candy. Edwin
Holt IS dignified and impressive in the
rcle of the Colonel. Matte Earle is a
/ motherly Mrs Candy, and barring a slight
tendency to tragedy -quesnism, Grace Hen
derson is perfect in the part OF Mrs. Bon
ham which Mabel Bert created. The ruin
ed girl Of AdOra Andrews is one of the
finest bits of the sort ever shown in Wash
| iugtOn its assuncr neither whining nor
| brutaliziug, while Vincent Serrano plays
Robert Blossoms character. Lieutenant Den
ton, with intellect and discernmenL any
thing but surprising from so fine an actor
Eleanor Robson is admirable as what
Charles Nixon called "a coquette SOU
brette" Genevra IngersClI and Malcolm
Gum could not be much improved upon in
small roles George Nash makes his Cap
tain Hodgman as natural as was his Small
Bottles in "Chimmie Fadden," and the
persons who have been omitted here may
be placed among the many mentioned who
| deserve more praise than there is space in
which to give it.
One or two triiing details ia the prOduc-
tion might be altered to advantage, but
these are of so little Importance that the
suggestions are delayed for a later article.
NatfonnI-"The Cuckoo"
Hugh Farrant Joseph Holland
Thomas Peniold. CLAYTON White
Coleiax Charles Bowser
II. NJ. King Kamswaga. a.......... Frank Lea Short
Colonel Cover. r........-.......-.-. Carl 81. Aubyn
Sir Robert Whyttington. Sheldon Lewis
Mr.. HewsCn David Mccartney
Mr.. Pratt ......................J Joseph \. Weber
Interpreter Fulton Russell
Lady Alexandra Parke .......... Eleanor Morctd
Leggett ..... ....................-Nora Dunbiane
Gertrude Observation-Disclosures. Augusta Close
Miss Middledisch Observation-Disclosures. Annie Wood
Charles Frohmau, who presents" very
inconsiderately refrained from voicing his
opinion OF THE Cuckoo" prior to its ap-
pearance yester- evening at the National:
or perhaps the little corporal of interna-
| tioDaI rhpatrRdOm had not contracted the