The times., 1899-10-08
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.
decidedly amusing performance was
that given last week at Kernan's by Web
er's Partisan widows''-which attraction,
by the way is as much too good for its
name as would be a diamond for an iron
setting. A decidedly amusing performance
was that which the organization gave, and
not the least amusing portion OF it was
provided by Anderson and EnSe. ton. who
were seen in '.impersonations OF legit mate
characters. This might have ben ex-
pected had the line quoted not followed the
announcement that the two were 'travesty
stars" Despite the qualification, one was
inclined TO hope for some minutes after the
act was begun, that Richard Anderson was
really burlesquing, and would follow his
work with some such absurd speech as t-at
made by Spingarfic in the Garrick Com
panys rendering of 'sThrilby," when he
rose from the table upon which he had
fallen in the death scene, and, remarkiny
wrong side. repeated the entire incident
1t soon became apparent, however, that
Mr.. Anderson was in deadly earnest, and
then matters waxed interesting.
Without violating a confidence, one may
confess to having learned the fact that,
prior to his taking up .'Virginius" and ''Dr.
Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde Mr.. Anderson was
bricklayer This is not ventured as re-
proach. Brieklaying is undoubtedly as
honest a trade as might be desired, but
there is a doubt as to whether il really fits
one for classic roles. Certainly, Ii has not
so benefited the man in question, whose
chief possessions are OF impudence and lung
power. Mr.. Anderson's reading of the lines
in the play first named was truly ridIeu-
~ - -.
the slightest regard for their meaning. but
the voice in which they were beloved forth
might have been heard at any distance.
When the climax of the scene with the
messenger came, the actor '-perspiring,
red faced, and all but exhausted-was
obliged to use the remnant of his strength
in order TO force out the words. His DR..
Jekyl and Mr. Hyde were, if anything,
worse, because, in the work used, Mr.. An
derson boldly departed from the piece itself
and strangled Agnes-something unheard
of in any version of the drama
This article must not be taken for what
is technically known as roast" 1t may
be admitted here that any tendency to
bring into the variety houses even bits OF
the standard writings is gratifying and
eommendable. But, nevertheless, 10 the
layman it seems odd that L. Lawrence
Weber, whose show was the cleanest
and, in many respects, the best ever seen
at Kernan's could not have Introduced
some such speciality in the hands Of passa-
bly, competent people A good thing badly
done is no more eleyating than is a bad
thing well done There are in this coun-
try several men and women who have sup
ported Shakespearean stars and who would
be glad of the opportunity 70 earn an as
sured salary with Mr. Weber. 1t is re-
grettable that, when one does get .'Yir-
ginius'' and "Dr. Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde in
the varieties. he cannot get them TO some
advantage. There is no harm intended u
Mr.. Anderson, but he would co we'll to
leave the classics TO those more esp Bile of
interpreting them.
The Cooney G Harris firm seems to be
particularly fortunate in securing heavy
men for its production of The White
Heather" When Cecil Raleigh and Henry
Hamilton's play was done here last almost
the only competent member of the cast was
| the one presented in the role Of the scoun-
drel. At the beginning of this tour the
part was assumed by Henry Bagge. and in
Washington throughout the past week
theatre-gcers saw no less a parsonage
than John T. Sullivan as ord Argus Cam
eron. II is almost unnecessary to add that
Mr. Sullivan was as polished and reason
able villain as one would find in a
months inspection of the penitentiaries.
Rose Coghlans husband. indeed, is very
remarkable man-anythiRg in the world but
| mere Mr. Rose Coghlan. Taken eoolly and
| without regard for the reputation OF the
two, Mr. Sullivan is the eleverer person OF
the pair. Certainly, he is the more versa
| tile Not more than three years have passed
! since localities saw the actor at the Column
| bia as the suffering imbecile in that wholly
n L. u. -
Few had ever known that he could do work
| of so light an order. and all were surprised
| at the vivid humor of his pertraiture. And
| here Mr. sullivan has just been back in his
old lfne-the line of individuals who wear
! cigarettes in their mouths, diamonds in
! their shirts. and womens hearts on their
| sleeves Neither role could have been bet
| ter done Briefly and again, Rose Coghlan's
| husband is remarkable. and Cooney &
| Harris are to be congratulated on the man
ner in which they fill the character of Lord
Angus.
And Swan and O'Day advertised them
selves at the Grand as messengers of glad
ness" Well, messengers are proverhially
| slow Swan and O'Day were here last
week-perhaps We shall have the gladnsss
| this.
| AS matter of fact. however. though
| Burke & Chase probably did not take the
| comment that way the treatment which
| their most recent series of performances
received at the hands of the local critics
| was as much a compliment as anything
| else Six months ago a like bill at the
| Grand would have been thought very pas
sable 1t is only this season that such
| entertainments do not seem to approach
| the average Children are fond OF taffy
! candy and three-for- r-a-penny gum drops.
| The men who introduced polite" vaude-
! Vile here have educated Washington up
! to having Charles Ellis-M Mark Murphy-Ti-
| tenia-"Gypsy Quartette" programmes aud
now must live within call OF that stand
| ard.
The writer hasn't the faintest recollee-
tion of what he said concerning the COM
pany which presented Because She Loved
Him So" year ago at the National, but
| il his criticism contained any eensure OF
Edwin Arden he wishes to humbly beg that
gentlemans pardon. After all, though one
may agree with Mrs. Malaprop that COM
| PARSONS are odiferous." it is only by
comparison that the true extent OF merit