The times., 1899-02-21
AT THE THEATRES.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"


an old subject and that play which in itself
is hut little above medocrity may be acted with
such studiouS and yet indiscerniblc care as to
become than ordinarily enjoyable was dem.
! onstIatrd in Annie RusSels production OF
Henri lave,Iln's Gathering last night at the
National Theatre. An audience OF supreme in
tellectualty-onc that probably had been pre-
JUDGED in advance by the disapprobation of New
York newspaper and the Indifference OF Bos
ton critics-sat through the piece without de
voting more than the usual attention to its
dominanty good bad features and then
wondered why it had not been praised unreserv-
cdly
For Gathering is an effort the theme oi which
is simple and delightful that forgets its
/ familiarity and lack of originality In one way
another it reaches the hearts of those who
sit in judgment or remain TO be entertained and
after that serious condemnation is impossible
The more discerning OF the spectators trace
an almost obtriisve likeness between the offering
and Caste may feel that Of the char
aCteTS and incidents are too COnvcntionally Gal
lie for Anglican understanding, may realize that
because OF this fact long explanations, that are
not necessary to American assemblies, are made
during the first two acts and may note that in
the translation the greatest injustice has been
done to the lines of VI. Lavcdan, whose original
dialogue was mentioned for Its grace and
stiitedness. But even these persons cannot well
weigh such faults in the balance against the
charm OF the authors maternal love story and
the sweetness and tenderness OF that which con
Germs Catherine herself
The plot of the play hardly needs detailing.
Its central being is young girl whose poverty
has rcegated her to teaching the piano as a
means of livelihood for herself and those dcpen-
dent upon her. She is loved by two mcn-onc OF
her station and the other a Duke.
The wOman'S affection goes the nObeman but
She promises 10 marry her humble suitor never
theless- Later on she begins to realize the true
state OF her feelings and her lancc, SEEING them
also, consents to give her up to his rival, whom
She wedS The inevitable results OF Il mcsal-
lance follow. Catherine and her relatives prove
bother>omc to the Duke and the wife afterward
finds him embracing cousin who has regarded
him pls>ionatcly Tor some time, but whose ad-
vances he was about to check even at the uniucky
moment in which his spouse entered the room.
stormy scene transpires and the breach between
the two widcns until even the Dukes mother
fails in her attempts to prompt a reconciliation.
Then the former lover steps in against the hus-
bands express wishes and cdiolcs. pleads. argues.
insists upon reunion until that desirable end
is finally effected and the curtain falls upon
reassuring tablcau.
As may he seen by this synopsis the play is not
great nor is it done upon great lines Ii is nj.
ways alky and frequently both narrow and
rigidly regular. But it never ceases to be con
yinCing in its huulaneSs and in its dclicIcy Of
wit and lmmor; of symphony and sentiment; OF
suggestion and explanation. Despite their lack
of novelty most OF the incidents are strangely
effective, that in which Catherine discovers the
Duke holding another woman in his arms being
though evidently greatly toned down in the trans
lation-full Of power and force. Nothing more
stirring than its climax has been seen here re-
Gently.
The characters, though not new, are drawn in
vivid and understanding strokes. Once the aud
itor has accepted their possibility the compre-
hcnson and consistency with which they have
been written in becomes apparent and they find
the hold upon ones regard and that
more eNplicable portraitures might have had.
The t:tle role is hardly stellar one in surre.
ttngrt lTryi liz 10
the individuality and charm of Annie Russell.
Her art is 50 true and yet hidden; her acting
50 evidently without strain or esort that the i'm.
persOnatiOn becomes delightful TO the spectators.
who follow the clever PLAYER through the girlish
inGenuousuess of her earlier self and into the i'm
pulsive COmpeXity OF her later nature with un-
tagging zeal and interest. All the warm spon-
,rHeity OF Miss Russell's Sue, with the capacity
for force and weight hidden in many OF her prior
and subsequent portrayals. have Il place in this
work and combine toward making the assumption
that thoroughly yindcates Manager Froh.
mans judgment in selecting her for his newest
luminary
First -unapproochably frst-in the supporting
company is Mrs. Sara Cowell lie Moyne whose
performance OF the Duchess DE Co,.t-as Is as
satisfying a one could be desired IL 50 SYM
pathetic part. For smooth elegance and ap-
pea!ing power the porrIiturc deserves the highest
attLinahe ranl.. M=. Ie Moyne's labor as the
father ot the heroine is studious and unstudicd
-paradoxical this may seem-whilc Frani
Northing represents the Duke with a fine in.
sight into the many phases Of character exhibi-
ted by that peTsonage. Then, too Vincent Ser
ramos earnestncss and intelligence contribute to
making the role OF the generous lover a feature
OF the production. j. C.. Savilc appears 10 atyan-
tage IN 4 minor part, and Elsie de Wolfe acts the
cousin At first with quiet naturalncSs and later
with notable finish, though apparently lacking
IN the power to bring out everything emotional
in the role. Ellen Gail, Francis Sedglvick
GTetta Carr. and others 70 to finishing the make.
mp Of the cast that thrusts ntg ones fullest a;,-
probation a play that Of itself deserves only
| partial commentator
Lnfnyctte-.The Kings Musketcer.v
II has been related of Richard Wagner that his
first cffort-a play-was represented by forty
people but that many OF these were killed
before the beginning OF the third scene that the
youthful author Obliged to bring some Of them
back ~ ghosts in order Ia continue with his last
While it might be hardly Just to apply this tale
literally To Henry lamilton's The King
Musketccr. which offered before an immense
audience by l.. H. Sothcrn last night at the
Lafayette, one can easily believe that the two
offerings are not unlike. Or, at least, Mr. Ham
ilton has done his best 10 emulate the distin-
gGi,hcd musician, having prompted no less than
four quarres before he rings down his curtain on
five carpses and the first act of his piece.
This newest version Of Dumas immortal story
has the advantage the Waller and Grundy eN-
tracts in that it is more complete for stage rep
rescutation and perfect according to the
modern code of construction d ArtaGnan, a
| character that has Influenced the portrayal of
every chivalric role that followed it, has been
brought from the shadow of the Queens intrigue
with Buckingham and furnished with a love
story of his own. the adapter having thus achiey
ed the double purpose OF making the part more
than dominant and Of furnishing his star
with opportunity Tor the very class OF work which
| that parsonage and his admirers seem So thor
oughly to enjoy.
| But Mr. Hamilton has added situations and in
| cidcnts well central plot, 50 that the
| play resembles a dranatizcd form OF Diamond
| Dick OF the Ro, kcs' or 4 Frank Harvey hair
| raiser quite as much as anything else OF course
| when a man of intelligence great Is Mr..
| Sothern's and another with resources mex
| haustibc a. are those Of Daniel Frohman com