The Jersey City news., 1899-04-27
MISS CLEOPATRA.
Successfully Staged Last Even
ing in the Jersey City Club
Theatre by the Florence.

There was one trouble with the
Florence Clubs production Of Miss
Cleopatra last evening, at the Jersey
City Club Theatre, and this was a fault
most saaiy peculiar to amateurs-too long
between the acts. Otherwise the piece
was almost equal to professional pro-
duction.
Miss Katharine Hicks, who starred as
Cleopatra Collins was all that could be
desired in an amateur, and portrayed the
adventures part to perfection, even to
the cultivated, though unmusicai laugh.
She was perhaps most interesting in the
second act, where to gain her end Miss
Cleopatra" poses as the demented sister
of Edwin Vane,' (dr. Robert Deats),
though her part may have been little
overdrawn. A sane woman acting the
part of lunatic would scarcely be as
crazy as she represented, while an insane
woman would be more so. However, it
is doubtful if another amateur In the
city could have improved upon her acting
as a whole, while her skirt dance neither
fell below nor could be criticised as being
above amateur propriety.
Mr.. William H. Wellthie, who portrayed
the part of the blighted tragedian, was
also very good in this scene, though per-
however, redeemed himself in the last act
when he sang the Table dHote
Rhapsodie" from "The French Maid
This was the hit of the show. and Mr..
Wellthie might have still been singing
had he answered every encore, but tie
play had TO proceed.
Mr. Robert Deats, to whose lot always
falls the man in trouble, certainly proved
as Edwin Vane, that he was capable of
professional work, while Mr.. Harry
Moore, as Simon Rawkins, could hold his
own with any amateur in the city.
Mr.. Harry Rossell again played the low
er. Could the lovers part throughout
have been one of easy nonchalant surprise
doubtless have made a hit. He is especial
ly suited to play the 'gay deceiver,'
even to his stage laugh, but in the senti-
mental expression of true love his voice is
too heavy.
Miss E. Louise Turner played opposite
Mr.. Rossell and made a picturesque, cute
Mil1y Rawkins. Miss Tess c. Schalken-
bach as Mrs. Rawkins, was made up and
acted too young for her part, otherwise
she was good. Mr.. George Kent bracket
ed the parts of 'Jelps'' and '9Scupper."
Both were small parts, but it was Mr..
Kent's initial performance and he did
well.
Miss Cleopatra is one of those i'm
possible farces in three acts adapted
from LES Amours de Cleopatra') by
Arthur Shirley. 1t represents an adven-
turess desperately in dove with f1irt,
who is to be married the following day
to the lady of his love. The adventures,
however, locks him in a room from which
he later escapes. She then follows him
to the home of the bride, poses as his
lunatic sister and breaks off the wedding.
The wedding is set for another date, but
this. too, is broken off by the adventures,
who in the end marries the man she loves.
The play was produced under the per-
sonal direction of Mr.. Douglas S. Hough-
ton, formerly of the Standard Theatre,
New York, and was especially strong in
it's climax scenes and fine in positions.
There was an excellent attendance, among
whom was a large representation from
the Players Club and number of out
of town people, especially from Orange,
Newark and New York