The sun., 1899-12-27
THEATRICAL ADJUSTMENTS.
CHRISTMAS WEEK'S All KINDS or
PLAYS AND VAUDEpILLE,

r,oommoniy Interesting Reproductions in
Compet,tiou with the New Things-Ne-
pro Minstrelsy Comes Bravely Into
Brvadway-A Rural Piece Freshened.
THE Village Postmaster Ia q markedly i'm
,royed play in It's revival at the Fourteenth
street Theatre. This piece by Alice L. Ives
and Jerome II. Eddy was new about four years
400 and Il made only fair impression on It's
srst audience. Two reasons may be account
able for this The hsbitual "Hrst .niehters"
seldom enjoy or appreciate rural plays.
",wayDown East" met with colder reception |:
vat both are being used LONG and successfully.
Another drawback for "A Village Postmaster"
At It's outset was an Indifferent production.
Now. tho scenery. players and stage direction
are far better. Tho poor mounting as first
shown almost ruined the sensational scene
What was indefinite then is clear now.
The new scenery 10 all good and in
two sets beautiful. The exceptional
depth OF ono side OF the stage Is
used effectively. The first is the central rart
of village. showing the post Office and gene
raj store on one side and the tavern opposite
The other notable scene represents a farm
ward OH thresbing day. Aside from the gene
raj excellence ot these settings. the regard for
ihe real and not the usual stage size of the
cSmpany il well chosen. James II Bradbury
and Archie Boyd are particularly funny as, a
couple OF countrymen. They have the right
"npse n, t,mes 'e Serious. Annie buckley and rom
Mcguire are amusingly troublesome childr rem
dIni II,n. ''fS Hsnry L Keene, Frank Lyman. Filth
Tnrker aud Charlotte Deane are adequate in
the serious parts.
Milloecker's The Beggar Student was the
fortunate choice OF the Castle Square Opera
Company to mark the beginning NJ Its opere,ta
season this week. There were several features
OF the Performance that deserve particular
mention. Most striking was the proof OF the
company's fitness 20 sing operetta rather than
serious lyric works. There may be In conf,
orera occasional methods Of acting that do not
please everybody There may be exagGera-
ton in grotrsIucness. The more tasteful and
refned standard may not always be adhered
to- but so long us their vocal side is
treated with moderate respect. comic opera
is always rassable. The present intcrpreta-
iion Is much more. II is efficient In oil
particulars and noarly perfection in others.
Among the best points must be included the
vivacity aud intelligence Of the chorus. which
compare fayorably with the best days OF that
organ Eaton. The spirit OF the principal
singers was unflaggng and II this was some
times gained at the expense OF artistic re-
straut. the audience indicated no regret AT the
circumstance. IL tne cnOtus blnEPrs ledTn tnhl
so much vehemence in singing is no,
Rs'eSi e Ssiisr done done. William stewart slHs-
tone. william Carleton was the original
pe TSa o! aaS the WORK here has that Il ra art
over to a barytone. although IN the German
original 1t was written Tor a tenor. Mr. stew
Efficient. Gertrude Qunlan pcrseveres In her
determined effort TO win Marie llressler
iaurels asa low comedian; although her ply.
slight. Lily Post Bertha R!cci and Mathlde
Co'trely were the women in the Casinos orig
inal performance OF the Mil,o"csar orera. and
barring Mas Quinlan's gymnastics. the trio
we're fairy well renf-,ent.i hy Bessie Tame.
hill and Elose Morgan, The general rrohur-
ton III point OF scenery and costumes was
bright and attractive.
Modern minstrelsy 10 the public demand
all 10 black face" to quote fr M the Primrose
and Dockstader bill. has come into Broadway
This applies literally to only the first hair o.
the performances given at the Herald Square
The second portion. which consists Of a half
dozen specialties. enlists a Quartette Of LADS
who are not blackened. and whose juggling o
Indian clubs il remarkably complex. Th4
preface 10 this port on. too. shows ono mans
features In their natural color II wouldn't hs
safe TO have IL otherwise. rs description Of II
will prove. When matters have progressed tc
the point where all CT the sem -clrrle of black.
oned men but Lew Dockstader have contrib.
uted. and when he seems neatly through
shut out by drop curtain, But Dockstadel
continues his comic sa!l"s. When he has
rn,6ed the curtain Is l,tea and bShinh i T.
raiGtinR OF a cathedrai's front. An organ
sounds and . ch9rs.er is heard Grg.Iuai
HS @ thew The vocalist and the organi.t IN cHor yas'
ments II is the specially ot "Ih" Girl with
the Auburn Hair" rep ,ntci. except that n
isa mans pink and white tgce that hu' 'rw
Dream" and surely no nublic demant
,he dreamer An elaborsts specially .m?r,
Is % tna, whch % begin. S With George "Sfrf.n, pin,
roses singing and dancing, Behind him IL a
aud truthful. bu, a Iii smaller than the wo'er
melon that cOnfronts IT, At the close of PriU,
Io.es e1ort ,he melon oon"n.r and r. kiacL
with seeds rerresnntcL hy negro heads. The
hall Of the fruit that fall- forward provide
fgh, q steps by which IL" 9wu"rs " rn.lr %
they perform cake-wak rNcir-c- ahoyilv
Ihi. and q monoloaue Tor Lev bock.tAIrr
are the specialties that stand out in tha o' y.
In the first half OF the entertainmeu t"ncr'
ou9f and Iaey ARE az tTns
sung seriously, or nut awry for The. sake 2
comicality. and coon songs" chiefly Hentl
mental, with a sprnkling of pathetic baI lads
An exception to the tenor succession IL ari
tone. Spencer Kelly. who holds 10 classic snl"r
tions and sings them with al seriousness Tn
qnnlity Of tho IoralizatIon Is unusually guo'
Tor mlnstr"lsy. Having snl'' - much y j. NJ
unfair 70 point on another clinract"rtS'i" -
the vocnl!sts. Their girth imprcsses. BE
tween the successful souhrettc or the ya
Ftety shows and the tuneiul tenor who hlnck
un there IL but slight difference. She widen
woillly at the shoulders: he EXTENDS at tn,
section whore his waist ought tn he. Bot
Primrose and Dockstader are exceptions II
tbs rule, but their companions are more thai
ample, One of them coniesses to the 'act. -
was 80 disappointed this morning" he says
got into the bathtub FOR, my dip. and thrr
wa no room for the water"
Several uncommonly interesting reprodnc
tions Of familiar plays com plete this week at III
theatres with the new pieces for fresh attnn
ton THE First Violin" is In use again b
Richard Mansfield at the Garden. This stag
version of Jessie FotherRll's novel has neve
been accepted By the critics as dramaticall
strong. But Mr. Mansheld's following ia nc
very discriminate when anything he does
offered They made up a succession of larR
huief % when this performance was frs
under criticism. and there is no reason VIII