The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-21
THE LOCAL STAGE.
stuart Robson scored a Decided HifI
in "Oliver Goldsmith"

In "O1iver Goldsmith"
Augustus Thomas added materially to
the good plays the day when he wrcts
In Mlzzour." Alabama" Arizona. :"
The Meddlers' and others. All Of these
have been more or less commendable. but
nothing he has ever given to the stage
contains go many features of genuine
merit as OLIVER Goldsmith" the costume
comedy which was presented at Sweeney
& Coombs theater last night by Stuart
Robson anAa wonderfully balanced COM
not written like this one, which tells
of the shadows and the sunshine in the
life of Molly Goldsmith Con rasted with
the "Degenerates, the 'Saphos' and the
"Zazas" OF the present day, it is like the
fresh, youag lace Oh an innocent oaoe
compared w.tn the SIN marked couate-
naL-e Vi hardened Criminal, At is lac
pray er Al house Oh slAAIo, Ike me pIte,
sweet AK Vi country lanss aad te.ds alter
the loui dtnOspuere OF uens of wee. 1t
Is play tld1 leaves a pleasant taste IN
"ac'S mouth, as II were. II teaches a les
s,A too, even as the meritor.oua prop
lean plays winch are nov 50 plen.ilu.
are claimed 10 d., but 1t teaches 1t VITA
out placing III evidence anything mat
could onend in the slightest way. or any-
/ tnng tnat is III the least min. cal TO moral
advancement. 1t is not great play in
the sense that 1t tens powerful Story
or contains situations or lines of unusual
strength. 1t is Simply sketch of part
CT the life of Oilver Goldsmith, dost.r,
poet and good fellow. who was ono OF the
most brilliant OF the coterle of coffee
house spirits of which, In the days Of
Aud Lang Syne, he was a member. 1t Is
only a sketch, but it has bsen drawn by
4 master hand. II is full Of genuine
humor, heart interest, of noble, lofty
sentiment OF unseltlsh, never-dyIng love
and of self-sacrlhcing friendship. Around
some Of the incidents of the life OF Gold
smith, Mr.. Thomas has built play that
can not fail 20 be pleasing TO the ad-
mirer of the truly artistic in the
drama, even though II may contain some
Inaccuracies from an historical stand
point, and may seem to be lacking in some
OF the qualities without which no play Is
expected to succeed. The piece brings
out an abundance OF humor which is
absolutely delicious at times, and which,
is as far ah3ve some OF the alleged fun
usually kept in stock by playwrghls
as the stars are above the earth. There Is
the laundering wit OF Molly Goldsmith
himself, the raper-like satires of the
brilliant Garrick. the scintillating Irish
facetiousness OF the peerless Burke, aud
the exquisite, womanly humor OF the
Horneck sisters, For instance, Goldsmith,
in his Pinch Lane garnet, is in the hands
Of the bailiffs when he receives a call
from Mary Horneck, the woman he loves
better than his own life. She is accom-
panied by her sister and the famous Bos-
we'll. When they are announced Gold
smith, taken unawares, asks leave OF the
bailiff TO introduce him as o friend. The
baiiff consents, and the Introduction fol-
lows. Eyes, sir" says the bailiff with
an exaggerated bow. "A friend of, DR..
Goldsmiths, sir. In the royal service,
sir" All" says Boswell 'In tho navy.
l presumed" The bailff is abashed but
Goldsmith comes to his rescue with, yes.
/ believe. sir that he does some times
serve in the Fleet" having reference, OF
course to the famous prison of that name
Then again, hear Edmund BurIe: IS
school once, when Nol had nothing of his
own, he gave suit Of mine 10 a besgar"
And Mrs, Featherstone: when woman
has no childfen she adopts a dog. n a
pet, or something" And Goldsmith
again, II consider second marriage the
tr!C-ph OF hope over experle7>a."
The principal theme OF the pay is the !
love OF Goldsmith for Mary Horneck, a !
WHICH 10 ubat fHGfk4NElg I
throughout. The revolt Of the poet |
against the blaekguar1 Ksndrick. liter
airy degenerate Of the day. who Is also IN
love with the girl, brings out some Of
the formers stronger traits The fight
of DR.. Johnson, Garrick and the others
10 induce Manager Coleman TO produce
"She Stoops 10 Conquer and the noble
sacrifice OF Edmund Burke in bringing
G ldsnith ami the girl he loves together.
and handled most effectively. as are q
number Of monor incidents which. waile
perhaps net altogether correct histo.t-
caliy. undoubtedly add materially to ths
merits OF the play.
The succefs OF Mr. Robson In the new
piece is highly gratifying to his frien Is
and admirers. especially in view Of the
failure Of the unfortunate Gladly" In
the name part cf the comedy he does what
is undoubtedly some OF the best work OF
his life. The famous squeak Is still 10
evidence--too much so at times, perhaps
but withal Mr.. Robson gives the role such
thoroughly finished and artistic por- I
travail as TO make its minor defects-if
defects really exist-almost lmpercep,ible. 4
Ills conception OF the part OF the man I
who wrote like an angel but talked like
poor POLL Is an eminently pleasing one /
and in HE work there Ia such a noticeable |
amount OF naturalness and lack OF strain
ing after effect as TO make II a charming /
Bit OF acting, The part presents great
many opportunities for quiet forcesul I
rerk aud f;r the nioss par Mr. Rebsan
improves them Z, the utmost
The company with which the famous
comedian has surrouztsi himself is |