The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-19
THE LOCAL STAGE.
cre.ton clarke and Aaela,ae rr,ne

| In "a SON Of France
IA Son OF France" the romantic drama
which was given its initial presentation
In this city last night by Creston Clarke
Adelaide Prince and their company, Is by
no means a remarkable play. Both of the
stars named are favorltes In this section
OF tho country, but they have not APP
peared before the theater- going public In
q production which was entirely worthy
OF them for some time past. "A Son OF
France is a new piece and while 1t con-
tains some few points OF merit II really
/ has none Of the salient qualities which go
TO make up successful play. Them Is
| very little action TO II and correspond
tngly large amount OF dialogue, which,
no matter how we'll rendered. soon pals
on the auditor. One finds oneself looking
continually for something to happen and
nothing ever happens. None OF the sit
uatlons are particularly strong, the lines
are not as bright as they might be and
the production shows a noticeable lack OF
any feature which would tend even for a
moment. to appeal TO the lighter side Of
ones nature. Even the greatest OF TRACE
dies are sometimes bettered by a, vein OF
humor, however slight, and it would APP
pear that Mr.. Clarke's new play would
The story told Is not a complicated one.
Citizen Martel, a member OF the cobmit-
tee Of public safety during the French
revolution. and Beatrice Duchess OAR
mine the daughter OF one aristOcrat and
the widow Of another have been friends
I IN their childhood. Notwithstanding the
lowly position occupied by the former.
They meet after long years, when Beatrice
comes TO ssk OF Marte the release OF ner
father Duke Dc Lille, and of Count De
Nalmont, her cousin. to whom she has en-
gagged her hand in marriage The name
OF the latter has already been taken off
the prescribed list. but the request as TO
the former Is granted Later Martel tells
Beatrice OF his love and she promises to
| break the engagement with De Valmont
aud to become Cltizeness Martel. Her
father forbids such an union. saying that
he VIII take his life II his daughter al
lows herself TO be drawn into such a
| mesalliaucr. They part after Beatrice
has refused to leave her father and follow
Martel The latter becomes a leader In
the republican army and, after the rout
OF the aristoorats Beatrice's father. one
OF the few surviving officers of the de-
feated forces, falls into his hands. Beat
rice begs for her parents life, saying
that she has never ceased TO love Martel
ana promising 10 become his wife II her
father Is released Martel shows that his
love for her is great. but he does his duty
and turns De Lille over 70 the followers
OF the tri-Color. Beatrice bitterly IN
braids him. but her despair is soon turned
To Joy when the republican general having
proved the fidelity OF Martel. tells her that
the act OF the latter In taking her fathers
name oil the prescribed list has released
the aristocrat from any responsibility to
the citizens party. The old man Ii ac-
cordingly set AT liberty Martoi aud
Beatrice become roconclled aud, supposed
ly. marry and live happily ever after
wards, the Duke De Lille having given
his daughter the right to follow the die
tates OF her own heart.
MT, Clarke gets out OF the part OF Mar
Tel, the merry young leader of the cili-
zens, all there Is In IT, but the nature
OF the role Is really not such as to admit
OF the display OF any great amount OF tai
ent, Miss Prince, barring n degree OF
stiffness at times, and tendency to pose
at others, ~ acceptable as Beatrice Some
OF the vary best work In the east is done
| by Mr.. George y. Parker as De Vnlmunt,
! me aristocratlo cousin who sought to we'd
hts bepuiifll relative. The remaining
m1mbcs OF the company are equal to the
demands made upon them. The piece Ia
very prettily dressed, the Scene represent
ing the house OF Madame Talieu being
especially effective. All OF the special
scenery Is carried by the organization.
The audience whtsn saw the piece was a
large ana fashionable one and one. too
which was very approciative. two or thrna
curtain calls being given the two stars
Inc BALDWIN Melville company will open
Ia return engagement today, presenting
Moths" this afternoon and Northern
Lights' tonight The usual popular scale
OF prices will prevail.