The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-20
"BARBARA FREITCHIE."
Miss Marlowe Plays to a Crowded
HOIlSe

Miss MarloWe Plays to a CROWDED
House.
These are great nights at the Hyper
ion. Viola Allen, Mrs. LeMoyne, Mrs.
Carter, and Julia MarloWe have ar
peared and Maude Adams is coming
in the near future. Barbara
Freitchie" was presented last night to
one of the largest audiences of the sea-
son, one that completely filled the thea
ter, even crowding out the orchestra,
and filing the boxes. The play has had
a brilliant run in New York and the
fame thereof has even penetrated the
car of the local busoic. Moreover, Julia
Marlowe Is one of the most deservedly
popular actresses of the present day,
and her personal vogue is sufficient to
attract a large assemblage. She was
enthusiastically received and recalled
repeatedly after each act. Clyde Fitch
takes pains to call attention to the fact
that this is a new and original play.
Clyde Fitchs name has been associated
with so many adaptations that he pre-
sumably fears lest he should not receive
full credit for his work The author
$pf Nathan Hale and ''The Moth and
the Flame" will have no especial sus-
picion of his public. Both were good
examples of latter day playwriting and
Nathan Hale" was a work of particu-
lar strength. Barbara Freitchie" has
been cordially welcomed by the metro
politan critics. as a fine piece of work,
but it is not as convincing as Nathan
Hale" Despite Nat Goodwin's capa-
BILE performance of the title role it was
rather unfortunate that his personality
was associated with it. Goodwin's best
powers are in high comedy and 1T is
difficult for the public to conceive OF
him as serious and heroic. Barbara
Freitchie is more evenly excellent, but
1t does not rise to the heights of Ma
THAN Hale" The first act Of Barbara
Freitchie' is rather diffuse and ver-
bose in it's attempt to establish the at
rnosphere of the piece The climax of
the second act is melodramatic and
loses it's best effect by being prepared
in too low key. The third act is be-
ter and despite the awkward device of
the demented youth and the fathers
weak Welding to a piece of bold elocu-
tion, moves along with some feeling of
the Irresistible for the fete. The first |
scene of the last act is more modern
version of Whittier's March on"
he said. The comedy element is very
pretty throughout, and is delicately in |
troduced Clyde Fitch is perfectly at
home in the comedy work, and he has |
the feeling for a good nelo drama. But |
his taste restraints and his ambition
for something better makes him write
in too low a key for the best use of his
situations. His work is gaining in +
technical assurance, however, and he
is a man to be reckoned with.
1t goes without saying that Julia
Marlowe was entirely adequate and sat
isfyng in every scene. She is finished
and accomplished actress and the part
makes no demand which is not grace
fully met. Her diction is admirable
and her voice delight Her gowns
were picturesque and charming, and
her performance was one to be most
pleasantly remembered. Her support
was good, enlsting the services of such
capable actors as j. HI. Gilmour, George
Woodward, Arnold DAILY. Norah Lam
ison Annie Clark and Alice Leigh. Ar
mold DAILY, who is one of the most prom
Using young men of the stage, gave a
particularly interesting performance of
the part of the rejected sutton. The
scenery was handsome and appropriate.