Evening star., 1900-10-09
ADJUSTMENTS,

NEW NATIONAL THEATER-It ia a
great relief to sit a performance through
without a doubt as to It's merits or enjoya-
bility; without q single suspicion that the
intelligence instead of being moved to hon
lest admiration is merely being fuddled by
a monster display Of scenic magnificence
The privilege of frank. unquestioning ap-
prOval is one which the Empire Theater
Stock Company always affords When on
tour it regularly brings a play worth see
ing and a company which would redeem
even an inferior work.
1t is needless to go into "details about the
excellence of the Empire Theater Stock
Company as organization. Such an en-
terprise would be merely to pile the Ossa of
adulation upon the PeliOn of compliment.
The only fact to be regretted in connection
with its visits is that more people do not
avail themselves of the unique opportunity
it provides 10 clean, evenly balanced
acting and an aggregation of actors whose
work shows brains, individuality and rare
discipline. Large the audience was last
night, it was not large enough to consti-
tate fitting recognition of past benefits.
The play was Brother Officers q COM
edy in three acts by Leo Trever. 1t is by
no means the best of the offerings which
the Empire Theater has developed yet it
is good play. On the program appears
as text upon which the dramatist
bases his work. the line from Tenny-
d
is royal born by right divine" The
theme is handled by the author with skill.
The story has to do with Lieutenant John
Hinds." a man whose physical bravery and
mental superiority bring him rapidly up the
line of promotion into the society of the
most cherished types of British aristocracy.
The first act is devoted chiefly to his ef-
forts to become accilmated to this at
mosphere of unwonted elegance and to
adapt himself to the little conventionalities
which seem so trifiing when observed and
which assume such awe-inspiring impor
tance when they are transgressed by an
intruder. 1t is in this act that William Fa-
versham does his best work of the evening.
Indeed, the play is chiefly mertorious be-
cause Of the facilities with which 1t pro-
vfdeS Mr. Faversham and the other play
ers for display of their powerful yet dis
creetly managed gifts. 1t is difficult to
think of an actor who In playing such
part as John Kinds would not be tempted
to overdo the comedy. Any but an artist
by instinct would Invest the character with
such coarseness as to obiterate the native
nobility. Mr.. Faversham Is one of the
actors who carry the center Of the stage
with him. Whatever he does is interesting,
and the libelous attempts to nickname him
"Favvy" and exhibit him matinee hero
can never succeed In overshadowing the
earnest integrity of his art. That he is
drawing room hero cannot be denied. but
as drawing room hero he is without flaw.
The play changes its gait rather abruptly
after the first act, which sets the pace 80
swiftly that reasonable complaint cannot
be offered If there is not an impression Of
cumulative strength ass the performance
progresses. 1t portrays the evening dress
side Of military life in England. To be sure
there Is some OF the strut and Jingle of the
army in the piece, but 1t is overbalanced
by the love interest woven throughout the
series of situations, which, not altogether
new and not always devised with striking
brilliancy, serve to hold the interest and
enable the members of the company to dis
play their admirable delineations of the
character types. There is no effort to Sc
cure happy ending. A brave fellow saves
the life Of q weak-natured "heart-interest
hero" saves him from dishonor. and finally
breaks his own heart by handing over to
play succeeds in being consistent and prob
able. although sentimentally unsatisfying
| II has the quality of fidelity to truth which
the artistic instinct must approve even