Evening star., 1900-10-02
AMt1SENENTS. A

Tompkius contributed a pretty love story,
Mr. Clarke exhibited some clever crafts
manship and MIR. Brady provided the play
with a mounting which was irreproachabie.
The principal member of the cast Is MISS
Grace George, who charmed her audience
less by display of technical resource than
by a simple girlishness of manner. AS
Her Majesty Miss George won by gentle
graces the allegiance which she could
scarcely compel by artistic force.
The program announces Her Majesty
as a romantic play. AS matter Of fact 1t
is all kinds of play. There is comedy OF
the most refined and delicate order, ana
melOdrama which stops only little inns
side of sensationalism. Through il all Is
broidered, like golden thread, simple
love story, which is never broken for an in
stant. 1t is the good old story of she loved
him and he loved her, and after awhile
they marry and live happy ever after. In
this case she Is queen and he is social
ist agitator, although with enough blue
blood in his veins to make marriage with
the queen a political possibility. The queen
is an unsophisticated little woman, whose
chief delight is to play truant from the
throne and mingle, as old Haroun al Ras-
child did with the common people. Her
pranks open her eyes to the unpopularty OF
her government and lead her to a marriage
which meets the exigencies of sentiment as
we'll as those of statecraft. Under all the
there is a wholesome stratum of earnest
thought, protest against the conventions
which SURROUND an ariStocracy, as well as
reminder that popular censure easily falls
into p!tiab.e error in selection of its OBJ
ject. The scene in which the young queen,
disguised as one of the villagers, hears her
self denounced as monster while the mob
clamors for her destruction is a fine dra-
matte situation. The story is simple that
it could be easily gathered from any one of
the four acts. Independently of the others.
But it is a good story. and the knowledge
that it is sure to come out right does
not hinder the interest in following its
strong contrasts, Its rapid transition from
exquisite subtleties of suggestion to the
sheeTeSt braggadocio.
The performance last night by no means
showed the play off to the best possible ad-
vantage Nervousness on the part of the
company is penalty which a big scenic
productions is likely 10 incur. The throne
room OF the royal palace at Rappolstein and
the street scene We're splendid revelations
of what the scenic artist of today can do
for manager who is willing to meet the
expense. There is a Zenda-like atmosphere
10 the piece which is redolent of success.
Miss George displayed power and pathos.
Her work at times was superb. In some
scenes she attained results which were i'm
presSiye and beyond censure. Again she
would miss the possibilities of a situation in
manner which could be accounted for only
by the distractions of a performance which
labored under some minor difficulties. 1t
rehearsal TO smooth out some of the
wrinkles which prevented absolute smooth
ness last night. mob, to be effective.
must possess not only enthusiasm {as II
did abundantfy). but ii must move like
clock In the matter of entrances and
exits, and its roar must be regulated with
the precision shown by master who con-
trols the stops of a pipe organ The alb
ruptness with which the orchestra re-
spOnded to the cues for tremolo music de-
tracted from the quality of some genuinely
beautiful speeches. These and other small
interferences should be easily remeded and
IL is safe to say that tonight's performance
will be one which does full Justice to both
the fine touches and the vigorous demon
strations in which the play abounds.
Frank Wnrthing, as the hero of the piece,
lent the role handsome persona lily and a
melodious voice. 1t is one of the best things
he has ever done. Frazer Coulter, as the
wicked prime minister has in perfection the
dignity OF carriage and the basso profundo
manner of saying tut. tut which your
courtly VILLAIN of advancing years must
needs possess. Frank Hatch was a typical
anarchist in the role of Papa Schmidt The
two princes who came suitors to the
queens hand are drawn with a regard to
the gruesomeness which pervades human
affairs, worthy of Ibsen. George Osborn as
the weak-witted prince. gave a memora BILE
characterization and Ernest Hastings was
no less mastery in his portrayal of the
middle-aged yoluptuary Morton Selton
looked the part of the army officer, whose
scene with the queen in the prison is mildly
suggestive OF very fragrant episode In
The Conquerors.' very handsomely and
his study of inebriety should entitle him to
honorable mention in the archives of the
association of "Ex Tanks Some of the
methods by which the plot is kept moving
are palpably artificial. and one or two OF
the climaxes will need readjustment before
their full effect is conveyed There was
some disposition last night to dwell over
long on a good thing. The play will stand
much in the way of elimination, for as now
presented 1t runs too long.
The applause was frequent and sincere
and II must be indeed a cynic scoffer who
declines TO do homage to the winsome little
potentate or to follow her love affairs and
her madcap adventures with affectionate
interest.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE
A three weeks preliminary season was
opened last night. with Louis Morrison's
production of Faust" Mr.. Morrison's a III
sence from the cast Is unfortunate for it
requires at this time unusual and convincing
ability to persuade the auditor that the
affairs of that Older time town are monopo-
lizing Satan's attention. when there is Sc
much up-to-date material that invites him
to activity. The production as a whole is
Ike Mother Goose's son Jack, not very good
nor yet very bad. or course every one
knows the story by heart. SO there is moth
ing TO surprise in the situations. The seem
cry and costumes are adequate, but Valen-
tine. returning alone TO avenge his sister s
wrongs. unaided by lusty chorus of slash
bloused soldiers, is lonely and disappoint-
Ing person indeed No one is on hand to
meet him, and he is forced to tell his trou-
bes to the town pump.
The story of Marguerites downfall is
most pathetic and deplorable, as every one
knows. but ii happened SO long ago that
we have come to regard it an old wound
that has healed and its pain all but forgot
ten. though We hardly know how or why
| This is wise and mercifu1 provision. 1t
makes real life tolerable, and permits us to
| see Mephistos beautiful teeth and satanic
smile with eyes undimmed, and TO laugh
| at his sarrionic sallies with voices unchoked
| by tears. Incidental music based ou Gounod' S
| master work adds feeling of pro-
priety to the production; and the vocal num-
| bers by the Morrison Quintet are not the
/ least enjoyable features: OF the singing of
| Peter Piper and "Oh. Listen to the
| Band" within the romantic shades Of Nu-
remburg may be of doubtful propriety. but
| they were excelently sung. and tended to
soften any criticism of the vocalists when
| they essayed to act
! Mr.. Enrol Dunbar's "Mephisto" is true to
tradition and altogether devilish, and Miss