The age-herald., 1901-01-08
Otis Skinner.

The demand for seats for the Otis Skinner engagement is so large as to practically assure this talented artist large audience at the Jefferson Theatre tomorrow night. Mir. Skinner has always been a favorite here, and this engagement promises to strongly emphasize that fact
 Prince Ctto," the play in which MT Skinner is now starring, is considered by many as the best play in which he has ever appeared It is said to give him excellent opportunities for his ability as a romantic actor.
 The play opens at the cottage of Farmer Leopold one of the farmer-peasantS of the principality known as Krownfeld. The prince pleasure-loving ruler, has been separated from his party while out hunt ing and takes refuge in the cottage until the passing storm is over Here he meets his wife, the daughter of a neighboring grand duke, whom he has married several years prior to the beginning of the story for reasons of state. She has gone out touring with the prime minister and lady in waiting to make an inspection of the de- fences of the principality. There has been no question of love between them. He has gone with his pleasures, and she has become the virtual ruler of the principal ity The princess is under the domina ton of her prime minister, an ambitious mortal who has formulated revolution that a re- public may be declared, with himself as Its first president. Seeing the princess away from the .entourage of the court, the prince discovers for the first time that she is a very charming woman, and the love spark in his heart Is awakened. But she will have none of him.
 The second act Is placed in the state drawing room of the palace at Lauterheim A sreception is in progress, when to the surprise of all the prince enters in his hunt ing costume. He has discovered the plot for the overthrow of his principality, and the discovery has awakened the desire to counter march on the schemers. At the court there is an English nobleman, who purporting to be a traveller, is really a spy in the service of the Austrian government His private papers have been seized by the orders of the pripe minister, and among them is dairy containing a complete and minute detail of the doings of the court. His personal observations are very eaustic, and the prince, reading them, becomes angered to that extent that the English mans travelling carriage is ordered and he is told to go.
 The setting of the third act is that of the council chamber of the palace. The princess, her advisers and her prime min istert are holding a council. Under the guise of a war grant the prime minister is tsying to get funds for his revolution ary movement Just as he appears to have everything his own way the prince enters and lays bare the plot. This is one Of the strongest situations in the play.
 The fourth act has for it's locale another apartment in the palace The prince tiles to conciliate his wife, but she will have none of it. The prime minister, who is really in love with her. attempts to take advantage of his position. It comes as a surprise to the princess, who at first is at Joss to comprehend, but rejects his ad- vapces and insults, for by this time she is really in love with her husband The .h .t,,te- I,l Cnlf har alA she seizes a dagger from a stand of l nor and stabs him. His cry of help Is hevrd by the prince and also by bis guards. The prince hurriedly eRters and takes in