New-York tribune., 1901-01-16
THE DRAMA
NEW PLAY AT THE BIJOU.
THE CLIMBERS.

IAE CLIMBERS.
Miss Amelia Bingham and a dramatic cornpany
,,sanfzed and led by her appeared at the Bsou
rbeatre last night, presenting a PLAY by Mr. W
1yde Fitch, called The Climbers" and she was
,beered by the presence and the plauditS Of a con
esserable assemblage of friendly spectators Mice
bingham, in presenting herself as star follows
,be fashion Of the hour. Eminence on the American
cage is no longer exclusively result of ability and
achievement, but a matter of proclamation and ad-
,ertisement, and anybody can be conspicuous who
chooses 10 make the necessary arrangements A.
oeptance in dramatic authorship is. likewise well
uithin the reach of any scribbler who nav he
pleased 10 proclaim himself a dramatic author;
while prosperity and power in the complex and
delicate business Of theatrical management since
snvbody is deemed a manager" who can hire
ATTRACTIONS and make dates."-are readily ac-
oessible TO every jantor of every theatre in the
land: and a more ignorant, sordid, chuckle headed
lot Of pettifoggers than the men now engaged in
that business was never before seen in this coun-
trv Here and there an intelligent and competent
manager may be found, but, with little exception,
the managers" are corner grocers. and they
ruled by the great corner grocer influence of all at
the head Of the theatrical syndicate in this city
Miss Bingham, il is understood. is an independent
manager and in that attitude she is worthy OF
especial admiration and opulent success and every
impartial observer must earnestly hope that The
NeW-York experience of Miss Henrietta Crosnan
will not be repeated in her AS actress Miss
bingham is not remarkable. She does not imper-
senate But she possesses rich beauty, distinctive
nresence. and the charm of grace, and she evinced
The capability of fervent expression in one passage
of that verbal Vehemence which easily passes for
trye feeling The speech that she delivered last
night after the third curtain had fallen. revealed
more Of the woman, however, than anything done
or said by the actress-showing sincerity OF pur-
nose and honesty Of ambition, dignity OF mind.
and a delicate sen=ibility that could not fail to
min svnpathetic esteem. Her success with her
audience was absolute and decisive. The success
of her company.-which is excellent,-was also pos
tive Frank Worthng, acting an exceedingly diff
cult and even repellent part, made brilliant NIT
Mr. Edeson showed admirable self-command and
impressive force. Several Of the women gave de-
lightfll denotement of feminine mischief caprice.
spite malice, and charming inconsistency. And
Nr Fitch's play,-although it is overloaded with
petty and paltry detail and difuse with padding
manifested enough Of occasional felicity of inVen-
tion and sprightliness Of cooquy TO reward atten-
tioa and TO carry the public favor. 1t was night
Of some surprises, and upon the whole night OF
auspicious triumph for Miss Bingham.
In this play of The Climbers"-who are young
husband and a young wife, of whom seeks
for wealth and the other for happiress-the author
seems 10 have intended to present social picture
TO declare that fatal consequences are often II not
always, attendant on moral cowardice ana on
weakness Of character, and TO deliver warning
10 Wall Street. Four acts, framed in uncomrnonly
rich and beautiful scenery. have been devised and
constructed. to attain this result. When all mas
been considered. though,-and the padding OF
small talk and the ample detail of scenery put
sside-it remains clear that the picture is
largely 6 trayesty, the declaration certainly
. trlism and the warning 4 hackneyed plattude.
In act first it was made known that Richard Ster-
ling was a dishonest man, who had sought 20 get
rich by crooked ways, and who was unfit to he
trusted; yet his wife loved and trusted him. and
his wtfes wealthy aunt ignorant Of his character.
nlaced all her affairs in his custody In the second
act il was made known that he had specuated
with money committed 10 his care and lost it; and
he thereupon forced 10 confess his sn-the con-
fession being uttered in the dark This is the nov
city of the comedy, and here Mr.. Frank Worth
ing, who acted Richard Sterling. put forth splen-
did power Of emotion and Of eloquence; the words
we're tumid. but the feeling was superb In the
third act the wretched mans friend, Edward
Warden-admirably played by Mr.. Robert Edeson
-interceded with his creditors. in order to save
him; and here occurred a fine passage between
Warden and Miss Goodesby, one of the
creditors, in which the former was COM
PEELED 10 confess his honest secret love for Rich
ard Sterling's wife. the controlling motive of
his life. Miss Clara Bloodgood marked with fine
discrimination, in this interview the union of deep
feeling with levity and hateful selfshness, in
woman Of the world. In the fourth act, Richard
Sterling hopeless failure and wreck, when now
he finds that he has alenated his wfes love,
drinks poison and takes his sin and shame out
Of the world The play is a curious medley Of
frivolity and gloom. pretending much but meaning
little Its felicity of social gable will probably
carry IL w. w.
CAST OF THE CLIMBERS"
Richard Sterling Frank Worthiag
Edward Warden Robert bdeson
56sSs7 as'T TrotsP Mfs Ferdinand cottsehat
T)r c. Boniface
y
~ n-4I4a-,l
Jordan Ecward MoteIsIla
Henry STOKES
a foClInsn lNA .a-liia-e
Richard Sterling Harry hLlght
rs.
Mrs. Sterling -lAiIsila hIs4ai4
Cara Hunter Minnie D1pteS
siss S1llerton Ysobel Haskins
Thnrnnsnr lillian Eldridge