New-York tribune., 1902-01-08
THE DRAMA.
THE FRoHMAN COMPANY AT DALYs.
.FRocKs AND FRILLs."

.o Dalv's Theatre to begin its third regular dra-
matte at that house. appeared last night in
/. neat and bright play called "Frocks and Frls"
aented by Sydney Grundy from the French Of
scribe and Legouve.-the original being lie Doight
6es Fees" The re-entrance Of this company. head
al by that charming actress Miss Hilda Spong
and comprising, among others such favorites as
Miss Rose Eytinge. Miss Alice Fischer. Mr.. Eugene
ormonde Mr.. William F. Owen, and Mr. Grant
stewart, IS one OF the most welcome events Of the
season, being at once present pleasure and the
sure harbnger of many pleasures to come and it
was greeted with uncommonly glad applause by a
brilliant audience.
In "Frocks and Frills" Miss Spong and her asso-
clates merrlly Illustrate a morally piquant and
physically mirthful story. showing under novel
circumstances the high spirit, expeditions conduct
magnanimous mind. adroit rnanagement and ulti-
nate social triumph of a poor girl, who, finding
herself sighted by her rich relatives quits their
society, becomes a fashionable milliner, makes
prosperous business for herself. and eventually.
when those relatives have drifted into trouble is
able 10 confer benefits upon Them returning good
FOR evil, and diffusing as well as winning happi-
ness and content In its ethical bearing the piece
conveys gentle admonition against insincerity OF
character and artifcay OF life extolling the good
old virtues Of honesty. candor selfdependence and
courage and the wisdom Of taking bravely what
ever fortune comes and making the best of It.
Ethical significance. however. does not make
ulsy and the vital excellence Of this comedy will be
found consist in its ingenuity Of contrivapce Its
movement. us 1eHclty as satlre on
frivolous manners. and its bright dialogue. 1t is
uure and thoroughly satisfactory play of COM
poste character. now rational and now drolly wild
It's serious story being developed by expedients
that are sometimes sane and sometimes farcical;
n was exceedingly well acted: and It will agreeaoy
and prohtably occupy the time at Days Theatre.
pending Mr. Frohmans purposed presentment Of
new version Of Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre
Dame"
TIE comedy is comprised in four acts and it i'm
reFs several OF whom are
rsIliners The dramatist has shifted the scene
from Paris TO London.-the preliminary e1posiuoh
of the subject being placed at a stately country
house in Anglesey. AT the outset Olive Devereux
is "a poor relation living in the family OF Earl
Athelstan, and enamoured OF the earls son, Noel
Viscount Doughton. Frigid treatment constralns
her to leave this aTistocratic abode and two
wears later her exalted relatives discover that she
has become opulent and famous fashionable
London milliner. Circumstances have changed.
The earl is impecunious The ancestral estates or
Athelstan imperilled. A certain railway enter
prise has been projected. the success or which VIII
prove the financial rescue Of this old family ana a
great benefaction TO the man whom Olive loves |
At this 1uncture-the scene changing to Olives |
picturesque and busy shop.-the heroine is able TO
secure powerful and effectual monetary influence !
;n favor of the railway enterprise, by obtaining,
for of fashion and social leader, a |
ticket 10 a ball that is presently TO be given by
another Of fashion and social leader, who is |
her formidable and hated rival Such and so trivial.
in actual lfe are very often, the causes that cor
strain the most important events-so that the |
hnancier the statesman is far from wise who |
leaves frocks and frins out OF his scheme.
This victory gained by Olive Of course reinstates
her,at last, in a more truly appreciative favor
Of her family friends and all ends well. The scene
IN the milliners shop is particularly gay, and the
little social intrigue is adroity managed.
Miss Hida Spong. Olive Devereux. exemplihes |
style Of acting that is especially grateful at this
time. when the local stage is dolorous and humid
with SO much chin-quivering, hysterical. ebullent
and tumultuous affectation Of feeling.-the
sensical blather eptly designated by Shake
speare '1nexplicable dumb shows and noise" It
would. by observers, be censured Cold
q kind of censure that usually is the best kind of
praise, for its denotement is the absence real
ism" extravaganza, and excess The performance
given by Miss Spong is clear-cut incsive, refined,
polished intense with natural feeling that is ad-
Enirably controlled, wel-bred IN every fibre OF It.
and touched equally with a sensitive child-like
simplicity and fine haughtiness that are the
authentic flower Of character and mind. So much
impassoned sensibility in q character framed with
such volatile surroundings and often made to wreak
Itself on triviaites is the indication Of rich
es well proficient art; and the English speech of
Miss spong is delicious in its purity. The
tescension Of patronage and offensive pride is per-
fectly well expressed by Miss Rose Eytnge,
rs the Dowager Lady Athelstan; titled pomp
Is made ludicrous by Mr. Grant Stewart-al-
ways most amusngly adept in unconscious
rivalry is broadly and humorously exemplifed by
Dorothy Dorr and Alice Fischer as Lady Porneroy
and Mrs Martinez The displays of venomous hos
nity by Miss Dorr and Miss Fischer are somewhat
extravagant, verging a little toward tiresome be-
cause merciless and unwarrantable caricature;
but nothing could be more true or more
satHcaly comic than their efusiveIy hypocriti-
cal reconciliation. The Frohman organization for
Dalys Theatre has been strengthened by the ad-
oition Of Mr.. Eugene Ormonde. formerly of Au-
sustin Days company.-who gave an excellent
performance Of bewildered lover Mr. Robert
Lorraine is agreeable IN the slender part of the
'lscount Doughton; and Mr.. Owens comic &C.
oenuicity inparts value to Mr. Raymond an Incl
dental parsonage Of intrinsic moment The
character OF Lord minister is for most of the way
fantastic and farcicaL but there is ons finely
serious rIomenr for him at the last and Of this
nj ornonoe made the most that is possible-his
bearing being distinguished, his feeling sincere
ana his expression manly, simple. felicitous and
elective. Mr. Jameson Lee Ffnney largely con-
uiouted 10 the success Of the representation. The
part Sir Richard Kettle a wealthy generous voung
man OF fashion who stammers, and whose stammer
3 frequently effective at moments of climax is
an unconmonly good one, but Mr. Finney certainly
improved its opportunities rnanifesting hurnor al
NEG with distinct faculty for comic impersonation |
Tne scenery. by Mr.. E. G. Unit peases by deftness
oi construction and by soft subdued color The
s'sse managemen Of Mr.. Edward z Rose seerns 10
Ahoicate good judgment and good breeding-for the
episode OF millinery and miliners, so easily made
iatuous and coarse. neither silly nor indecor-
ous MI Daniel Frohman's new season has opened
enoer aaspicious conditions and doubtless his fol-
.sers VIII accord to him the ampest support
he iias worked hard for his position during fifteen
.eSls and he has done far more TO deserve # than
s0ne others who make themselves more conspicu- |
=" ule puohc vision w.
CAST OF ''FRocKs AND F-RrIIs"