The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-12
Keenan, at the Lyceum.

II has been said that character acting is the
highest tom of the his,rionic art and that only
those actors who can make an artistic Success
in character part are entitled to he termed
great, Ii this he true then Frank Keenan, who
appeared last night at the Lyccum theatcr in
play OF American life in tine latter fortcs called
Hon. Jonhn Grigsby," deserves to rank with
the few great actors of the American stage be-
cause his embodiment OF the title role of the
piece is not merely an artistic success 1t is an
| artistic triumph.
Mr.. Keenan, is an actor who until last season
was practically unknown 10 the great tIloatcr
going public OF the cast. To-day his art is known
| and appreciated by only the few of this public
but his star is in the ascendant and it cannot be
long before it will have fully risen and he will
| occupy the place he deserves to occupy.
Hon. John Grigsby' is play which though
not model OF dramatic construction, is never
thclcss infinitely superior TO hundred Others
now on the boards; superior because it pictures
period in this nations growth about which lit
tie has been written and because it pictures it
with such IL fascinating charm that the cautious
critic is compelled to overlook the defects and to
look deeper than them upon the whirwind of
emotions which are constantly testing the great
ness of the central figures character and which
move the innermost depths OF his soul.
1t has villain and an exceedingly vilanOu3
at that lie secures the nomination OF GrigS-
by, a poor struggling lawyer, rs the candidate OF
the Wing party iOr the Supreme court iudg",hip
and he is elected. The villain then attempts 10
force him into deciding in favor Of the consitu-
tionality of compromise bill which lie favOrS ana
which, ii sustained by court, would per.
nit the holding of slaves in the state
of Illinois In order to forcc favor
able decision ON this bill the villain
cures from foolish rich widow in love with
Grgsby a contribution Of $4,000 TO the cam.
,,ni,r f,,nI and sim
tiying that she gave thc money TO secure his
nomination lie threatens 10 publish the fact
that Grigsby's nomination was bought IL the lat.
ter doesn't decide his way.
The plan doesn't work and when the threat is
made Grigsby in parONysm Of rage drives the
villain and his accomplce from his house. Then
there is poor unfortunate grl, really daugll'
ter of the villain by his first wife, who is teach.
ing the negro children in the village and who,
an consequence, is UNANIMOUSLY libellcd by the
villains paper. She seeks to sue the propre-
tor and Grigsby becomes her lawyer after she
had been turned out OF the offices of all .hC
other attorneys, Though threatened by the vii.
lain he refuses to drop the suit and defends hcr
against the whole community, finally falling in
love with her
Mr. Keenan, has voice which is rather harsh
and metallic and which at first sounds almost
dsagIccablc hut despite this handicap he enacted
the titular role with a comprehensive grasp and
breadth and sweep of style such as few actors on
cur stage are capable Of The part is wnat Gu.
tors term 4 "lat' part. There are opportunities
galore and Mr.. keenan, selcs them all with
master hand, Ills fierce OLtburst at the end of
the second act was thrilling in its fiery intensity
though it was perhaps carried little beyond the
line which divides the. artistic and the theatrical
lie eNcels also in another phase of art--panto.
mime. lie held the stage alone without word
for at least three minutes in the last act and the
audience sat silent the night as they read
on his face ANA in his movements the thoughts
that surged within his brain.
The company admirable throughout though
not one of the names the programme Is a
familiar one Frederick Murray as Coke, the pa.
tient, plodding clerk nursing hopeless love,
gave delightful character bit. Intensely anus,
ing We're Alexander Vincent as Joe Chandler,
one.legged veteran OF 1872 known as "Re,olu.
ton," and =, j. Mcintyre as Crumpet, veteran
OF the Mexican war, Edna Phillips as Meg
Ronods, the girl whom Grlgsby beiricnds, and
later loves, was charming to look upon and gave
sympathetic embodiment OF the role. The
other members OF the company were all capable
without exception
The mounting of the piece was excellent, cs.
pecillly the scene showing the interior OF Grigs,
by's home with its old,iashoned wal paper ard
hair cloth furniture