The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-01
The same can be said of 1.-THE Dancing
GirI.', and a host of others
- c1rrE,N pREENINENT


CITIZEN PRE-EMINENT.
The ocular affirmation that the organi-
zation of q stock company is a very sim
pie matter, may BE- accepted. Ihere are
stock companies and stock companies.
The careful choice of popular plays IS
something that anyone may accoMpi 1S'
as long as one keeps IN touch with the
prc gress Of affairs in the theatrical
world, but at this point the ways divide.
The adequate Interpretation, the elabo-
rate presentation, making an artistic
whole is quite another matter, and 1t Is
in this exclusive field that Mr.. Gtffen has
achieved his most notable victories. He
10 essentially a manager in the truest
sense Of the word, but he is something
more. he is an originator, and in these
| days of stress and change it is originality
that counts. The Giffen Company may
| have competitors, but 1t will hardly
suffer by comparison. It Is an organization
as nearly perfect as 1t IS possible 10
| make a summer stock company, and this
season it has touched nothing that 1t
has not adorned. The phrase is hack
| neved, but it is so exactly descriptive
| that it may be excused.
A BRIGHT FARCE.
.'Too Much Johnson" Is eccentric,
bright, interesting, and it is crowded with
new ideas. It is purely farcia1 In its
character, and it fulflls its mission as
a farce That Is to say, it keeps the
audience laughing for q large part of the
time while the curtain is up. 1t IS. more
over, of the style Of farce of the Eng
fish speaking stage, the kind in which
the comic complications arise from va
rious accidents and incidents Of life. and
not solely from intrigue, as is usual on
the French stage.
1t is Supcrbly constructed, and brightly
and cleverly written, moreover 1t sus-
tains it's humor to the end. 1t is not
necessary that a farce should teach any
thing, but it may scourge folly. and vice
and lies by holding them up to ridicule,
and this "Tco Much Johnson does to
perfection Nobody can be wicked enough
to be seriously disliked in farce, and
| even Mr. Augustus Billups creates little
| sympathy for the troubles that clip and
cage him as result of the towering
| edifice Of mendacity he raises in order to
| escape from New York to Cuba. In fact
to avoid relentless man whose honor he
| has outraged, and in part to silence the
| inuuisitiveness of too much m0ther-ln-
law. in regard to an alleged estate near
Santiago. which he is supposed to have
visited during divers and sundry adj
sences from home. The endless troubles
Z! Of Mr.. Billups, who sometimes passes
| for MIR. Johnson are really uproariously
| funny and every character in the play is
| alive with the most humorous possibili-
| ties.
| There are three acts in TOO Much
| Johnson" The first presents the deck
| of the steamer Tropic Queen, and the
| two last, a sugar plantation at Santiago
! de Cuba. che declaration of this fact will
suggest the opportunities that exist for
scenic Illustration and establishment.
particularly in the second and third acts
And since all stock companies appear to
have troubles Of their own on the first
right, the single change of scene to be
| iC y1a lie Yornn q raj In
| extraordinary stage waits
MISS ELLINGTON RESTS.
Miss Ilington and Miss Brown will not
be in the cast this week as there are only
twelve characters besides the supernu-
smeraries, and Miss Grayce Scott is to
| play the leading role.
It is a part that is exactly suited to
her personality and Miss SCOTS comedy
| is always adequate and delightful. AS
Mrs. Augustus Billings, she will have an
versatility. AS the adoring. devoted and
| lovable spouse of Mr.. Augustus Billings
alias Johnson. man whose mild de-
ceptionS at home lead to a very siren
| uous double life. Miss Scott has many
moods, emotional and otherwise to por-
tray.
Mr.. Bennett will play the role of Mr..
Augustus, Billings, a very prince Of liars.
with all the cool. calm and collected eff
supposed to- create. until the situation
at the last, gets utterly too hot for him,
and he seeks success and rest in a very
Miss La Verne will play the mother-in-
law of these two turtle doves and it will
be source Of qualification to the many y
a: long part with splendid acting posi-
~ COMEDY GROUP.
The second group In the cast is com
posed Of Mr.. Francis Faddsh. Miss Leo7
nora Faddish. his daughter, and Henry
lar nr he