The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-02
/ THEATRICAL. :.
"The Two Schools"

have been introduced to American
theatre goers Of recent years. "The Two
Schools Is rather the best and the
most legitimate from a technical view
point. In the original it must have
been decidedly clever and 1t bore trans
lation without all of the bad effects
that so often follow that operation.
But even in its expurgated and Ameri-
can2ed form 1t is French, decidedly
French. Scranton has no great yenrn-
ing for that kind of theatricals, and
though Charles Frohman has given
"The Two Schools most excellent
company, the audience that saw 1t last
night at the Lyceum was not very large
and was rather cold.
The story is of the usual French com-
edy order, which regards marriage as a
huge Joke, and the inndelities of hus-
bands and wives as matters OF course.
Papa Joulin, during n serious talk with
his son-in-law concerning the latter's
attention to women other than his wife,
advises him TO have his little affairs If
he will, as he (Joulin) has had all his
life but don't get found out" Mamma
Jouln assures her daughter that all
her life she has known that her hus-
band has had-let's call them flirta-
1ions--but she has dismissed them from
her mind and never mentioned them to
her husband. Thus she has found hap
piness and kept her husband devoted to
her. If one will marry, she sagely as
sures her daughter, only by adopting
her philosophy of life can happiness
and peace OF mind be obtained. Men
will not be constant. This is the un-
wholesome atmosphere Of the entire
four acts of the comedy.
TO the task of making this kind of
thing convincing, Mr. Frohman as
signed Ida Conquest, Ida Waterman,
Jessie Rusley, Jameson Lee Finncy, NJ.
A. Kennedy, Winchcll Smith and other
good actors. They played the comedy
with a delicacy that was praiseworthy
and admirable. Miss Conquest seemed
out of place amid these French sur
1ollndings. she is such an emnently
proper looking young woman. but she
did the finished and conscientious work
that is characteristic of her. She was
the young wife who tires of hsr hus-
bands affairs with other women and
divorces him; not in anger, but rather
in sorrow that she cannot hold him, for
she really loves him. Jameson Lee Fin
rey was the light ht-hearted light-minded
husband, who realizes only after he has
lost his wife that no other woman was
ever so attractive to him as his wife.
lie strives to win her back and eventu-
ally succeeds There is Il fine scene in
the third act between Mr.. Finney and
Miss Conquest, which had the only
honest ring of the whole comedy.
Miss Busley gave a. vivid, palpitatinS
presentation OF the character of Estella.
Her husband had run away with an
other woman and married her. which
I.stella declared was the respectable
thing for him to do under the circum-
stances. While getting a divorce, Es-
tella is under the patronage of Joulin.
who interested his son-in-law, Maui
burn. a lawyer, in getting the divorce
for her. When Mauburn is divorced
J;stella gives up Joulin to console Maui
burn, and when she came to the part
: ing of the ways with him she throws
herself on the neck of LeHautors, who
was engaged to marry Mauburn's
divorced wife.
She was determined to keep in the
family, you see.
The fidelity with which Miss Busley
presented the intellectual and physical
qualities of that kind of woman was
subject for nothing less than amaze
nent.
Miss Waterman and NJ. a. Kennedy
as Papa and Mamma Joulin were ex-
cellent.
"The Gamekeeper" at Academy.
Smith O'Brien, in "The Gamekeep-
err" pleased two large audiences at
the Academy of Music yesterday af-
ternoon and evening. "The Gamekeep-
err" Is a pretty Irish play, full of
witty sayings and strong situations
Several very beautiful songs are sung
by Mr.. O'Brien, who has a sweet
voice peculiarly suited to Irish bal
lads. He is handsome and possesses
a manly figure, such as an audience
delights to see in a hero. 'In the
Dear Old Summer Time" and "a
Daughter of Ireland" We're perhaps
two Of the prettiest songs he sang.
The company is n capable one
throughout. Miss Bancroft as Kath-
1een O'Neill, and Miss knox as Molly
Doolan, afforded excellent support
while Miss Louise Barrett as Lady
Nora was exceptionally good John
Barrett as Hubert Boyle did clever
bit of representation, while Tony Muir
rhy was exceedingly funny in the role
of Johnny Drake. The scenery was
all new and very elaborate.
Four more performances of "The
Gamekeeper" will be given this af-
ternoon and evening and tomorrow af-
ternoon and evening.
The New Majestics.
Fred Irwin's New Majestic Bur-
lesque company presented number of
original novelties at the Star theater
yesterday, at the beginning of their
three days engagement. The troupe
which is headed by Billy Watson con-
tains a number of talented people, in
cluding Charles Merrill. the marvellous
rrick bicycle rider; Nalmon and Hor-
ton. in eccentric dancing specialties;
McHale and Carew, Gertie DeMilt and
others One of the funniest numbers
of the olo was given by Ziska and
King, who combined mystery and
mirth in way that made their act
one of the most entertaining.
The closing burlesque, entitled king
for Day." by w. l.. Ballouf. is one
of the best on the road, containing
many funny situations and catchy
music, which was well received yes
terday. Some of the musical numbers
We're exceedingly Well rendered those
worthy of special mention being the
"Spanish Senoreta" by Lulu Valmon
and chorus, and my Blushing Rose
jestics will be at the Star today and
tomorrow afternoon and evening.