New-York tribune., 1902-03-04
THE DRAMA.
.-r.,r PLAY AT THE EMPIRE.
1.-THE TWIN SISTER.


,zh+l,, somewhat farcical. and yet
IN tN M sieniAcant play called 1.-THE Twin SIS
saIns' -oduced last night at the Empire Iheatre'
p1, -5iallv received by a numerous auuleHce'-
ana - saIutary admonition for wayward nus
there nbined with humorous practical and
DAne9 t..ble suggestion for neglected wives ana
coulO artr,ents are made in blithe style well
thes - ,ronaote the public mirth. The posture
'-sscrrostances in the play may not perhaps DE
o - entirely delicate, but. certainly II Is colA-
o1 An italian husband. Orlando Deila orre VINO
ca ten surfeited with five years OF conJusal
mas - obseryed by his excellent and affectionate
- ciuditta to be somewhat Nagrant IN ms
oro,,s ipclinations and theredpon, keeping her
a. counsel she determines to punish hlIn' py
~, him both ridiculous and jealous. lthe
,ce 4H-- Is desirable. she declares of her TWIN
penata whom Orlando has never sGen,
s ts+vyeen whom and herself the resemblance Is
80 and particuar,-only that one is blonoe
- the other a brunette. The wife leaves nome
..o,sfbly on a journey TO visit her mother out
..ar.lv she returns IN the assumed person OF
tster and thus disguised she completely be-
nc I..,.s the susceptible husband, leading him on
i,,om one folly TO another, until he makes an
.+er ass Of hinself-as men, under kindred condl-
t,ions have DONE from the pesllllhs Vi Iie "oiiu'
snd viii do till its end.
This result being accomplished, the vivacous and
t5roit little charmer takes her departure. TO reap
t-esr in her true character with the avowal that
lie has fallen in love with another man, and is
.-r4chf
t-ata by obtaining divorce. This stroke precpi-
,stes a crisis the infuriated Orlando becoming
.aeer for vengeance and gore; but the triumphant
,(,iuditta reveals her identity. and condition or
onestIc happiness IS reestab ablished. For farcical
lay with a slight touch Of satircal acidity init
- ground plan thus denoted is. obviously. exccl
lent II was q happy thought to localize conven-
,,onal modern situation in a past epoch by that
means obtaining the advantage Of romantic remote
zsss and q picturesque environment OF Italian
scenery and dress The piece comes from the Ger
man OF Mr.. Ludwig Fulda, and it has been trans
lated and adapted, in melodious blank verse, by Mr
Louis y. Parker,-author Of Rosemary, The
cardinal and many other good plays,-whose name
is ever sufficient guarantee Of merit 1t was first
presented on December 81. 1901, at the Duke OF
Works Theatre IN London, and IL has been current
there ever since. with Mr.. H. B. Irving and Miss
Jfv Brayton IN the chief characters. which here
are assumed by Mr.. Charles Rchman and Miss
Margaret Anglin. The touch Of intrigue does not
really mar the grace Of the fabric, and altogether,
though fragile. it IS IN some ways, a charming
play.
The basis Of the comedy. indeed is laid with
rather rough masonry. the incidents being almost
bucolic IN their rude frankness, and the manner
being prosy. The verse; throughout. has the form
of poetry rather than its soul. and all its music
seems an echo of such labored strains once were
lovely IN The Honeymoon" and kindred dramas OF
long long ago. But, when the desired situation
has been created. and the wife begins TO mystify
cidents become delicate. the movement
Krows rapid. the interest deepens. and finally the
due effect Is gained. Moments of suspense are art
fully devised when all 1t likely that
the heroines secret is prematurely revealed. but
these pass and when at last. Orlando, in his des-
perate infatuaton, has proposed TO divorce his
wife and marry her sister. there is for Giuditta
a very splendid moment Of hysterical passion
the elimination of the play. Violence is done to
probability. OF course in devsing such crisis;
but then II is TO be considered that the entire
structure Of the piece is whimsicay fancifuL w. s.
Gilbert might have made it-only he would have
made 1t much better Miss Margaret Anglin. who
captured the laurel OF the night, proved equal 10
every demand Of the character Of Giuditta, after
the forced ENHANCEMENT OF the opening scene
wherein Lcbody ease. Mr.. Richman has
Jess opportunity. Orlando. for this part is the
target for ali the satire that ingenuity expend
on the dckleness Of desultory man. He presented
an image Of manly grace, and expressed the
capr1c1ous husband and the impassoned lover with
rare fidelity. The piece IS a comedy Of nystihca-
zion and equivoke; il possesses bright atmos-
phere, agreeable characters, animation OF move
snent dro situations, though little verbose,
and toward the last little frivolous,-a fluent,
compact dialogue. 1t is well set and well acted
Mr. George Osborne jr., measurably contributing
20 its hustle and Hfe.-and 1t will have a career.
w. ".