The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-09-08
THE DRAMA

The presentation of Secret Service"
by the Frawley company on Saturday
evening was undoubtedly enjoyed by
the large audience and Frawley, aside
from all friendships, was accorded a
generous reception.
He brings with him for his Oriental
tour a company which justifies the
hopes of success which he has builded.
1t contains talent of a high order, the
ladies are both clever and handsome
and throughout the combination of
players proved to be well balanced, with
the minor parts as carefully attended TO
as the leading roles.
Secret Service" is an attractive bill.
1t is however essentially an actors play
that is to say, built by it's author for
situations rather than for literary eff
feet. There are few lines that will be
remembered after the lights are out,
but the wildly depicted scene in the
telegraph office will long be thought of
OF the company, there is little need
of criticism while everyone merits a
need of applause. Some of the char
acters are ungrateful as roles and, seem
almost unnecessary. The only caustic
comment that might be made is the one
that invariably accompanies the ques
ton of a production of a Southern play;
the accent. With the exception of Miss
Van Buren's liquid drawl, none of the
voices suggested Virginia.
Daniel Frawley is we'll suited in Cap
tain Thorne and plays the role with
quiet intensity that makes excellent
light and shade compared with Arrels-
fOrd's southern eXcitability and nervous
poise. The telegraph scene was the
event of the play. He is most happy
with his selection of a leading lady in
Miss Van Buren,. Blessed with natural
charms that place her Immediately in
the favor of an audience, she uses a
melOdious voice to most excellent ad-
vantage while her acting proves her as
clever as she is good to look upon. The
role she undertook could, in the hand of
less skilful actress, easily become
strained and one of the delights of Miss
Van Buren's appearance was the ma
tural charm which she invested the
Characterization.
Gardner Cranes Arrelsford was ex-
cellent, both as a foil to the quiet eff
fectiveness of Captain Thorne and as
an individual performance The ques-
ton of personal animus and duty as the
motives to his actions, was nicely
handled and the part invested with a
dignity difficult to sustain in the light
of his double defeat.
Miss Elizabeth Stewart and Chauncy
Southern handled the lighter element OF
the play very cleverly. The young lady
has delightful spOntaniety and Mr..
| .Southern's impetuous young .-outherner
was well thought out. Only. a Virgin
ian says "cahnt", not the Vermontese
cant. Mr.. Walls type of the "office"
officer was one of the best things of the
play. The two impersonators of the
dusky house servants brought excellent
makeups and action to bear on the roles
and Mrs. Gardner Crane carried
through a part, always trying and lack
ing the reward of any climax, with
dignity Mr.. Williams brigadier general
was successful. Throughout there ap-
| peared no weak places in the presenta-
ton. The best wishes for success will
accompany the Frawley players on
their Oriental tour and they may feel
assured of a hearty welcome on their
| return.