The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-24
ADJUSTMENTS
The Frawleys"In Pnradisev at the
Metropolitan. 81

81
Farce and Frawley go welI together 81
When the combination was first suggested
theatrical wiseacres shook their heads and
predicted disaster Last night they took it
all back and laughed their approval through
out three acts. asa s.
SIN Paradise" is an. ultra-French farce,
with the characters familiar to those who en-
Joy Gallo humor- It.~bears the same rela-
ton to pastoral comedy that caviare bears
to bread and butter. 1t is designed to please
the theater-going epicure, and it does please
him nightly. - =: ~ 3 T.
The farce is not food for children. It is
Of the pajama and garter variety. 1t smacks
Of champagne and deviItry, but after all,
the deviltry is of an innocuous sort-for Paris
and the piece has been so skilfully handled
by Its adapters that}i seldom offends. +:
When a Frenchman sets himself to write
a farce, he first takes a. sportively inclined
old gentleman and marries him to Gorgon
wife. Then he blesses the twain with love-
ly and modest daughter Next he introduces
a bold, bad, and enticing woman. In the
present instance, however, the woman in the
case, though decidedly enticing, and some
what daring, Is not bad sort at all. She
assumes vice, though she has 1t not. She
cajoles, she smiles, she even kisses; but it
is all harmless. y
Those who bant should stay away from "In
fat, they should eschew the play and take
rather malt extract. There are twenty-seven
distinct laughs in the first act. After that
you can't count them, and you don't want to-.
For the proper understanding Of the farse
it is necessary to remember that the home Of
the Pontbichots was located In a provincial
village where bandoline has not yet become
old fashioned. From this town old gen.
tleman, his masterful wife, and their lovely
daughter go to Paris, where the old man
develops an unexpected liking for silken
hose and lace lingerie which, of course, gets
him into all sorts Of trouble He expresses
it thus: ''For thirty years I've been driven
with check rein, curb bit and binders. Do
you blame me for wanting to be turned out
to grass?" Later he sees prospect of gain
ing his desire and he says: "Hoop-la. my
fingers are on the switchboard Of an mean
descent time Later still he fears retribu-
ton, and pleads: 1.-THE world Is addicted to
the stiletto, habit. Don't tell my wife, Sus-
picion leads to alimony"
"In Paradise has been adapted from the
French Of Hennequin, Bilhaud and Care by
B. B. Valentine. It's dialogue is terse and
extremely witty, and it's situations are up
farces CO., 1t is successful. It's slang is ex-
pressve; its epigrams pointed, and its spirit
that Of the bouleyarde.. RI; ~
+ The farce gives Jack R. Amory the first
real opportunity for fun-making he has had
here, and he makes the most of it. Mr..
Amory's Pontbichot is unusually clever. His
makeup is in itself ludicrous. His eagerness
to get into paradise, and his anxiety to get
out again are simulated with laughable nat
uralness. Pontbichot having time Of it, is
most diverting; Pontbichot miserable, is
screamingly funny. AS a farceur Mr.. Amory
is distinct success.
Mary Van Buren, plays the pseudo-grisette.
For the fun Of the thing, she agrees to pose
as the sweetheart Of a man she had never
seen, and she keeps to her bargain. One
of the funniest scenes Is Miss Van Buren's
burlesque of passage from "Camilie,' in
which she alternately coughs, a phthiscal
Camille cough, and kicks pair OF silken.
encased toes into the air In an abandonment,
of disconnected mirth.
Marie Howe's Nine Pointbichot, though
not thing Of beauty, is yet distinct Joy
| Edwin Holt plays lion tanner. and does II
| excellent throughout Mr.. Matthew was
Gresillon, and Eleanor Gist is charming a.
the demure daughter. In fact, the cast liz
excellent throughout. Mr.. Matthew wat
somewhat nervous on the opening night, but
allowances must be made for the fact thai
he had the care OF the stage on his hands fol
| the first time.
a. ~. .. Lawrence.