New-York tribune., 1903-02-15
THEATRICAL INCIDENTS AND NEWS NOTES.
THE UNFRISKY Mss BINGHAM-'. RESURRECTION"
md MUCH MUSICAL COMEDY

When Miss Amelia Bingham arose last Tuesday
morning and read in several Of the papers that
The Frisky Mrs. Johnson hardly frisky a
person as expected. she appears TO have been
much disturbed in mind for that evening she called
such newspaper men she could assemble TO her
dressing room. and there told them what she
thought of criticism that could be so blind as not
10 that the frisky Mrs. Johnson was not meant
by Mr. Fitch. the author. TO be 'frisky." To say
that she was not frisHy, so Miss Bingham affirmed.
was 10 represent to the public that her play was a
failure.
Prayerful consultation of the Century Dictionary
discloses this definition of the adjective 'frsky
Gayly active. lively; frolcsome; engaging or done
in sport
He was too frsky for old man-(Jeffrey.
CThe horses by no means intended TO put their
rudeIy, but feeling to use familiar word, frisky.-
10 ". Holmes.
Now. Of course. it is perfectly conceivable that
Clyde Fitch has different idea of the connotation
this adjective or that the characters of his
play. who gave Mrs. johnson her title had
different connotation. many Of them had
standards Of morality and and breeding quite
different from those approved by good usage But
Mr.. Fitch, even though he may go to Partisan
farce for his plots and tone. has still to to
the founts of English common speech for his
language and from the language of his titles the
public will draw their conclusions-not his
OF course nobody with a fine sense for words
expected Miss Bingham to put her heels through
the scenery. to address anybody rudely, but
they did expect her to feel to Mr.. Fitch's
familiar word. Bit frisky. From the title of the
play they had every right to. Miss Bingham
parently did her share of flirting with shallow
pated young men, and she was light hearted and
slangy: one gained that much from the play But
she manifested tendency to be frisky or, to
use synonym. be frolicsome. Indeed, il
should be rather Of rejoicing, all things
considered. including Miss Bingham. that she did
If she would paraphrase the title THE
Frolicsome Miss Bingham doubtless she would
herself he ready to admit that Mr. Fitch mis-
named his play a vehicle for her to star in
The French title THE Flirt.' The good old
Danish verb. ''friske" from which frisky is de-
rived meant to refresh. revive: and there is
something Of that delightful meaning still lurking
in the connotation of its present day derivatives
Into a world OF good n3tured health Miss Bingham
would have us read sick meaning. if the title
signifies anything all. And on all hands she
has very properly met denial
And IL IL seems rather foolish TO make so much
pcther about title, or about one WORD IN
title, II must be remembered that serious con-
siderations of the play beyond the title has been
made next to i'm possible by the character of Loro
Rerte Heathcote, on whom the action and motives
Of the play defend We asked 10 believe thal
Mrs. Frank N rely became untrue 10 her husband
out Of love for this insunerabie ass: and that Is
less likely Of belief than that Miss Bingham is
frisky- Mr.. Gottschaik does not like the part
himself and is said have had than one
fif with Mr.. Fitch rehearsals Could IL be
made possible by another actor? may be asked
Unless IL is rewritten. IL is hard 10 how; and
IL II should be reshaped into possible factor in
fhe serious plot. il is equally hard TO see where
the farce comedy sty' II Mr.. Gottschalk would
NJ AS the character stands, however, IL makes
tie entire play TO an intelligent onlooker sham
and commercial pretense. Out the Irritation
or Lord Bertie and Mrs. Morely arise situations
for Mr. Lackaye and Miss Bingham TO play that
have. in themselves real dramatic worth, and
might move the spectator TO the desired emotional
response. coald the premises be granted. But the