New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-03
THE DRAMA.
MR.. HACKETT AS JOHN ERMINE.
MANHATTAN THEATRE.

NJ Hackett. who warmly welcomed last
niEht at the Manhattan Theatre. in z play called
John Ernine Of the Yellowstone is worthily
and wisely ambitious 20 shine upon the dramatic
scene rs manly. picturesque. vital figure noble
fn mind generous In spirit. romantic In quality
and circumstance. expeditions and executive in
action. and triumphant IN adventurous deed. This
ambition he fulhls in his performance Of John
Eruine. The play was made by Mr.. Louis E
Shipmsn. upon suggestions derived from Mr.. Fred
eric RerinEton's sketches of frontier life and
ir the course OF its prologue and four acts II shows
several striking pictures Of the West, tells 4
simple story IN vigorous action. and displays
marked types Of both rugged and hnical character.
I'm strong and effective contrast. Excellent perform
ances were given by Albert Perry. Wolf Voice. a
Canadian halfbreed. Theodore Roberts rs Major
Sesries L. :. A. and James L. Seeley. as Captain
Lewis. chief OF scouts. John Ernine imper-
sonsted by M Hackett. is scout Of the Path
finder breed. and. in the development Of the story
his integrity Of character. honesty Of purpose
moral superiority. and practical force are set
against the trite couventonalitv o. men whose So
ciaI polish only makes their bitterness more COT
temptihle This was Cooper's favorite device in
the LeatherStocking Tales. and is = very persua-
sive one. Nj shipman has pressed into the
service a zoodlv number q the old complexities OF
Indian adventure and the old and tried eKpeoients
Of s-aEe-eTect that. his play unfotos us time
ho-o-ad narrative Of belea guered whites and
-7r7-lyv steslthy u7urderous savages-imp licating
Of course the one brave boy who dashes through
rl--ur7bered pe-ils 20 bring the providental relief
and the maiden fair who rewards MIN al last Win
tho r-iceless treasure Of her celeStlal IoFe.-the
observer rondly recalls his happy youthful days
-s-r r2sg Se-nent ana T-ncas or remembers the
e-fzose Of warrington's captivity IN The Vir-
Einiaus' and the bagpipes Of the Campoells IN
Jessie Brown" But the old devices are well used
The. piece IS neatly constructed. and more than
commonly well written. The scenery is exception
a-r- fine The stage Observation-Disclosures such
r-faes as the Illustrated newspaper OF to-day etc
Sc excellent. And the play is fresh. pure, and
bss1-reuI. with no sentimental huubug in II, and
no ua-choulv Of scented vice There Is plenty OF
evr-avaea-ce- but that is always allowable. when
dressing I'D the romance % the prairie. The trick
Of the girls escape from Ermine's hut, by means
Of swivel door. seems trivial and needless. The
illusions 90 'Sockewashee" are ridiculous All the
~raze-s voclrerate-as Z IL were yelling uatch-and
al shading ~ tone and beauty OF vocaIsn thus
sacrificed. NIr. Eacker- himself has remarkably
expressive voice Il he viii but use IL with invar1able
subse-vercv 70 the feeling that IS behind tne
words The author. 10 be sure has given E-rnine
TOO much 10 say man reared among mountains
and IN continual communion with nature II her
grand abysses and boUndless wastes is silent man
This child Of Nature on the contrary, Is sometimes
as za-rulous as z maybe. Mr. Hackett struck the
true note at the beginning and might easily nave
sustained it. His ideal Of brave, simple
------@-1 natural man was better expressed
IN The conbative scene with Major SearIe5
than in the love scenes, for II the latter
he lapsed into a bosterous vehemence winch Is not
the manner or The language Of passion There
-.-r- L. M souh- however. OF his success with his
audience L is long since anything has been done
mon the local stage having IL it 50 much sincerity
and breezy force. Miss Charlotte Walkers cruoe
acting and careless articulation made the heroine
- -.+to,sl carse OF all the anatory excitement.
The soo-a6c hurnor OF the dialogue is well denoted
rv one exchange Of comment between the LAeuten-
ant and the Major, as TO the alkan plains. All
that this country needs is plenty OF water ana
80 -7-77,la-ior That's all that Hell needs, "
s-evra-s the Major: and all who know those plains
VIII duly appreciate his remark W. w