New-York tribune., 1906-10-30
THE DRAMA.
MISS ASHWELL AT THE LYRIC.
"The Shulamite." F"

This time the scene Of domestic disturbance is
Africa. Mr.. Krillet was Boer-in every sense
and, on occasion. he would beat his wife. MIS-
Krillet a yearning soul. and the ways or her
husband were not satisfactory to her Mr. War
ing fascinating Briton. the willing deiefuer
of oppressed beauty and Mrs. Krillet ana MI
Waring fell in love with each other. There was d
storm outside the house. and there was row IN
side: and. in the of the tumult. Mr. hriiie'
was kiled-to the comfort of all concerned The
widow Krillet and Mr.. Waring might then have
prospered in their and raptures, but that
troublesome hag intervened, extracting from Mrs.
kr1let some knowledge of the homicide "a COM
pletely justhable act on the part of Mr.. Warins).
and worried them with bad eocution this. how
ever they survived
Miss Lena Ashwell, appearing Mrs. Krillet,
soooed and gurgled and made her chin culver, as
emotional female performers customariy do.
when suffering with love" while Mr.. John Blair
enhanced the show OF fictitious misery with his por
tentous aspect metallic e,ocution and inveterate
artihciality. The lugubrious proceedings were
sisted by Miss Maude Granger Mr. T. r. Nav
son. who played the Boer; Miss Beryl Mercer and
Mr. George Leguere. There is nothing in either
the play or the acting OF 1t that need detain for
even five minutes the serious attention of any in
telieent human being. The local public has had
enough and more than enough. Of domestic broils
ana amatory explosions. little valerian does a
world Of good In these cases.
IN act first 1t is made known that Mr.. Waring
has wife, In England who is extravagant and
D1pulouS, Tor which he has left her. Mr.
krillet promises to give 5000 to his nephew
Jan Vanderberg. If Jan will get married Mr.
Warlng presents to Mrs. Krillet a copys of
Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream" Mr.
krillet finds the volume in her possession; COM
mands her not to read play books; and. upon her
refusal to obey him. produces a raw-hide and pre-
pares to fog her .whereupon she tells him that he
will kill her unborn child. Mr.. Krlet throws away
his weapon and vCcferates his thanks to the Lord
1t is the disgusting popularity Of Mr. Krillet that
he nearly always has Bible his lap and the
name OF God on his lips
| In act second Mr.. Krillet produces baby-cIothes
left in his house by his first wife, and tenders them
to his second Jan asks for $500, Sut Mr.. Krillet,
in the expectancy of heir, signifies change Of
| mind Conscientious scruples perpex Mrs. Krillet
and also Nr Waring Both of them dwell upon
the beauties OF truth Mr.. Krillet determines 20
take drive, in a thunder Storm In order to buy
the whole Of Mudies library for his spouse. Mr.
Waring takes his place. Mrs Krillet revolts and
tells Mr.. Krilet that she detests him. Mr.. Krille
goes for a gun, with which to shoot her-leaving
q New Testament for her to read. Mr.. Waring re-
turns-his horses having been struck by lightning.
There is a terrific crash Of very good stage thun-
der. Mr. Krillet says 1t Is the voice Of God. Shots
are exchanged. outside. Mr.. Krilet having opened
fire Mr. Waring, and the latter, in seif-defence
having potted the Boer.
In act third Mr.. Waring recovers after nine
weeks of fever. Mrs. Vanderberg, sister to the
defunct Kriet, takes the floor and uses Vociferous
language. News Is received of the death of Mrs.
Waring. in England. JAM the nephew. is sum-
| moned and the truth 10 his uncle's death is
| made known. Jan states that 1t served him right,
and the story that nobody would have believed had
1t been told at first is instantly accepted now.
Prospective happiness Curtain
For acting. the best part IN the play is the Boer-
a conscientious fanatcal domestic tyrant-a Chris
tan bully. Very easy to act and acted well by
Mr.. Edward R. Mawson-except that he made no
effect at all at his one effective point the pro-
nouncement of the doom OF death to his wife,
Miss Ashwell is performer of ordinary talent,
in the least remarkable. The proceedings and elo-
cution of Miss Granger were at once painful and
ludicrout The play is trash and the performance
commonplace but the stage thunder is capital.
w