Life — September 30, 1897 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

> LIFE: i was hard to decide whether Mr. Sol Smith Russell was becomingly modest, or mildly sarcastic, when he said, in his speech acknowledging the ap- proval of the first-night audience ? at the productionof ‘‘A Bachelor's (P Romance,” that he was glad that additional study had enabled him at last to win a favorable reception in New York city. He certainly is no better an actor than he was when he failed to win financial success in his former efforts here. Lire said then that he was one of the few real artists on the American stage, and he does not seem to have improved his meth- ods or materially changed them since then. It is possible that New York itself has changed somewhat in the intervening years, and that it has tired of the drivel and rot which managers with com- mercial instincts and box-office standards have sought to make us believe was dramatic art. Lire has frequently reiterated the statement that Lincoln's aphorism about fool- ing all the people all the time was as true in matters of the theatre as in other things. The unquestionable success of Mr. Russell as David Holmes, and the favor with which so clean and ingenuous a play as ‘A Bachelor's Romance” was received, is almost as gratifying to Lire as tothe actor and author. We have fought long and vigorously against the silly and meretricious combinations of plays and people that have been foisted on this public as the best that the American stage of to-day could give us in the way of drama and acting. One swallow does not make a summer, of course, nor does one popular success like Mr. Russell's mean that all the clouds have vanished forever from the theatrical skies. It iS an en- couraging sign, however, and may mean the beginning of a better era, The play is not altogether new in its motive—the love of a good, simple and elderly man for a girl who he thinks in the nature of things is too young to care for him—but Miss Morton has made the story plausible and the action direct and easy. She has introduced much humor, which suffers not at all at Mr. Russell's hands, for he is first of alla comedian. But he is more than a comedian, for he possesses also the power of pathos, and that combination, in the degree he has it, is the one great mark of the artist. His detail work is splendidly done, but not to the extent of marring the broad effects. Lire has long been at variance with Mr. Charles Frohman, both on account of his methods and because it has considered him an enemy of true dramatic art. In the present instance he is to be commended, for he has enabled Mr. Russell to appear with a really remarkable supporting company. There are but few women on our stage who could bring to the part of Sylvie, David's ward and the object of his love, so much sweetness, brightness and artistic strength as does Miss Annie Russell. Miss Blanche Walsh is almost too brilliant an actress for the part of David's society sister, but she invests it with the very quality it needs. Mr. William Sampson, as David's fidus Achates, achieves new triumphs of facialexpression. Other character parts are made amusing by Fannie Addison Pitt and Alfred Hudson, Miss Margaret Robinson has comparatively litle to do, but supplies the necessary contrast to simple Sy/via by the magnificence of her jewels and gowns, and her beauty of the most up-to-date Tenderloin type. Mr. Orrin Johnson has not a pleasant personality, but appears in this piece to better advantage than ever before. The two very young men of the play are well done by Messrs. William Seymour and Syd- ney Booth. Mr. NOTICE Charles Frohman | LADIES WEARING jeserves a nice, fat LARGE HATS WILL halo for his gen- | conren A FAVOR ON crosityinsupplying | THe MANAGEMENT Gy so excellent a cast REMOVING THF Sar to an artist like Mr. Russell, and also to aclean, meritorious play. Perhapseven he foresees a better era for the New York stage. It will come without his aid, butsooner if he helps. He should get on board. Mr. Russell is a most excellent ac- tor, ‘* A Bache- lor’s Romance” is a decent, interesting, and most amusing play. It is well cast and admirably played throughout. Best of all, it is American in every particular; in at- mosphere, author- ship, and acting. Metcalfe, “THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO ME.” comicbooks.com