Life — April 4, 1901 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

A Possible, Valuable Improve- ment in Criticism. HEN we are at peace again with China, it is possible that she will send Chinese missionaries to us to repay her obligation for the benign work of our own emissa of loot retaliation who 1 heen over there spreading Christian civilization, peace on earth, good will towards men, fire, pillage, rapine and other missionary blessings and: modern improve- ments on primitive religion. When the Chinese missionaries are thoroughly estab- lished here they may introduce an improve- ment in criticism whieh has prevailed in China for many centuries. It is akin to their custom of paying their doctors only when the patients are well. The Chinese theatre-goer holds that the actor should not be commended for good work, but should be severely rated if he does not keep up to a high standard, the idea being that, if he is an actor at all and collects pay for his. professional services, he ought to be a good actor, and that is only what ought naturally to be expected of hin. Of course newspaper approval is very dear to the artist’s soul, and in tl dramatic estimation of managers has much to do with fixing his Sof commercial value. As the interests of the theatre-going public are concerned, theatrical taffy is neither interesting nor productive of tangible results, except pro- ducing, in many case the h an enlargement of A which diminishes the actor's value as an act If we believed with the Chinese that the only function of criticism is to point out defvets, a very long article indeed might be written about the wretched dramatization of the classic “Manon Leseaut, Her- bert Keleey and Effie Shannon mistakenly believed fitted them with parts adapted to their abiliti which We have had some pretty dire dramatizations this season, but the one in question exceeded all the ns of things fi thers in its m the book and in- troductions of material from the dramatist’s brain. Among the omissions was the tragi scene where he omissi lover digs Manon’s grave with his hands. This omission was supplied by the publie, which very permanent grave for the play of Manon Leseaut.” has dug a Lit E » T the Broadway Theatre every evenit a sionally at matince May Buckley and Mr. Charles Cherry expose themselves to danger than that to which May Buckle was exposed when the unfortunate Southern gentleman flashed his local weapon so inop- portunely in a near-by restaurant the other evening. The melodrama called * The danger is possibly worse is the very The Price of Peace.” that May Buekley may forget her lines in the realistic ma remony performed im Westminster s pict moving riage ¢ Abbe on the stage—and say “Twill,” when her eve makes her say “1 won't.” Then would occur, before something more than a thousand witnesses, a real stage MINNIE SELIGMAN. marriage, which would also be a legal con- tract, and May Buckley and Mr. Cherry would have to get a real—not a sta; divorce. ‘That wedding, with choristers and a repetition of the man follows very closely the ze ceremony which tual of the Chureh shock the religions inclined in the theatre, but it is one of the of England, most ellective scenes in a hugely seenie performance. The Price of Peace” sidered asa play, b an hardly be con- cause in dramatic con- struction it's so very, very bad. Scenieally, however, and in its bold dealing with places, persons and matters held sacred by the British it is very interesting. ‘The climax, which makes a British Prime Min- ister in office commit a murder, is a shock to every American admirer of English in- stitutions. One might almost as easily picture President McKinley getting indig- nant and shooting Senator Hanna. In these big melodramatic productions it is customary to print the names of every one who comes on the stage, no matter how small the part. In the present case very few people have any acting todo. Minnie Seligman is mis-cast as a lady with a Spanish-American dialect and doesn’t act the part. Mr. Wilton Lackaye, as Zhe Earl of Derwent, bears an old man’s head on very young shoulders and legs, but in the great scene of the murder rises to the occasion. A really good hit was the impersonation of the Parliamentary whip and Home Seere- ary bY Mr. E. Harrison Hunter. Going on ti Chinese principle of pointing out de- fects Lire would have to get out a supple- ment to tell about most of the others in the long list of persons printed on the pro- gramme. The Price of Peace y well worth seeing on account of its scenic effeets and many thrills. A very excellent feature of this entertainment is that one may witness it from a comfortable seat without paying an exorbitant price of admission. Metcalfe. LIFE'S CONFIDENTIAL GUIDE TO THE THEATRES. Broudway.—“The Price of above. Republic. —Last week of “In the Palace of the King,” a made-to-order dramatization to fit Miss Viola Alien. Worth seeing if one has seen every- thing else Garden.—* Under Two Flags ” done into heroic melodrama, with Blanche Bates as Cigarette Lycoun.—" The Las ot a Whip,” mediocre French farce, with a very clever one-act piece, “The Shades of Night,” as a chaser. Daly's.— Revival of the bright musical comedy “San Toy.” Empire.“ Veother Otticers ” Moderately in- teresting society comedy warmed over from last season, Garrick. — Clyde Fitch’s amusing “ Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines.” Well worth seeing. ” Notice Peace.” See Bijou.—*The Climbers.” clever and well performed. Weber and Fields's.—Hold-over burlesque. Price of seats something less than one million dollars each. Victoria.—" My Lady.” Performance improved and fairly worth the moderate price of admission. Knickerbocker.—* To Have and To Hold.’ A mediocre play at high price of admission, Criterion.—Dramatization of “When Knight- hood Was in Flower,” with Julia Marlowe as the heroine. Moderately interesting. Academy of Musie—Unele Tom's Cabin.” Spectacular and well acted. Herald Square.-—“'The Prima Donna.”* later. Maitison Square.—Faree, Augustus Thomas. Amusing: Society comedy, Notice On the Quiet,” by