Life — October 10, 1901 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

i An Augury of Better Times. DIFFERENT atmosphere and a different audience from those usual at first nights in New York were apparent at the opening of the Manhattan Theatre under Mrs, Fiske’s man- agement, In the first place, the decoration of the theatre itself original and refreshing. The dark green, which was the prevailing color, and its unobtrusive orna- mentation were in pleas- ant contrast to the garish sof gold and color which bh: come to be ple from the decora- tion of theatres. In addition the management has 1 y in the arrangement of the seating capacity, and it Was possible for the spectator to witness the performance 5n a comfortable chair and not cramped for room. ‘The nice was a distinguished the best days of Daly's and Wallack’s. had gathered in the expectancy of int Jectual enjoyment rather than with the ide of seeing and being seen, which mud first night at some New York theatres an important event with a certain class of New York theatre-goers ‘The performance did not disappoint the expectation. There was throughout it, both irpose and manner of presentation, a of truly artistic thoroughness. The and other material mountings of the five acts were well conceived and generously executed with every regard to correctness, ‘The play itself, a drau pda of the Balcony,” ization is not by any means a great o construction, but it tells an + and possesses some interesting story and tells it graphically. ° ° ° FISKE’S impersonation of Mi- M*. randa Warriner places no new laurels on her brow. The dramatist has not made the part a strongone at best, and Mrs. F itted her worst mannerismi—ber to rob the lines of a significance they sadly needed. By this it is not meant to say that the impersonation was either a bad one or uninteresting, but that Mrs, Fiske herself can make it a better and more important one. The supporting company is au excel- lent one and gives promise of the finished performances once usual in New York theatres, but now rare. Mr. Haines, the leading juvenile, has an excellent present His acting as Luke Charnock was and in the proper key. As the eccentric and repulsive Kalph Warriner, Mr. J. E. Dodson had the good taste not to over-act, and thereby made the character a possible one. Mr. Etienne Girardot and Mr, Max Figman also had character parts which they kept within bounds, and thereby made them contributory to the harmony of the entire picture. The women in the piece have little to do, but it goes without saying that Annie Irish was conspicuous among them for her personal beauty, and that what fell to hee in the way of acting was done smoothly and intelligently. ‘The stage management bestowed on “ Mi- randa” was most thorough and showed an unusual desire to keep things in their proper There was none of the playing for points that makes so many performances jerky and inharmonious. The evenness and regard for harmony was like that we see in the best English companies. With a better play it looks as though Mrs. Fiske’s company would accomplish great things, It has the true artistic im- pulse back of it and deserves the support of all those who wish improvement in American theatricals, arnest proportion. MN. MASKELL's PORTRAIT OP MRS. FISKE, NOTHER very well acted play is “The Bonnie Briar Bush.” Its title, showing it to be Scotch, and the fact. that the basis for itis furnished by the litera- ture of Ian MacLaren, might frighten away & good many persons. Scotch narrowness and the natural Scotch gloom are very little promising when it comes to stage material, and Scotch humor has never been known to appeal deeply to any one without a drop of Scotch blood in his or her veins. Notwith- standing these heavy handicaps ‘The Bonnie Briar Bush” is a delightful little play constructed along strictly conventional lines. Mr. J. HH. Stoddart’s Lachlan Campbell is as fine a piece of character work as has been seen in New York for a long time. It fits his personality perfectly and deserves to be remembered as one of the best of the many excellent impersonations of his long career. Very good, too, are the Postie of Mr. Reuben Fox and the Dr. MacLure of Mr. John Jennings. Theentire cast is a good one, and the setting excellent. If any intensification of the Scotch atmos- phere were needed it is supplied by the incidental singing of local ballads by a good quartette. Those whose antipathy against things Scotch is not too strong will find ‘' The Bonnie Briar Bush” a most agreeable pers formance, Metcalfe. LIFE'S CONFIDENTIAL GUIDE TO THE THEATRES. Academy of Music-—Augustas Thomas's stir- rng play, ‘Arizona,” done on # large scale. Broadway.—Grand opera tn English at reason- able prices,” Well presented by the Castle Square Opera Company. Bijou.— David Warfield in “The Auctioneer.” An excellent plece of character work, Worth seeing, if you don't miud risking your life in a fire-trap, Daly's — “The Messenger Boy. Mustcat comedy, with James T Powers tn the Ltle role. Not the best ever, but amusing. Herald Square. — Dan Daly in “The New Yorkers.” Notice later. Garrick. — English company in“ A Message from Mars.” Notice later. Garden.—Me, EH, Sothern as Richard Love dace, the unbappy poet. Interesting. Empire—Mr John Drew as Major Binahaa he Second in Command. " Clean and tater Knickerbocker.—Frothy sketch, “The Rogers Brothers in Washington.” Reasonably uninter- esting. Lyceum.—Excellent presentation of romantic play, “The Forest Lovers."* Vanhattan.—Mra. Fiske tn Miranda of the Balcony." See above, Macison Square. —“ Liberty Belles,” Notice later. ‘altack's.—Mr James K, Hackett in revision of Don Cesar de Bazan.” A very good per- formance. Weber anit Figlds's Music Hall—It you care to mortgage your farm to buy tickets, you can see & ot especially brilliant vaudeville sketch.