Life — November 20, 1902 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

“LIFE: Fancy and Frivolity. “ A»? are the people, then, so ignorant?” sks The King of The Councillor in “The Children of Kings” when he is — told that as a rule the people, without rea- son and without thought, choose the worse instead of the better. Mr. Martin Harvey in propria persona might, with equal justice, ask the same question when he sees the usual type of Tenderloin show turning people from the doors and so dainty a conceit as ‘ The Children of Kings” playing to a balf- empty theatre. To be sure, the enjoyment of this German legend presupposes the posses- sion of at least a little imagination and some appreciation of what is poetic. These things are rare to find in the Tenderloin, although, if my, the American stage is to be taken asa standard, the Tenderloin is the centre, the source, and the inspiration of American stage cul- ture. “The Children of Kings" is fanciful toa high degree. It tells the story of a young prince who had lived in seclusion with his books and dogs, being suddenly called to the practical duties of the throne. He finds himself so little equipped for the task that he leaves his kingdom kingless, while he mixes with the people, to Jearn their nature and their wants. This involves wandering, hargsbir, falling in love with a goose-girl, who turns out to be of royal blood, and incurring the enmity of a particularly venomous witch. Of course, everything comes out well in the end, and through it all runs a vein of mingled sentiment, pathos and my ticism, emphasized by the accompanying music of Humperdinck. It is unfortunate that actors ever have to consider family ties in matters of their art. In this case Mr. Harvey handicaps the play and himself by assigning the two important female characters to members of his immediate family, The Goose Girland The Witch are 80 much in the picture that they should be portrayed by competent artists, which Miss De Silva and Mrs. De Solla cer- tainly are not. Mr. Harvey himself essays here a more sprightly role than Carton, and enters fully into its spirit. His English is delightful to hear, and in looks and grace and winsomeness, he is the young perplexed King to perfection. Of Mr. Haviland as The Minstrel and Mr. Wright as The Councillor, our American actors might well take example in delivery and accent. It would make for the improvement of the language in America if all our actors spoke it as do the principal actors in this company. It may be said for this pretty piece that its audiences heard it respectfully, even if they didn’t know what it was about. . . ° I ‘HE supply of English names for American theatres seems to be pretty well exhausted. ‘The ‘ Princess's” about reached the limit. Having exhausted England and having in mind the salem,” the ‘ Israel,” the “ Yum Kippu controlling influences in American theatricals, it might be well now to turn to Palestine. We are likely soon to see the ‘‘Jeru- he ‘* Kosher,” and the “‘Mazuma” theatres in active operation. . . . FLHE teachings of ‘‘ The Stubbornness of Geraldine” are in no wise immoral, but the successful outcome of Geraldine’s love affair with the foreign titled person may per- haps encourage a tendency on the part of young American women with rich papas and foolish mammas, which is already too pro- nounced. Of course, the play is neither logical nor probable, logic and probability not being among Mr. Clyde Fitch's strong points. But it is very amusing, it is equally polite, and it provides a very happy medium for the display of Mary Mannering’s agreeable per- sonality, It taxes her dramatic powers not at all; in fact, the whole thing is just a bit of stage froth, pleasing while it lasts, but leaving no impression behind it. It presents two or three of realistic small bits from real life which Mr. Fitch is so prompt to seize upon and so deft in reproducing. Most notable of these are the deck life on the ocean steamer and the arrival at the house after landing. In the cast, which is good throughout, the German companion of Anita Rothe and the girl from Butte of Amy Ricard stand out as very clever pieces of character acting. To sit through ‘ The Stubbornness of Geraldine” may not con- duce to lofty endeavor, but it is certainly good -for “ that tired feeling.” Metcalfe, LIFE'S CONFIDENTIAL GUIDE TO THE THEATRES. Academy of Music —“The Ninety and Nine." Melodrama, with realistic fire scene. Worth seeing. Relasco.—Last week bat one of Mra. Lesite Carter in“ Du Barry.” Elab- orate and absorbing emotional play. Broadway.—"The Stiver Siipper.” Fairly amusing musical comedy, Casino-—" The Chinese Honeymoon." Mustcal play, Funny and tuneful, Virginia Harned as the heroine in Pinero‘s unclean society Daly's.—** A Country Girl. The best of the musical plays now running. Empire.—H. V. Esmond’s “ Impradence."’ Notice later. Garden.—Mra. Lemoyne in * Among Those Present.” Notice later. Garrieki—Mary Mannertng in “The Stubbornness of Geraldine.” See above. Herald Square.—Martin Harvey in repertotre. An excellent actor, Madison Square—Last week of “The Two Schools.” French farce. More amusing than clean, Mrs. Ostorn’s Play-house,—Tommy Rot," Amateurish musical plece. Princees.—Weedon Grossmith !n “The Night of the Party.” Funny. St, Nicholas Rink.—Bostock’s clever trained animals, voy.—* Carrota” and ** A Country Mouse,” with Ethel Barrymore as the heroine tn each, Interesting and amusing. Victoria.—Viola Alien in “The Eternal City." Notice later, Wallack's,—James K, Hackett in“ The Crisis,” Notice later, Water and Fieids's— Burlesque and randerilie, Excellent seats may be had from speculators at prohibitive prices, comicbooks.com