Life — February 4, 1904 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

‘The Virginian is pictured. There is nodenying the winning way he gives the part. In this he uses his fine eyes, brilliant teeth and irresistible smile to most excellent effect. These make him a ty readily understandable as winning the affections of those with whom he comes in contact, but not as the cowboy upon whom would spontaneously alight the choice asthe leader of a lynching party. But his performance is an unusual one, and it will be in- teresting to watch the future of his career. He may prove to be one of those real artists who occasionally flash out of the nothing- ito the here. The play is unev For the first two acts it promises to be or- dinary Western drawa with the incidents of Mr. Wister's book as a basis. ‘Then it jumps into really absorbing melodrama, and just skirting the danger of being absorbed in a whirlpool of common- place, ends with a quick rush of dramatic action. With the ex- cepti¢ of Mr. Farnum’s interesting depiction and a forceful im- of Steve by Mr. Guy Bates Post, the acting in the main is of the ten-twenty-thiety school. The Virginian ” is ve Lever made. personatio: ¥ far from being the worst dramatization It certainly holds the ir est, . . ° ILE lot of the Ameri kindly, veritie who would like to be but also feels compelled to be truthful, is not entirely His pleasant adject rusty through disuse. Every one, except those with whom he eats, gets the impression that his diet consists solely of strong vinegar and sharp-pointed tacks. Ie If he would of the reproachful or vengeful eye, he must choose the side streets felicitous one. res grow has a score of enemies to every friend. walk free The wives of ac to frighten their playwr ts and ldren when they are regard him as a misguided member of the fle must consider his a lost soul, because t seek to enroll him in their membership. ‘The aberration of which he not sufficient to gain tor him the, at least, interesting companionship of the insane asylum, and as correct criticism has not yet been made a penal offer is denied the 1 with his kind which goes with con- finement in a prison, He reads of the life of the isolated lepers With the sympathy of knowledge and recognizes in Ishmael a kin dred soul. He might like to say pleasant things ina pleasant way, hut he is powerless in the f dianagers use his nam naughty. His own suspected he of mediocrity, medioer: always mediverity. VAKE, for inst . Ranson's Folly,” by Mr. Riehard Hard- ing Davis. Mr. Davis is one of our junior writers whose books find a ready sale. Magazine editors clamor for his sh per editors are continually sending him to seats of wars and other h nus places to send back interesting for them to print. He has traveled much and mixed with all kinds and condition’ For years he has devoted himself to writ- ing. One might naturally expect to find a play from his pen incenti laudatory criticism. What is the fact? Folly " is not absolutely bad, nor is it especi from the dramatist’s viewpoint, or in writer. Stories, and news e “ Ranson’s ty good, technically, literary way, from that of the It is simply commonplace, instead of the commandingly good thing one has a right to expect from a man of Mr. Davis's experience and from his commercial successes as a writer. He creates a hero who is a condemned fool from the civilian’s point of view, and an impossibility in any military establishment except that of the Bashi Bazouks. His mature villain is so stupid that he could never possibly have been out of the hands of the police for more than a few minutes ata time. The impossible DIRE= innocence of his heroine puts that of Little Era to the blush, It even strains the natural sweet- ness of Miss Saniol Milliken, to whom its enacting is entrusted His army officers are evidently modeled on the militai of Doctor Wood. The improba- bilities and impossibilities of his plot recall the bottom of a sieve. If * Ranson's Folly" is a fair sample of the possible dramatic product of American literature career of the present day, criticism é should be written by fi! dramatic the reporters of such artistic events as dog-fights and conuty fairs. Metcalfe. Proper Training. ai “ET ERE'S a book that Rey i “© teaches the value of sina? patience under difficulties and * CAE Ss the twin doctrines of resigna- tion under suffering and non- resistance. “Then I must read it. My wife is going to take me to * Parsifa SANDOL MILLIKEN EN" HANSON'S FoLLy, LIFE'S CONFIDENTIAL GUIDE TO THE THEATRES. Academy of Musie.—" Checkers.” life. Slangy, but amusing, Belawo,—" Sweet Kitty Bellatrs.” staged sentimental comedy, Melodrama of Western aud recing Henrietta Crosman in gorgeously Broadway.—"The Medal and the Matd."” Conventional English musical comedy not particularly ood nor especially well done. Empire.—*The Other Girl American comedy by Augustus Thomas, Laughable and clever. Garden tm the tith Garrick. Herald ‘Taneful. Zangwill's “Merely Mary Ann," with Miss Eleanor Robson part. Delightfal, Annie Russell in “The Younger Mrs. Parling.”* “The Girl from Kuy's quare. Laughable musical comedy Hudson.—Rovert Edeson tn Ranson’s Folly." See above. Lyceum.—* The Adinirable Crichton,” Barrle’s Ming at English soctal Inequalities. Amusing. Lyric.—Ada Rehan and OUs Skinner tn + The Merchant of Venice,” Madison Square.’ The Secret of Polichinelle."* See opposite. Majestte,—" Babes in Toyland.” staging. New Amsterdam.—Messrs, Kiaw and Erlanger present + Mother Goose,” Elaborate bat untoteresting spectacte. Amusing, musical briliiant in. New York.—Chauncey Olcott in “ Terence.”* well done. Irish romantic drama Princess,— Rames” and © The Sacrament of Judas,” with Ksrie Bellew asthe star, Worth seeing. Saroy.—Kovert {ttitard in“ That Man and 1," Vauderitte.—Arnold Daly in Bernard Shaw's “ Candida” a of Destiny.” Artistic. Excellent. Wallack"s,—" The County Chairman.” poiltics, 1“ The Man Sbrewd comedy of American comicbooks.com