THE COURIER
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The play "Romeo and Juliet' is not in
consonance with modern ideas on love and
its manifestations, and even when the story
is told by genuine artists there is a disin
clination on the part of the cynical auditor to
regard seriously the more tragic passages. Mr.
Frederick Paulding and Miss Maida Cragen
who essayed the title roles in this play at Mon
day night's production at the Lansing theatre are not either of them
very young: but there are several things loth might learn that
would be to their advantage. For instance Mr. Paulding might
learn that it is not necessary for the gentle Romeo to
pause in his love-sickness and make heroic speeches for the bene
fit of the gallery gods. Mr. Paulding suffers from the malady that
has always afflicted Thomas W. Keene, doing such dire damage to
the tympanums of his auditors. He must needs rant a little. Withal
he makes a very good Romeo. Mr. Paulding takes his part and the
play seriously, and he labors very hard to rise to the measure of the
stature of a most impossible role. He shows much intelligence in
his interpretation. Long acquaintance with the character of Romeo
has given him a certain facility and ioiso that render his perform
ance interesting, if not commanding. The last Juliet seen on the
Lansing stage was Margaret Mather who, preparatory to becoming
Mrs. Pabst, gave almost her farewell shriek and tumble act, in this
city. Miss Craigen does not emit blood curdling and heart rending
shrieks, and she does not roll down a half a dozen steps and half
way across the stage; but she sighs; and the Cragen sigh is entitled
to rank beside the Mather shriek. It is all pervading: This actress
makes Juliet in the first scenes a very kittenish, childish and noisy
young woman, with a strong tendency toward hysterics, and she
does not at any time invest the character with the sweet gentleness
that we associate with Juliet. But it,.cannot be said that Miss
Craigen does not show intelligence in her interpretation, and she
labors so strenuously to make the most of the part that it is small
wonder she sighs with such frequency ana effect. Her scene with
the nurse was exaggerated, and the audience weuld doubtless have
been quite as well satisfied if she had been a little more delicate in
the last moments of the play when she expires on the dead body of
Romeo. Mr. Paulding and Miss Craigen were fairly well supported.
Mr. Lachaw's Mereutio, while lacking in some degree the rollicking
characteristics of that role was an excellent rendition, re
markably strong when it is considered that he had only appeared as
Mercutio two or three times previously. He read his lines with
much force.
Miss Cragen and Mr. Paulding on Tuesday night presented "A
Duel of Hearts" in which they were seen in this city two or three
weeks ago, This play has strong dramatic possibilities, and it is
given with the care that characterizes all the efforts of this com
pany. On the whole the performers appear to better advantage in
this than in "Romeo and Juliet," albeit we agree with Toby Rex that
Miss Cragen's proper sphere is comedy.
"The White Squadron" was warmly received in Lincoln a year
ago, and it was greeted with vociferous applause from the upper tiers
on its return appearance Thursday evening. W. A. Whitecar has
succeeded Robert Hilliard in the character of Victor Staunton and
the entire company has undergone a change not for the better.
Patriotism and all kind of heroics make this play very exciting and
the gallery is kept in a constant tremor of excitment. "The White
Squadron" is a naval drama, deeply surcharged with melo drama.
Hallen & Harts "The Idea" was given to a good house at the Lan
sing theater last evening.
Frederick Paulding when in Omaha recently, was interviewed on
the subject of dramatic criticism. He complained .that the critic
too often stays at home and sends the police or horse reporter to the
theatre. If Mr. Paulding read the "criticism" of his and Miss
Cragen's production of "Romeo and Juliet'' in Tuesday's Journal he
must have been convinced that in this instance the critic sent a sub
stitute to the entertainment in the person of a fourteon-year-old
school girl. After reading that hysterical article one felt the press
ing need of a healthy doso of salts.
Mr. D. Austin Lachaw. who took tho part otMercutio in Monday
night's performance of "Romeo and Juliet," gave a very acceptable
characterization of a role that calls for ability of no mean order. No
one in the audience certainly had any idea that ho was not a pro
fessional actor. Mr. Lachaw is a dramatic critic in Kansas City,
and only joined the Craigen-Paulding company for a few days to
take the place of an actor who left the organization suddenly. He
had, it is said, only appeared twice before, professionally, as
Mercutio.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
To-Nkiht, Primrose &. West's minstrels at tho Lansing theater.
Wednesday, March 21. "The Voodoo" at tho Lansing theater.
Thursday, March 22. Lewis Morrison in "Richelieu" at tho Lan
sing theater.
Friday, March 2'J. Lewis Morrison in "Faust" at tho Lansing
theater.
Saturday, March 21. J. C. Lewis in "Si Plunkard" at the Lan
sing theater.
That rollicking musical farce-comedy of Sanger and Bothner's
"The Voodoo, or A Lucky Charm" will be given at the Lansing
theater next Wednesday evening. The story hinges on voodooism, a
superstition prevalent in the southern states. No subject offers bet
ter opportunities to tho writer of farcical plays than superstition,
and tho author of "The Voodoo" is said to have made the most of
them. The dialogue is bright and sparkling, and tho lines are em
bellished with scores of pleasing specialties. Messrs. Sanger and
Bothner have engaged ono of the best companies obtainable. Tho
leading man is Thomas E. Murray, tho droll Irish comedian of Mur
ray and Murphy fame. This clover team, it will be remembered,
toured the country for seven consecutive seasons in "Our Irish Visi
tors"' tc crowded houses. Mr. Murray's methods are unique and his
stage personality is inimitable. His support includes tho talented
soubrette and actress Ada Bothner, who achieved such a flattering
success as Teddy in HoytVA Bunch of Keys;'"Chas. M. McDonald.
Helena Coe, Kitty Beck, Kitty Wolfe, T. J. McGrane, Lillian Drew,
and a score more of singers and dancers.
Edouard Remenyi, the violinist, assisted by Signor de Riva Berni,
the Russian pianist, and Minnie D. Methat, soprano, will give a con
cert at the Lansing theater Tuesday evening, March 27.
Since tho death of Lawrence Barrett and tho more recent demise
of the public's idol: Edwin Booth, there seemingly has been no
American actor who could fill the void left by our famous tragedians
There is a native actor, however, who can and will fill one of the im
portant niches, and he is Lewis Morrison. Mr. Morrison's work is
widely known throughout the entire country, but he has confined
himself in recent years to the portrayal of but ono part, that of the
wily llephixto. He has the force, the art, the intelligence and the
reputation and there is no reason why he should not be raised on
the pedestal which is but waiting for its figure. Within the past
year Mr. Morrison attempted the trying role of the testy "Cardinal
Richelieu." The triumph was instantaneous, unquestioned. Mr.
Morrison will appear as Richelieu at the Lansing theater, Thursday
March 22nd. It will be an intellectual treat.
Mr. Morrison will present his famous scenic and dramatic version
of "Faust" Friday evening. Mr. Morrison's impersonation adheres
closely to Goethe's familiar and very interesting story, but his treat
ment of the .art is a decided improvement on any that has been
seen in opera or drama. Satan, as represented by him is a smooth
faced, plausible person, who mixes with mortal mankind with a
cheerful abandon that makes the character easy to comprehend;
the lines in .Mr. Morrison's version are bright and sparkling and his
rendition of them is delightfully sardonic. He is, in short, as en
gaging a devil as one could wish to see. The staging of the piece is
little short of phenomenal. The scenery and mechanical effects are
exceedingly strong. Electricity plays a prominent part in the pro
duction. It is eminently spectacular but at the same time notable