Mr. Hackett's Hit as Don Caesar

MR. HACKETT'S HIT AS DON CAESAR Actor Scores Deserved Success in Mr. Victor Mapes' Play at Wallack's. AUDIENCE WAS PLEASED Miss Kahn as Maritana and Other Members of the Cast Gave Good Support. WALLACK'S THEATRE. - DON CAESAR'S RETURN, a new treatment of a famous stage character, in four acts, by Victor Mapes.

Act I. A street in Madrid. Act II.-Interior of a prison. (Two days later.) Act III.-Reception room in a chatean. (One year later.) Act IV.- Another room in chateau. (The same night.)

Mr. James K. Hackett in Mr. Victor Mapes' new play, "Don Caesar's Return," opened the fiftieth season of Wallack's Theatre last night—the fiftieth season counting from the opening of the first Wallack Theatre somewhere away down town. And there were many old theatregoers in the big audience, who noted with sadness that for the first time in many, many years the name of "Theodore Moss, Manager," was absent from the programme. Instead there appeared the line, "Under the management of O. A. Moss and Royal E. Moss," indicating that the widow and son of the famous old manager will continue the direction of the house.

Mr. Royal E. Moss was present at last night's performance and between the acts many of the friends of his father took occasion to congratulate him and Mr. Charles Burnham, the acting manager, upon the auspicious opening of their season.

And it was a rousing reception that was given Mr. Hackett in his new play. The house cheered him on his entry, followed him through four acts with close attention, laughter and applause, and at the end of the third act broke out into continuous cheering and handclapping, which would not be silenced until every member of the company, had been called before the curtain, the author had followed them, and the hero of the evening had acceded to the request for a speech.

That speech consisted of only a few words of thanks to "my distinguished associates, Mr. Lackaye, Miss Kahn, Mr. Lemoyne and others who have helped me to produce a harmonious performance."

Mr. Hackett deserved his success. As the careless prodigal and daredevil of high birth who had fallen into evil ways and upon evil days, he bore himself with rakish merriment, but even in his rags remembered and made others remember that he was a gentleman. He lacked only the final grace of perfect self-abandon. He was a trifle self-conscious. His mirth at times was a little hard, a little forced and mechanical.

But as the chivalrous hidalgo, redeemed by a great love, restored by that love to his higher self and sensible of his outraged dignity as a husband whose wife's honor is imperiled at the hands of his own King and master, he struck no false note. He was simple, manly, unaffected and impressive, and his light vein of raillery in the latter acts was admirably sustained.

Miss Kahn as Maritana was pretty, graceful and charming in the lighter scenes, but did not rise to the full height of the emotion demanded by the more strenuous ones. Her promise, nevertheless, is excellent. Her faults came from nervousness and comparative inexperience. Her performance will doubtless gain in power and in passion when she becomes more fully mistress of herself.

That excellent actor, Mr. Wilton Lackaye, was lost in the part of the featureless King Carlos of Spain. On the other hand, Mr. W. J. LeMoyne did a thoroughly artistic and conscientious bit of work in the small role of the aged Marquis of Gonzalo. Miss Virginia Buchanan was acceptable as the Marquise, his wife, and most of the other characters were rendered with care and intelligence, but no notable effectiveness.

The play is well constructed on the old lines; the scenes move swiftly and vividly to a natural climax, and the dialogue is bright and amusing.

In the audience were Mr. and Mrs. John 8. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. J. Morgan Wing. Mr. and Mrs. James B. Haggin, Justice and Mrs. J. Henry Dugro, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brevoort Kane, Mr. and Mrs. Albert E. Stratton, Mr. and Mrs. G. Howard Davison, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Jules Vatable, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Du Val, Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel E. Wells. Miss Wells, Mrs. Charles Schuyler, Mrs. James Henry Hackett, mother of the actor: Mrs. Mary Mannering Hackett, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Phelps, Professor R. Ogden Doremus, Mrs. Charles Avery Doremus, Mr. and Mrs. Willard P. Ward. Mrs. Victor Mapes, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Alexander, Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge, Mr. and Mrs. John Foord. Dr. Charles E. Nammack, Miss Hummel, the Messrs. Nikola Tesla. A. H. Hummel, Douglas Taylor. Tracy Dows, Charles M. Robinson, Prescott Slade, Albert J. Weber, W. S. K. Wetmore, Erskine Hewitt, E. H. Bothern, H. P. Kane, William H. Crane, Robert A. Cheeseborough. Oakleigh Thorne, George W. De Bevoise, Frederick W. Wendt, F. W. Huidekoper and Oliver S. Campbell.