The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-10
"Connettesv nj the Arch.


The comedy of CoquetteS; or, The Tooo Joneses,
which was produced at the Arch last evening to
q well-pleased audience, is, we believe, by Mr..
James Alberry, the author of the Too Roses.
In Its literary style it much resembles that piece,
but it possesses the advantage of more elabo-
rate and more interesting plot, the strong points
of which, however, have not in every instance
been brought forward in as telling a manner as
they might have been. Mr.. Alberry is evidently
an admrer, and to some extent an imitator of
Robertson, and while Coq,tettes has more
of the proportions of regular standard
comedy than any play that has
lately been produced, the dialogue,
while it is unusually well written and is often
bright, witty and sparkling, is too frequently
trivial and fiimsy, and lacking in compactness
where compactness is necessary for the best
dramatic effect. The plot we are confident is
not Mr.. Alberry's own, for it presents all the
characteristics of an old-fasbioned comedy of
intrigue, such as the old-fashioned writer's
whom Mr.. Boucicault so heartily affects to des-
pise, but who have certainly not been surpassed
by any of the modern dramatists, would have
elaborated into more brilliant piece than the
one produced at the Arch last night. The merits
of the comedy of Ooquettes however, more than
overbalance its deficiencies and it is a real
pleasure to be able to bestow praise upon
piece that really presents some claims to notice
account of its literary excellence. The perform
ance last night was evidently a surprise as well
as pleasure to the audience, and if the actors
will endeavor to make the action little more
animated it ought to achieve permanent
success.
The plot which is considerably involved,
turns partly upon the flirting propensities of
'Mrs. Minton," the second wife of "Arthur
Ninton, NJ. P.," and Fanny Farmhouse" a
relative of the arst wife of "Mr. Minton" The
second "Mrs. Minton" was an actress who was
afflicted with a drunken, good-for-nothing
father, of whose existence she had not informed
her husband, and who she is constantly in fear
will turn up at some inopportuLe moment.
She fears to inform ''Mr Minton" of the dis
agreeable relationship, but it is discovered by
the villain of the piece, "Mr. Curling, who
has suffered by her coquetry, and also by
'Mr. Mintons' steward, Rogers" who has
pdhchant for writing anonymous letters and
sending unpleasant items of private informa-
tion to the newspapers. One of the
best situations in the play is when
silly sut0r of "Mrs Minton's"
who glories in the name of Jones' is set on by
''Curling" to pay assiduous attention to the
lady, but who unfortunately mistakes the hus-
band for the steward "Rogers," to whom he has
been referred by "Curling" for assistance. The
plans of the unhappy "Jones" are thus revealed
to the one who is of all others most interested in
knowing about them, and the viJainy of Curl
ing" Is demonstrated so plainly that he is
treated to a knock-down blow from the fist of
''Minton." 1t then turns out that "Minton" had
known from the beginning of the existence of
his wife's disreputable relation, and had given
him liberal assistance and aided him
to make some steps towards
respectability. In the denouement "Mrs. Min
ton" promises to firt no more miss Fanny
gives her hand to "Jones, who turns out to be
a son of "Lord de lay" Curling" concludes to
behave himself in the future, and several of the
other characters pair off and announce their
determination to embark upon the sea of matri-
mony. This slight sketch gives but faint idea
of the plot, which contains number of we'll
conceived and highly-dramatic scenes, and a
series of characters that afford the actors some
excellent opportunities. ''Mrs. Minton" is a
part exactly in Mrs. Drew's line, and she acts
it most admirably. The second of the two
coquettes Fanny Farmhouse" is remarkably
well represented by Miss May Saville. Mr..
Barton Hill gives fine personation of "Arthur
Mnton," and the remaining leading characters
are, almost without exception, well represented,
If we except the part of 'Jones," which Mr..
Craig does not appear to fit into as well as he
does into some Others.
"At Last" at the Chesnut.