New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-22
Emusic AND THE DRAMA
THE MONEY SPINNER.

mi. 4. the title of neat piece OF ronia"",
iH'o - hv A W. Pincro. of Lohdon"
,,nrng and hitherto unknown writer '"' r,rbt
s'I1orlv made a good mariana l's' ~ 80,
,resented for the first tmeln America "' 10 ,,ovo
Theatre II is comprised in three "o'' =: po,o,
,ra,ttakes place partly in Paris anu P'i W ,on
n rsorircs two set scenes, ana II "'''"" 80
rorsons. The style is light OFTEN ,;,.aiena
tmes cnigrammatic prose, h"' ''"' o. 90
praer the legitimate and uSu'i iom.1 IL
The characters that speak IL anu Wv 49, =, .ho
.ho 'h'' lies Of cockney slang; but, IN the
hgurcu ~ yatI. for tersrness and polished sim
man lbo r;ece as il has been acted IN London,
P"'.,, - che second and third acts as presented
- T1,s first act is new, the author having added
Il.i.h ,;o,y 70 the production of his comedy III
.t;s conptrv. Iii well-planned, compact and
.1or,rino act but connected with it's successors by
such n slender thread that it may be considered
complete in itself.
rho heroine Millicent Crocodile. a gamblers
aangbter-ncknamed the Money-Spinncr on
occonnt of her invariablO good fortune at
rords-rsiccts a man whom she loves, accepts a
man she does not love, and finally changes her
mind and marrcS the man whom at hrst she re-
fused. All this passes IN the ante-room OF the
gamblers den and it is illustrated with colleagues
tbat are fnll of feeling and marked by many deli
preliminary episode serves to bring on all the
nersons implicated in the story that follows. This
scene and indeed the whole play. reminds the
observer of Tom RobertsOn's delightful manner. as
in particular. cxcrtcd in his beautiful comedy of
caste" But Mr.. Pmero comes long way after
that most delicate and cOnsummate artist. In
"Caste" the grip is LAID sqnarely on subject oil
universal and perpetual interest; i'll The MoHcy
Spinner" there is simply an adrot exposition OF an
ovcontioual set of circumstances. The former will
ALWAYS charm by the deep and subtitle meanings
that shine softly through its spontaneous devel-
onment The latter, though deeply interesting
lacks much of its power, as soon as Its story
has once been told-making one think OF the ira
ditonal bee of boyhood, that forfeits the sting In
giving the wound.
We shall not rchearse the story, since that might
ONLY mar tn. pleasure of readers who intend to see
the niece II hinges on the extraordinary conduct
of the uOpeg Spinner in trying TO save her husband
from the consequences of an act of crime, and 1t
brings ont its several types of character into strong
relief i'll a eliminating scene of impressive pathos
The second act proved little dull. last night
but the first and third went brilliantly, and the
piece is undoubtedly q success. Miss Rose C0ghian
was entirely charming as The Money Spiaaer-her
subtitle denOtement of the inherent goodness of the
most unfortunately situated and most cruelty tired
and tempted woman being direct, sincere. delicate,
and winningy sweet aud gentle. There was a tone
of true pathos running through the whole embodi-
ment, and it was likewise rich with exuberant
woman-ke tenderness and devotion. Mr. Elton
handled effectively somewhat incompre-
hensbc character, compounded of earnest
emotion and grotcsque bOmbast. Mr.. Ed
wards acted the detective with admirable
eass and finish, and Mr.. L. V. Sinclair
made a hit with his sketch of the broken-dOwn gem
tleman Mr. 1carle is fitted with character such
as always clicits sympathy-the thoroughly good
fellow at heart, who seems q simpeton--an this he
acted perfectly well. The moral aspects and ten
denotes of ''The Money Spinner" are somewhat too
complex to be considered Off-hand. There will be
abundant time for further and more careful Consid
Grafton of the subject. The reception given to the
piece was cordial. though not dcmonstratiye. Tho
audience for a wet and dismal night, wus numer-