New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-17
THE DRA MA-MUSIC.
LOVE IN HARNESS.

Another night of brilliant effort and Of spark
ling public pleasure is 10 be recorded In the chronicle of
Days Theatre. "IOve in Harness" had its first repre-
sentation, In presence OF gay and evidently delighted
company that filed the house 10 it, limits and the
performance received with unequvoca favor There
Is not much substance to the play but the AZ
fordcd by Mr. Days such AS to impart dignity
as well as sparkle TO a very old and much worn
theme and to elevate farce almost the hgh level Of
comedy. Love In Harness" Is playful satire on the
chickering's incidental 10 the estate OF mairimony The old
play of Married Life once popular for It's felic.
tous comic exposition OF this topic. period
requires treatment OF the ancient themes Mr. DAILY
building the basis Of foreign piece but taking course
OF his own has constructed bright web Of humorous II
sometimes impossible situations that OF the meeting Of
the two embarrassed lovers with which the play opens
for instance completely irratiOna and he has deity
embellished with bright dialogue ap many telling traits
OF representative character Three sisters the chief
figures. Two Of them married and Is about 10
wed The first OF the sisters. having Qnarrelled with
her husband. leaves him. and returns to the pa
temal roof The second sister, also at
variance with her lord, Is by him brought home and re-
stored to her parents The third dslnayed by this pros
pect Of disaster, breaks her engagement There no
serious I'm either case for the disruption that ha,
ensued but all along its line the action hOvers upon the
dangerous brink Of mere puerile nspidy.
The vitazng element that redecms this medley of folly
is the pquant flavor OF strongly contrastcd
character unged likewise with the pun
gency OF good comic incident In act
first the relation Of the several couples including the old
folks and the is displayed In act second the
parted pair made to fence for renewac old relations
and the movement begins In act third one OF the hus
band good naturally reconciliation all round by
adroty playing upon the chord OF jealousy In the hearts
OF the more serious characters. This bland ooose
bient benevolence incarnaed with delicious humOr
by Mr. James Lewis The true ideal Of happy marriage
was most 1ecaely and touchngly conveyed by the act
ing OF Mrs Gilbert and Charles Fisher the parents Of
the several revolted girls The whole company was twice
recalled after the fall OF the second curtain and Mr. DAILY
was likewise compimented with two calls
OF the popular verdict the piece there could bo
no doubt. II was judgment OF delighted approval A
few moments OF the play 10 be sure, In doubt
during tho first acbu This seemed due 10 uncertainty
the part OF several Of the players The stage
Is luxurious Such painting shown in the second
act would not be amss In palaces Mr.. skinner. whose
acting was instinct with Joyous temper ament and very
finely controlled and finished, had a recall upon the
scene, shortly after the final curtain rose and similar
tribute was paid 10 Mr. John Drew and Miss Ada Rehan
Miss Gordon and Mr.. William Gilbert The Success Of
the production is assured OF its dramatic value there IL
no room Ia speak with particular fervOr Enough say
that dramatic expeness In handling rifes 10 make
sport receives herein a conspicuous Illustration.