New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-22
"OUR FLAT" AT THE LYCEUM THEATRE

The farcical comedy of Our Flat" which has had
Of laughter in London, soon last evening
at the Lyceum Theatre for the first time in this
country, and a generous audience found its second
act fun Of cOmcal incidents. The first act was
mildly dverting but the last mped sadly and lacked
almost entirely the snap and rattle Of the second
Mrs. Musgrove, the author Of the piece has taken
for her theme the experiences of penniless but
lghthcartcd young couple In London Hat, besieged
by creditors and assaulted by duns and has treated
10 with sufficient ingenuity to provide many mrth-
provoking situations The husband Is an unsuccessful
writer of the gloomiest tragedies and the most dismal
nf melodramas. His nimble-wttcd wife, who has
been cast off by the conventional stage father, puts
her own trials and perplextes into comedy,
which is accepted by London manager,
who pays for her work sum that
relieves the pair from their embarrassments tenn
porariy 1t is needless TO say that the hard hearted
father relents and that the curtain falls finally
upon smiles and merry faces
The piece IS a mere trhe and ar times it drags from
fatness Of dialogue and utter nsgncance of incident
But for the scene in the second act when the resource
l young wife supplies the lack of the furniture which
is removed from her home because the " instruments"
upon il have not been paid Our Fiat would have come
peri!ously near disaster. But this scene was car
rcd through with such livelincss, gayety. spirit ana
charm by Mrs Thorndyke Boucicault that it called
out the most cordial applause and was attended by
every token of qualification. Mrs. 8oucicauts acting
delightful throughout and every one In the audience
became her enthusiastic admrer She has true
light comedy touch she abounds in dainty devices, she
IS brilliant and winsome she carries after scene
by hec fascinating personality and acting. 1t may be
added in passing that her gowns were very pretty
Mr. Conway Cd not appear 10 advantage by the
side OF Mrs. Boucicaut. He never seemed at ease
and was indeed wholly out of place. He played ReS
Maid sylvester with sort OF Scotch dryness hardness
and angularity that made unpleasant impression,
and neither his face his figure was so remarkably
attractive start the slightest hutter in the heart
OF any susceptible maiden. AS there has been some
foolish gable in certain gosspping prints
to the effect that Mr. Conway IS one of those male
profes whose only claim TO consdera
ton on the stage lies In their symmetry Of form and
feature (such persons the and derson OF all
true friends Of dramatic ar It may be said here tbas
Mr. Conway is not to be ranked at all in that despcable
class lie is an actor of Intelligence and force who
has won h!, reputation in important theatrical work
but ne IS wofily miscast in this play and can make
Miss Marion Russell, Miscellaneous, pryinG
glip of glrl. odd and whimsical
tbat she provoked much amusement, and general re
gret wss oppressed that there not Of her in
aOur Flat II. +. Cotton, as an eccentric
theatrical manager. was so novel and dlvertmg IN
makeup. and speech as to be the strongest
feature OF the play in combine fun and sporuve
drollery. Thomas Whihen acted me part OIL inc
testy father with his usual care and skill.
But there lamentably weak spots IN the company
and some Of the players were grcvously IN neea OF
more rehearsalS They blundered with their lines and
hInced their business. With a betterbaanced com
pa'y and with much more rapidly and precision
gained far more favor than fell to It's lot last night
Tho setting IS artistic and satisfactory.