New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-04
THE DRAMA.
.JANEn AT THE MADISON SQUARE.

trihe I'm every way Is " Jane" which was placed
on the stage OF the Madison Square Theatre last night
II is trfhe i'm its length for IL took only two hours
TO play IL II is trihe in its subject, for It's incidents
are whimsical and Of the sort that could not bear and
are not expected to bear moments serious analysis
IL Is trfe in It's treatment, for its incidents are IN
troduced with an obvious confidence that nobody will
mind their improbability, and 1t has scenes which,
while they are amusing enough In themselves, are
irrelevant to the plot. Yet 1t is pleasant tFifie and
Its good humor is spontaneous, 30 persistent anu
even so aggressive that an auditor must ieel IN q
sour mood and one i'll BETTING the season II ne would
refuse to be amused by IL. Jane" is announced as
farcecomedy in three acts, by Harry NICHOLS ana
w. Lesocqn but it is not piece Of the sort that has
come to bear the distinctive name of farce-comedy
The simple name farce" would carry better under
standing OF the nature OF the piece with it,
A reckless young man has been getting money from
his guardian the statement that ne has an eA
travagant wife. He has really no wife at all, ana
when the guardian suddenly appears on visit IL Is
necessary to provide something that Will at least look
like a wife, The young man provides himself win an
alleged belpmate and his butler obligngly provides
him with another Then child is needed and Is
found another is needed and is not found, but Is nc
counted for The mother Of the first child comes ana
demands it, and the butler, who Is the real husDahu
Of the masters pretended wife, tires of the game ana
exposes the whole trick The butler and the maid
and pretty girl comes forward ready TO DC married
10 the hero while the guardian beams, forslves every
body and pays all the debts
These incidents are sufficiently farcical. Ihey arc
told in a bright and agreeable form Of dialogue, with
nm abundance of gay and sparkling wit. The whole
fabric might be too light for winter wear, but IL Is
graceful and comfortable enough for the warm hehOS
that are to be expected. There was summer leoi
Ing I'm the audience. which was large one 1or lle
small theatre and an obvious willingness to take Wia
WAS Amusing without much question as to It's other
ouaItes II WAS enough for the piece that 1t did n0
disannoint peope who predsposed to be pleased
The company engaged in the entertainment was ol
m. s,rt that seems better Individually than colectNeN
Each actor did his part but he did 1t usually rs il
Il were whole and not a simple part well htt"d lh'o
n larger whole This was noticed in Paul Arthur' as
tho vonnr scaperace hero in VI. c. DAILY, as the de-
l,ded Guardian in r. f. Cotton, who was ttlne 100
monotonously violent as the aggricved brother
and I'm Miss Amelia summervilie' as the III
iured mother of the appropriated hl''n''
Where this fault prevails in several OF the actors
II is hard for any to escape the appearance OF H.
but Miss Johnstone Bennett as the maidserVaht anu
f. Schnitz Edwards the father OF the chIu ole"
before mentioned seemed at home than the others
as factors in a desirable total result. A few more
nerforuances may perfect THIS ana leave le,s 81 .c
acinr that the bits of the picture do not quite NJ "
retbnr other parts were PLAYED by Miss Jennie
Weathersby Miss Katherine Grey and Master na$Ees
Jane" will hold the stage OF the manson 5quslT ae
atre for the few remaining weeks OF MI faimers
tenure.