New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-24
THE DRAMA.
Mr.. MANSFIELD AS TrTMOUsE.

,st NIGHT at the Garden Theatre and Richard Mans
Geh Inv whom IL was produced, appeared In II ~
Tfttlebat Ttmouse. A numerous ana rehncd audience
received this piece With a sympathetic attention that
sometimes warmed in.o cordial favor without at any
fine rising to enthusiasm n is singular experiment
that Mr. Mansfield has tried in this instance and time
alone can determine the vslue OF the trial. Ono
strong word OF approval be said for 1t, however,
upon the instant and without reserve. Nr' Aahsneld
has again struck, with a clear purpose ana WIN
strong hand the that sounds distinctly In all OF
his professional achevemcnts-the noto Oh chAacter
His obvious purpose to embod! personality that
should interest for what 1t Is rather tnan because
q, ,v result that is deduced is deducible from It,
contact with experience In other words the actor
has laid his emphasizes 1t ought TO be ald In works
that are Intended for the stage-moe upon characbr
than upon either story or moral a character showa
in action Is the soul Of play, and his is provided
by Mr. Mansfeld's performance. Inc quesuoh upon
it-for which each auditor may furnisl an answer
is IN. question whether the character Is worth tho
art that has been so earnestly anu so p'"u@'n '~'~
for It's manifestation
Thu novel NJ Ten Thousand Year Is cumber-
some laborous and often dull book, the greater paFt
Of which is written IN the mood OF carcsuro ana o.
which the indubitable ability Is not nuen' ou' peu'
fed In that novel tho predominant o'afaceer
CaIv Cannon while Tittlebat Titmouse Is iaiuods
nonentity-as indeed his name implies. Mr.. Mans
nv the hook. His ideal OF Titmouse Is duly apprecA
tive of the orirnal-a puppct in the hands VI an I'M
scrupuous rascal But that original has been modinea
nv the actor and upon II he has engrseh CERTAIN nne
attributes that indispensable As the oas o oo'
nothetlc and dramatic conduct. Inc play y III III
adeauate scnse-and neither does 10 pre~ha 10 10
ANALYSIS and exposition Of the novel. Inc c'meoiaa
strays freely from that limit, and MS Hc"oih us"'
fed nv the felicity with which It Is used AN INC
In, tbo essential fibre OF lm-renainb
. veah cocltney snob; and such II 70 compulsory
t,ot ho should be represented. The dranauss mas
nlacod him IN several situations that are conlca ana
In one situation that Is made affecting Dy us ior0u
pcrplexty his momentary access OF nones' "hpu''''
and his reluctant rectItude. Mr. Msnsneias Ingenious
skill and profound earnestness como'heo WIN us pn'
faculty ~ impersonation and his distinctive orgnanS'
,raiohtad him with artistic value, made MN ei'9uih'
,,c o,d nj the last evoked some compassion TOT nm
. crotcsoue ard helpless image OF suherinS nuihafty.
To oxnect that ANYTHING more should be maze out on
such srant materials were 10 e4pect q mn"|i'' N'N
cannot gorify shrimp
r--o actor,s attitude toward his subject however,
&, in evcrv case the fact most essential to Do con-
sIdered The carver may show his skill as wei In
o,,.,,c cherrv stone as I'm cutting ruby. Upon
that principle Mr. Mansfield has proceeded. Inc part
, fro, hu Il has been treated In spirit OF zeaious
artistic devotion and with various and bfiiaft aon'y
The comedian gives his public new ngure' ~ WIZ
mot rc ploced in high niche, but, as disunct crea
ton In the realm OF whmscaty, IL has me rish' "
credltable place 1t Is fantastic ana some"n''e
& entertaining and therefore it is harmonious Win
tho iemper OF these times. The frst scene re'e'i'
,,s ap,,ofa foolish ridiculous Ttmouse In his garrett
He cannot nav his rent but he possessed OF asosn
ing apnareL he has IN humble friend, ne Is III io'o
with his employers daughter ana he WISHES ior a
thousand n year-and thereupon. In the midst vi h'
sortd troubles this fortune Is ANNOUNCER W i""' "
with II a title. by Oily Cannon. The second scen'
displays him in his paror. lie can pay freely now
but prosperity has made him more than ever Snoo'
and hew1ldercd amid the accessories OF ancesrnl
portraits fine furniture superb rament ana soI'n'
nunltes HIS absurd presence Is a chrome JEST mn"
vet an aspant for wealth. he has expressed inc sn
bton TO have his hair dyed: and now that wealth. nas
come tlIs male Cinderella OF the drygoods sho0 VIII.
first OF all, dye his hair. Originally IL was ieu' :"
now presents the coors Of the rainbow, ana the BUT
,eed Sir TYttlebat must his hat when receiving
his visitors and he will. Of course. remove 1t al inc
icht moment for a climax. The third scene presents
him In his park. He is now entirely respienae'' o"u
monumcntally iudicrous II Is festival and he must
meet his anstocratic and fashionable neghoors-n-
Guiding Lazy Cecilia Drcadlingcourt whom the nstute
Cannon has decreed that he shall marry.
But the affection OF this comic smpietoa
Is fixed on Tcssy Tagrag. and the presence OF that
charmcr makes havoc equally Of the ntmouse heart
and tho Gammon plan An ENHANCEMENT. however.
Is clcverly provided through the expert use OF
equivokc aid sir Tttlebat, 70 his amazement ana
CONSERVATION finds himself accepted BY Lady Ceeiha
Instead OF being refused by her. The fourth scene
shows him in his drawing room, after dinner. lie is
tipsy and--ie totters between maudn sentiment ana
the vaor that is born of the bottle. The plans OF
Cannon also ottsr and that acqstive schenier VIII
coerce Ttmousc by disclosing tho fact only recently
ascertaned by himself that he Is an imposor-havins
no r.ht to the fortune the title with which acci'
Lola "A
OF Gammon-who ready now to be rascal-leaves
in ,he hands OF Titmouss the means Of making resttu
tion and being suddenly confronted with the 90
fIauded heir lie obeys feeble impulse OF right and
snrrenders the credentials that must eject him from
his opulent rank. The 6fth scene replaces him N
his garret-to which, after weeks OF houseiess
yagrancy he has secretly cIept back. hungry, flight
ened and forlorn-and there he is sought and iound
by the faithful Tessy Tagrag: and ultimately lie Is
rewarded not only with her love, but with modest
competence Of fortune that will enable him 10 mako
her bis wife.
Tho wide divergence that the play makes from the
story will at once be observed Cannon acts IN
good faith and therefore need not come TO sref'
ntmousc and Lady Cecilia do not marry but are
only mistakenly engaged No vital harm Is done 70
ANYBODY Tho piece glldes over serious matters and
elucdates only what is comic eccentric in character
and laughabe in incident Some Of the foolns Is
trivial. Not any OF II is extraordinary a.
humor Much OF the business. though, Is clever
The cutting OF the cgar-that Ttmouse would
much rather cut away in sections than smoke
the powdered footman with his wooden coun.
tenanco and his wax-fgure eyes, the assemblage OF
tho ladies' have left the gentlemen at the dinner
table, tho unanimous resort TO gable as soon as
musical performer has consented to oblige the COM
pany By playing the pano-ai these are exceneh'
devices. The conversation among the ladies, after
dinner Is Written with admirable sbn and IT accom-
pshes rcnchsnt purpose OF keen satire The senti'
ment and feeling In the last act, are honest ana
hearty, aud are expressed with quaintness as well
rs with homely vigor The piece n whole conveys
impression Of power Of brlllaney: yet the dis
eliminating eye will perceive many bright touches In
Il and many traits OF character. What II requires Is
Importance OF subject and electricity Of spirit.
r,t has ma