The evening world., 1894-09-12
THE BAUBLE SHOP

ftHHTy HTlnuT JOHeS pays are AZ
ways enjoyable as ingenious theatrical
constructions. They hold you In alb
sorbed interest while you are In the
playhouse, and II Is only afterwards
when you come to think II all over
that you realize Jones's clever charla-
tanism. He weaves spell around YOU
and IL he liz n quack, he succeeds in
making you his accomplice for the time
being. This is the case with THE Bau-
BILE Shop" the play given last night at
the Empire
1t Is an admirably written, strong and
theatre-reeking effort, more acceptable
than anything we have yet had from
the pen of Mr.. Jones, We have seen
THE Dancing Girl" Saints and Sin
ners." THE Middleman," Wealth" and
Judah" THE Bauble Shop" is an i'm
provement upon all, and 1t Is far more
human and probable than "rhe Mas
queraders," which New Workers have
not yet seen.
Lord Clivebrooke, the leader OF the
House OF Commons, has accidentally
met Jessie Keber. the daughter of the
proprietor of n little toy shop. He Is
attracted by her apparent innocence
for he Is cynical on the subject OF
women. truth and goodness, almost to
the verge OF Oscar Wildesm. His poiiti-
cal opponent. Mr. Stoach. NJ. P, en-
ploys Jessie Keber and her father, and
discovers Lord Clivebrookes infatua-
tion. The leader frequents the toy shop
at the most ungodly hours and Stoach
has him followed. One night Stoach
breaks In and finds him with Jessie. A
strong scene ensues. Clivebrooke is to
speak in the House for the Public Nor
ais" bill. Stoach thereupon swears to
expose his private life to the House,
unless he signs a confession of guilt.
Clivebrooke Is innocent. Jessies
fair name In untainted. He refuses to
sign, and In the third act Stoach tells
the House Of Commons all about him.
The audience sees Clivebrooke's pr!-
vate room, opening into the House,
where the noise and excitement can be
heard. In the last act, the leader re-
signs. offers Jessie X ober marriage. and
disconcerts Stoach.
There Is feeling of dissatisfaction at
the end OF the play. Neither the hero
nor the heroine has sinned. yet Mr..
JoI es shows US Clivebrcoke's career abb
solutely ruired. Audiences don't care
for that sort of thing. They love to see
sinner chastened, but when a play
wright has taken particular care to prove
the innocence OF his man and woman,
tteatri,a al gatherings prefer to look
upon undiluted happiness That Is the
popular view OF 1t. at any rate. To the
fastidious few, the ending of THE
Bauble Shop" Is better than the stereo-
tyI ed fnis
1t Is not easy to accept Mr.. Joness
acknowledgements as n purely theat-
rical puppet. Imagine cynic Il man of
the world, the leader OF the House,
upon whom the eyes OF the world are
turned, visiting Jesses home. inno-
Gently, after the midnight hour night
after night. with no thought Of compro-
missing her! He is so utterly surprised
when Stoach accuses him of baseness yet
what else could Stoach. or anybody else
infer? Yet Clivebrooke is a dlplomatist,
a tacticIan, political genius. and he is
a man In the prime OF life. MIR. Jones
does these queer little things purposely
to excite discussion. Every play that he
has written in the last decade has been
talked about for just these little de-
fectS. Jones knows that they exist. He
Is clever theatrical juggler, and his
calculations are always exact
John Drew did exceedingly well with
what was. for him. new departure
The Bauble Shop" Is not a play of
smiles. and Mr.. Drew has been asso-
ciated with laughter. His work was
always worthy. although his limits were
seen rather plainly at the end OF the
second act. the effect OF which was
spoiled by an inartistic exit The cast
was entirely good. Miss Maud Adams
was pretty and pathetic. and II she
could leave her face alone In her emo
tional moments her work would he i'm
proved She clutches at her forehead.
throat and temples in bewildering
way. j. +. Dodson, as the tipsy old
father. was excellent; Miss Elsie lie
Wolfe played the role of Lady Kate
Ffennell with much refinement. and
Harry HARDWOOD was brusque and
felicitously unsympathetic Stoach. o.
body should miss The Bauhle Shop"
ALAN DALE,