New-York tribune., 1894-02-06
THE DRAMA.
MIR. DREW AS \ BUTTERFLY.

Mr. John Drew who is favorte with all classes
of play-going people in New-York appeared at Pal
mer's Theatre last night. In a comedy by Mr. II.
c. Carleton called The Butterflies" and
daily welcomed by a numerous audience. Mr..
Drew as this public is aware, is equipped for his
profession with a crisp and brilliant method akin
10 that of Charles Mathews and Lester Wallack.
and with ample resources Of animal spirits and
quizzlcal humor, that he moves with bland COM
posure and airy grace through scenes of banter and
cross-purpose and comic perplexitv, managing equ-
yoke with a most feIcitous skill. and casting the
glamour of whimsical pleasantly over all manner OF
comic confusion. In The Butterflies" he presented
the familiar image OF II gay and spirited youth
who has wasted his inheritance in frivolous pleas
ures. but whose character is sound in fibre. and
who proves capable, when checked by poverty anl
constrained by love, of acting with hrmness and
generosity, albeit with neither the most delicate
consideration the highest wisdom. The play is
perhaps true to nature, or at least 10 custom. IN
making its hero more thoughtful of the girl whom
he loves than of the mother by whom he is loved:
but presentment of the beauty of fllia affection
would have done harm. Mr. Carleton has told
a somewhat farcical story by means Of quick
movement and smooth dialogue. and has constructed
series OF situations wei caieulate1 10 elicit Mt
Drew's characteristics attributes OF sparkle ana
The story relates to Frederick Osslan's WOO
ing of Marian Dodge at St Augustine. Fla.
and to the means whereby he placates the naughty
mental passages, comicay conducted between a
laneud English beau and an expeditions American
heiress, provide a subsidiary vein OF interest and
Of humor The artistic obligaton OF making con.
duct harmonious with character and also consonant
with probability il but little respected principal
person. Mrs. Stuart Dodge who Is lncarnate IN
science and vulgarlty In Act l. becomes. Tor no
admissible reason the quintessence or auability In
Act Ill Young Green Is At lirst an insolent cub,
insufferably brutal even 10 his own father; and
later, without any apparent cause. he appears as
a submissive child and mildly comic simpleton.
The author has no hesitation IN forcing Incidents
while his picture of manners Is crudity run mad.
The usual infusion is provided OF profanity and
" slang. On the other hand. two or three serio-
comic love adroity devised. brightly
conducted and piquanty written, and are suffused
with an atmosphere of mingled passion and rail.
lery which is entirely natural In those scenes Miss
Olive May gave a performance quite bewitching
In its demure mischief and seemingly artlese
froc. Mr. Drew gave buoyant and delightful!
performance. replete with. fun. touched here and
there with sentiment. and invariably refined and
sincere. His acting not only peases while II 10
passing: Ii leaves a sweet and gracious memory
and that Is the unfang denotement OF purity.
dignity and genuine worth In the nature by which
the art Is inspired. Miss Adams, an interesting
actress and one OF exceptional talent, represented
the gentle heroine In all respects Mr.. Cartoons
comedy ably interpreted. and Mr. Drew has
received unequivocal assurance that the public hao
not forgotten an old friend