The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-06
CAPTAIN LETTARBLAIR.
Produced by Sothcrn and Company Mt the
Academy OF Music.

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Academy OF Music.
Academy of Music-Captain Lettar-
blair, three-act comedy by Mar
guerite Merrington.
Captain Lettarblair Litton C'Royal
Irish Fusiliers'). Il. II. Sothern
Dean Ambrose. his'uncle. &C. +. Flockton
Percival Pinkney, Deans secretary
$. Sothern
Francis Merivale. nelghboring squire.
suitor to Fanny Morton Seiten
Mr.. Seton, u lawyer Fanny's trustee.
Arthur Lawrence
Jorkins. Litton's servant ("R. /. Fusi-
liers'D ,........ Rowland Blackstone
Smithers. Mr.. Seton's clerk.
Tully Marshall
Henry, Deans servant. .......T. j. Murphy
Fanny Hadden, Mr.. Seton's ward.
Grace Kimball
Polly Messiter, the Deans God-daughter.
Bertha Bartlett
Hyacinth Messiter, her aunt,
Kate Pattison-Sel
The comedy in which Mr.. Sothern
and company We're seen at the Acad-
emy of Music last night has simplicity
for its chief characteristic. Captain
Lettarblair Is In love with Fanny Had
den, the ward of Mr. Seton. a lawyer
Miss Hadden Is rich the captain Is
poor, and she desires to relieve his
necessities in such a way that he will
not know 1t. She tells her plan to her
friend. Polly Messter, and their con-
versation is overheard by Francis
Merivale. a neighboring squire, also
an aspirant for Fannys hand. The aid
intended for the young soldier Is to
come through letter which the squire
intercepts and keeps. He then let's
Fanny believe that Lettarblair got the
money and that he is a spendthrift,
who loves her only for her wealth. The
plan seems to work well. and Fanny
and Polly are convinced that the young
Irish officer is a pretty hard case. The
debt for which Lettarblair is pushed
to the wall Is really due to Fanny. al
though neither are aware Of 1t. Lettar-
blair has to sacrifice everything to pay
this debt-his commission in the army.
his favorite mare. Kitty Tyrell. who
has saved his life in battle. War
breaks out. and Lettarblair goes as a
private in his old regiment. He re-
turns in safety. unmasks the villain,
and wins his sweetheart.
MI. SOtHSIH gave d lIle lIlleTpIetdtlOIi
of the role of Captain Lettarblair,
which was marred only by his struggles
with the delightful Irish brogue that
the Captain is supposed to possess. Mr.
Sothern was unable to catch and hold
that brogue throughout the various
scenes despite his most painstaking
efforts in that direction. He had all
the characteristics Of the brave young
soldier, however, could be. heroic and
dashing or tender and pathetic as suit
ed the spirit of the moment. His lines
were pronounced with feeling and nat
uralness, yet Sothern was seen In every
action and reflected in every speech.
His personality pervaded. but did not
dominate the character.
Mr.. Sothern's support was excellent.
Grace Kimball madea sweet and grace
full Fanny and won all hearts. Bertha
Bartlett, too, won many good opinions,
and Rowland Blackstone was favorite
from the moment he made his appear
ance as the -go-lucky Jorkins,
Lettarblair's servant. He was natural
ness itself, and was more successful in
correctly assuming the appropriate
brogue than was his principal.
A large and fashionable audience
witnessed the performance, which ac-
corded hearty applause to the actors
At the end of the second act the cur
tain had to be rung up several times.