New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-20
AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

r. , &, which Nat C. Goodwin and his com.
many oppearcd on Monday night, al the h'l'hT'
hooker Theatre is the latest disclosure 10 New
York OF the stage workmanship OF Mrs. MsHeeihe
ruce.re Ryley. Il Is called IAN American Oluzeh
I, comnares most favoraby with the plays by MS
Rvlav which have previously been seen here
"Chrstopher Jr" THE Mysterious Mr.. bug
ard "A Coat OF Many Co.ors." In some respecis
II IA decidedly the best OF all really good COMEDY
like any other thing OF beauty is joy forever ana
II Mrs Ryley goes on improving she may some u'hs
write one. But abe needs 10 control the Rights 0i
her Imagination.
The present play II founded on an absurdity Inc
hero Is TO inherit fortune on the condition among
others that he shall not share'it with his COUSIN
He marrics his cousin ard takes possession or tne
fortune on the pretsxt that he Is TOW sharihe INV
fortune not with hia cousin, but with his wife.
As IL any IN the world would hold that she was
the less his cousin within the meaning Of the VII.
FOR having become his wife, And the executor con-
hives Mt this trick. and the audience Is asked TO
60 So too TO the extent Of imagining II possible.
Some writer's for the stage hold that consistency
ard yerls.mi.itud. are OF consequence IN farce.
The theory is fa,se. In the first place and In the
second place this play is not farce.
but when this foundation is laid and reluctantly
admitted. all goes nerr.iy enough There are other
minor evidences CT Mrs. Ryley's reckless dsrc.
gard OF possibility, but they easily overlooked.
and there IS no doubt that the play, and especially
Mr.. Goodwins acting OF 1t. affords most enjoy
able entertainment. Mrs. Ryey overlays her con.
struc,ion with c.cver and amusing dialogue and II
often becomes something better than these mild
termc imply. 1t is ingenious. delicate and ex-
tremely funny
Mr. Goodwln's part Is not essentially different
from two or three others tina, he has played from
time TO time. lie represents a man of amusing
manner of ready wit. Of business energy. OF warm
Feeling and OF capacity for selfsacrifce lie does
H. too with trained skill comedian. with
finish OF method and dcciously humorous expires.
SLOW. The audience PROBABLY does not altogether
approve all that Beresford Cruger Tor CarewD does
Americans do not like 10 see one OF their country
men renounce his citizenship, whatever the occa-
sion and the fact that he expresses in the last
ACT A determine ton 10 be an American again does
not helm him TO sympathy AS the play goes on
But Mr. Goodwin makes everybody like the man
him.elf regardless of what he does.
Miss Maxine Elliott and her sister. Miss Gertrude
Elliott who would be known for her sister wier-
ever she Was her voice was heard. give
beauty 10 the stage pictures and are not deficient
MS actors but the best impression made by any
member OF the cast except Mr.. Goodwin Is decided
IN that produced by Master Ralph the dirty little
boy of all work. He makes his success chiefly BY
his wonderfully gnomeike appearance. which could
not have been better II the play had been written
for him instead Of for the star, but he also acts
with az much cleverness as can be expected In
child. .
The play and the performance deity planned
10 make the most effective use Of Mr.. Goodwins
peculiar comic manner. and Il Is tho skill with
which this is done that gives the promise OF pros