The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-04
THEATRICAL ATTRACTIONS.


1t Is some time since Scranton has had
more satisfactory stage production than
"Heartscase," which was seen at the Ly-
ceum last night by an audience far be-
low the merits OF the attraction, Hearts
case is a romantic comedy of the best
type and was superbly presented by one
Of Charles FrOhman's companies, headed
by Henry Miller who was for several
years the leading man of the Empire
stock company in New York city.
The plot of the comedy deals with
the fortunes of Eric Temple, a young
musical composer, who is in love
with Miss Neville, the daughter of
wealthy nUbleman. He has writ
ten an opera with which hc hopes to win
fame and fortune, and through them the
sanction of his sweethcart's father to
their marriage. Through the machina-
tions Of Sir Geoffrey Pomfret, who Is also
in love with the young woman, he is
robbed of his opera, and is placed in a
false position in the estimation of his
sweetheart and her family. His opera is
subsequently produced under a different
title, his rival posing as the composer.
The song "Heartease" in the opera leads
to the detection of the theft and fraud
that have been committed. With the aid
of his sweetheart who is now thoroughly
convinced of her lovers honesty, the
rightful composer tTiumphs.
companies his friend. Captain OHara,
to his chambers, with the intention of re-
| turning across the channel in the morn
ing. a challenge comes from the villain,
| Sir Godfrey pOmfret, whose vanishing
glory must be sustained by blood, and il
is promptly accepted. Eric exhausted,
sinks to rest, when in comes Peter Pad
bury, the money lender with new proof
of the operate theft by his whilom pa
tron, Pomfret.
The captain goes out with him to nail
the damning evidence, leaving the door
aiar and in comes Hon. Miss Neville, well
nigh dlstraught over the rumOr that Eric
is to fight her now detestcd hanCee, POM
fret. In a strong scene she becomes
reconCilCd to her lover. At this juncturc
the duellists are heard approaching, and
Eric begs her to conceal herself to save
her honor Defiant for his safety, she
insists that it is his honor against hers,
and his refusal to fight will be her safe
guard.
Aftc" much hesitation at this bitter sac
ritice he consents, ard she disappears be-
hind the portiere and the party IS adj
mittcd. Eric refuses to meet the furiOus
PCmfrct, who now proceeds to unload a
surplus Of inveCtivc He receives thrice
the blow of the gauntlet, when Miss New
lille appears, releasing him from bond
age by the command, Fight him. The
astonished bOdster Pomfret, reels back
Eric has cast aside his ill-fitting coat of
cowardiCe ana is at him.
The sword of justice never wavers and
! ii pinkcd the frenzicd braggart time and
again, until Crestfallcn Lord Neville and
| his train came in and stopped the fight
ard gave homer 10 whom it was due, and
| true hearts were united at last beyond
| the shadow Of doubt
Mr.. Millcr's Eric Temple was a work
/ of art. At the close of the second act
| there is a strong scene between Temple
ard his sister which called forth generous
! applause but at the end of the third act
| when Mr.. Milelr INDUCES in the only real
| fireworks" of the comedy he quite car
RED his audience by storm and was COM
PEELED to come before the curtain and bow
his thanks. Mr.. Miller has few supe-
riors in imparting delicate touches. If he
has an apparent fault it is the air of re-
preston that marks his work save at the
close of the third act and the duel scene
| in the fourth. In these he gives full vent
to the emotional and it becomes apparent
that the repression in the other scenes is
merely to make the strong ones more i'm
pressive by contrast. He showed the nice
| discrimination the artist displays i'll COM
| blning the ColCrs of a picture in his meth
Cd of handling the lights and shades of
the comedy.
Miss Margaret Dale made a fine impress
sion by her impersonation of the role of
| the Hon. Miss Neville and Thomas A.
Hail. Arthur Elliot, Frank Beamish,
| Prince Lloyd, Leslie Allen, Miss Maud
Hosford and Miss Josephine Lovett
proved a worthy supporting company for
| the star
The staging of the comedy was beauti-
! full and historically correct. The lobby
of Covent Garden theater in London was
reproduced in the third act as it appeared
! in 1885.