New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-05
THE DRAMA.
JOHN HARE AT THE KNICKERBoChEH'
.,r,,,, ,,oupy ttORSE"

THE HOBBY HORSE
Afr Hare Is with us again. after an absence OF
eight months and his artistic companionsn'p D
az much happiness as can be derived from ."e
,hsa,re Ue was welcomed with great cordiahty.
last night at the Knickerbocker. where ne ~
Spencer Jermyn. In Mr.. Pinero's play VI -
Hobby Horse" and therein set BEFORE th's p
tho authentic and delightful image OF an Enshs"
country squire OF those old. picturesque Gays :"
which fancy exults at the thought OF Sir Roger De
coverley or OF Braccbrdge Hall Mr. f'hero p'"y
., ..Tbe Hobby Horse" is written In his carrier
and better style-without extravaganza ana wiz"
out ethical sophistry or cynical ann an" a.
who see and hear 1t will be aware OF "''e'
and moving picture and exposition OF me- III WIN,
every element IL az fine as II IL true ana vi ""'
tho comns,e effect Is that Of mingled regret ana
bumor in a slightly ideaIized yet not irra''o"''
,r,r.crfnt of human experience. Mr. hare SPo"-
taneous and flexible acting-that cohsun""'"'e "
which produces the exact erect OF nature ~
that picture vital with the charm o' pe''e'' I'M
personation -. al oood
% and IN this niece the posture OF circumstances IL
admirably simple Spencer Jermyn was an e'''''S
and wealthy gentleman. fond OF the Iuri anu !" pun
suance OF his hobby. he founded. upon MS estate.
home for broken down jockeys his so""e 80
whose hobby was benevoence had favored me es'ao-
ushmen OF a home for destitute orphans p"'' D-'"e
,sanno,nted In that plan and being bent upon prac
ticaI philanthropy she assumed the name vi oNe "
her friends Constance Moxon. and'-sec'e"y' " "
husbands absence. and without his Kno"ie's.,
come \ companion to the niece OF the Kew 'oe' o.'
c,rate Mt st Jacob in the East. designated aS
"tbe poorest parish In London; and In that way sue
found employment for all her charitable energies.
The riding of that hobby-horse however soon prous"
the lady into trouble-for the Sums dssusteu "e''
and the c,irate fell In love with her' SO t"a' '"e
became thoroughly Discontinued, ana oiefeup'"'
after narrow escape from a perplexins predica.
,porft al q
m her home Meanwhile Spencer Jermyn, IN quest
for hts lost son-the child OF his first WIFE, deceased"
had visited "St. Jacob s-in-the- East, ana Oh CUM
ing home he brought the curate OF that PARISH u "
the warden OF his asylum for Jockeys: whe'e"po"
there was some embarrassment and confusion IN the
Jsrmvn household The weaving and unweav'ng OF
that tangle make the play and Mr. Pinero has fash-
toned his fabric with fine precision ana written HIS
dialogue with all the ardor OF youthful enthusiasm
Each character IL distinct and alike IN the COT"
duct of the story and the significance Of the coiioquy
there is abundant denotement OF warm feehhs
practical sagacity and playful satire Above ALL
there is clear revelation OF the capacity 10 ooK AZ
human life = a whole,-to see. not only CHARACTER
and conduct. but their environment ana the'r co"s
auences II IS a pleasing comedy. with touches OF
farce In IT, here and there, and threads oi III"
probable Incident and with equivoque OF the most
ingenious and comical description; and In us IN
direct rebuke Of mistaken philanthropy II sug-
gests a truth Of the highest practical Vaiue. III
all matters Of charity said Balzac 30 that winch
is next to you" The favor Of the audience toward
the play. though kindly. was not enthuslasuc'-
perhaps because both In character and story, the
piece Is go essentially English: but the feeling
toward Mr. Hare that Of affection ana ne
was recalled with enthusiasm after each curtain am
Mr. Hares embodiment Of Spencer Jermyn'- like
that Of Benjamin Goldhnch. with when II Is MN
dred-is not only the portrayal OF an T ~
but the type class and. still further II IL the
emblem Of an ideal The spectator does no. ree mem,
Der 1t merely an ingenious exploit by an ehpea'
I'm he ri Of
where exlstent-a droll and lovabe incarnation OF
generosity and eccentricity. still devising scnemes
fare of others That ia one OF the signs OF great
acting. The artist passes away, but as long Ts
survive Cardinal Rcheieu played by Edwin
Booth. Jesse Rural as played by JUhm o tbose are
| men whom have all known and loved, and they
exist for ~ every moment and VIII never lever p ,his
concrete quality-conveying much but suggesting
more: that to look at even sketch by MN IS TO
| experience crystalzed into one diamond point or
| light and truth 1t has habitnally pleased ms ms
not overshadow their surroundings and associates
| but are tributary to a broad scheme or dramatic
| meaning and effect; and he has done this again as
Squire Jermyn, who, as the play proceeds II O,ed
absent from the scene: yet MT Hare 'o MN
hlaratng vitality. the blithe animation. the dr5ll
| humor the lanceke delivery OF telling WORDS
the personal distinction and the continuity of i'm
personation combined to invest the performances
VA" All ,hs Characters are effective May Harvey acted
Mrs Jermyn. and. by sincerity and dignity throusn
sympathetic to her audience: intimatng force o.
character without any sasrincs OF tns srar rn,
| who had an enthusiastic welcome. portrayed an Ola
sport with amusing and admirable ifdelity TO NE
as a solemn. ma Icious old woman, named rs
Porcheran epome OF Sensorlous spite ana Sn on
venSna gn hnss been n Spared Gs viii be
| the next play.