New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-14
THE DRAMA.
"A COAT OF MANY coLoRs."

Wallacks Theatre never looked prettler than n
did last night 1t has been redecorated. slightly
renodelled and. the whole. vastly improved
since it closed last .'eason. The most important
changes are the Frightening OF the colors and the
hanging of a handsome and effective new drop
curtain. The view toward the stage between the
acts is now cheering and agreeable instead Of
dull and depressing, as it used to be.
But the first great dramatic success Of the sea.
son has not yet been disclosed The play OF last
night was a work that suggested a farce trying TO
grow into a comedy. 1t by Mrs. Madeleine
Lucette Ryley, and was called "A Coat Of Many
Colors" While IL had good things about IT, and
several OF them, it prompted the suspicion that II
was one of the thirty more plays that Mrs.
Ryley is said to have written before she gained
recognition a e.. Matte author. And, unfortu.
nately its chief fault is radical. The subject Of
the play is unpleasant and ineffective for the
dramatic treatment which the author tried TO
bestow on it. The woman with past has had
her short and troubled day in the earnest drama"
and recently she appeared in sensational meo-
drama. where she can be easily handled and where
she seems TO belong. IL anywhere. But in play
that Is nearly half farce, work which should 80
prettily and merrily, she is worriment and dis.
tress
There was no occasion TO write a play on this
subject and there OCCASION either. for
numerous Incidents of II when II was written. II
IA man were especially anxious. after the lapse Of
many years TO make the mother OF his daughter
his wife II is not likely that he would send this
daughter as the messenger to the woman. under
the pretence that he merely hunting for the
lost wife of client There could he scarcely
person in the world whom he would not sooner
choose A woman who had become learned IN the
law would be likely TO something strange and
uncal!ed for In the plan of her changing her name
for the alleged purpose of avoiding confgsion witn
her father. on becoming MS partner. Sle "Vuu
not be able look sensible people IN the lace
and tell them that that was tie @ , 81. ,hst
fathers and and brothers 30 carry OF Ntt!ous
sorts of business together. without changing 'nSlr
only reason for these things was that the writer
felt that she wanted them Tor her pay anu tneti
absurdity did not disturb her. These things c9uo
be easily forgiven II the pay were Pri cIy ta
cicaI like The Mysterious Mr., Bugle.' Tnere Is
person ca led Whittier In the hrst TWO actS oI mo
play who should be cut out OF y before to-nasnS
10 be comic ana fails utterly Inc NOTION oI tIie
business associa ton OF man lawyer ana woman
lawyer growing into love aud ending ~ thelr IA.
rage is pretty and usefui enough II I'm mn b,fSr
Xii the world is anxious 10 love lover. II ne VII.
only disclose himself as one The pretttieIt hatt OF
acy before the fall Of the curtain is wen wien
tolls lust enough and leaves just enough untold
This pav was for the most part capltaly actel.
The part played by Herbert kelcoy WAS hot dra"n
u,j,b sufficient force 10 make striking nero OK
him hut Mr. Kelley made manly am dsie ap0
fellow of him Miss Shannon, as the woman id"
yer was thoroughly Winning ana as nnlh.s Wy
;s expected Of a lawyer as a woman must W "
n,akn herself acceptable on the stage An *
,ronely clever pi zee OF character acung was uolo
bv Edmund D. Lyons, as wrathiui ora Sc' ~ NJ
man and his scornfu sniff. when me wo,na az "a 20
Yer told him that her respectahity "as non "
iis business vas one the best things In the play.
The following was the full cast:
r., .Nilliam }. ~ 'i,sHS