New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-12
PERSONS IN THE INDUCTION"
PERSONS IN THE COMEDY
THE KELcEY-sHANNoN COMPANY.
r.yCFI-Nf THEATRE

The identity Of the insect. IN this case ! o'
but apparently Efle shannon. as Miss Marion WoI-
cot, was the Moth. and Herbert Ke.cey. as MI
rdua-d Fletcher was the Flame. Nj Fletcher WAS
a hlackruard and a scoundrel He had quaIlheu
himself in various ways for this bad em''e"0e ""'
esnecially he had distinguished himself by seoucihs
girl and then deserving her. Miss Noico''' nov"
ever was IN love with him. and upon being ap-
nrsed OF his rascality.-through the Kindness OF h'
y!r,ous rival Mr.. Rhodes,-she expressed 'he III
nc,ihle nurpose OF becoming his wife. Inc MOTH
in good society always acts IN this rational manner
for the reason that the Flame Is irresisVoie h"'
the course OF true love which invar'an'' l""'
rough proved IN no respect smoother ior the MON
,han II commonly does for other enamoured insects
Miss Wolcotts father naturally wtshful 70 aVoid
seeing tho rest Of the play sought convenient So
,luson eariv in the proceedings and slew himself
This was sad for the Moth, but Miss Woico'' 500"
recovered from her grief. and presently In company
with the aIl-fascinatng Mr.. Fletcher. che repaired
20 tho altar of a fashionable church. In order TO
get married to him. There the lovers we're con-
,ron.ed by the gil whom Mr.. Fletcher had seiuced
and abandoned,-thst intrusive female presenting
youthful Fletcher. and rcsolutey foroidding the
hanns That was crisis: but tho valiant Mr.
Fletcher nobly rising 70 tho OCCASION repudiated
his offspring and, much incensed by me anys
pertinacty smote her 10 The sacred pavement. MISS
Wocott dfsnayed at that martial exploit. then de-
c.Ged that the nuptals could not proceed. and at
subsequent interview with the intrepid MI fletcher
signihed 70 him that II would be cutlul on Ms
part 10 wed his victim and acknowledge his
progeny To that proposition Mr. Fletcher IN mo
,uness Of a grateful heart. cordially assen'ed. and
Miss Wolcott then wound up the session by promis-
ing 10 become the bride OF tho virtuous Mr. Rhodes
Those highly rational details hive been set for'h,
al great length and with considerable breadth ana
thickness in a series Of colloouies. by Mt w clyde
Fitch which were heard last night. by patient
audience in the Lyceum Theatre An intmatioh
has been afforded that the and conversations
comprised In the presentment arc Illustrative or
New-York society. but the particular quarter OF tho
town in which such persons reside. and such con-
duct and language are possible. !s not Indicated
Such a favored region-in which ce-crenm passes
for SOUP and profanity for humor. and In which
actions OF battery occur in church.ought promptly
~ he explored In order that Its beauties may no
longer be hidden. Mr.. Kelley and MISS shannon
the hubble benefactors who have somewhat darky
disclosed this land Of pure social delights were
welcomed as old friends, by their many admirers
II all the Moths arc like Miss Shannon. they are
very prctty little creatures and their perVerse pro-
pensity FOR becoming infatuated with hcent!ous
moon -eved rascals might AFFORD pleasing subject
for scientific investigation. Mr. kelceys dark
glance, and ambrosial demeanor. as the fla"e
though perhaps little elderly now, were recos-
nized as still potent 10 create havoc MI 10
Moyne essentially an actor. and therefore com
nIetely inharmonlous with callow rigmarole OF
r.o.o,,on and frippery- contrived TO infuse into
tho renrescntation delightful element OF eccentric
character and humor. The unanec"d oro"ery
the waggish sapience the bland repose' ana 'ne
cr,sn and precise method OF execution which are
ooo,e the attributes Of this comedian AFFORD great
sa,isract,on TO the artistic sense, and they make
hts presence always welcome and the remembrance
OF him always a comfort His acting ana 'h"' VI
his accomplished wife who had 10 represent COIN
n,e.elv ,mposslble type OF social tough. such az
Mrs Florence used 20 revel in and redeem. IN the
long long ago-did much 10 carry preposterous
compound OF cercature. crudeness. and fouy. Inc
eole ,ngred,ent OF invention in The Moth and the
F1ames"-its one. single rational dramatic device
namely the situation at tho end OF the hrst act IN
which a suicide occurs in a house OF festivaI'-hhs
been lifted bodily from French drama, ent'tcd
ia Doueureuse" by NJ. Maurice Donnay acted IN
Paris by Nine Rejane about two years ago Yet
the piece Is announced as "originaL" The scene
in the church .-though the babble OF the frivolous
women is aptly enough copied from possible re-
al!ty-pushes foolishness to the limit Of idiocy.
CAST OF THE MOTH AND THE FLAME"