The times., 1899-07-30
A Clever PIay.

"The Ambassador" by John Oliver
Hobbies, is marked by the cleverness
which distinguishes all the writings of
that brilliant author AS most people
know, Mr.. Hobbies is woman, and her
name is Mrs. Craigie; and it would not be
difficult in reading this play to detect the
feminine touch here and there, even if one
were not aware of the origin.
This is not to be taken as a statement
that the drama is weak; far from it;
though such a comment frequently does
mean that there is screw loose some
where about the mechanism of the thing
discussed. In dealing with matters which
are not thoroughly familiar to her, a
woman naturally, in the early days of her
authorship, did make mistakes of this
kind, and owing to her unfamiliarity with
the workshop, the construction of her
plays and novels was often what might
be called 'wobbly.''
But there is nothing of this kind in Mrs.
Craigie's play. From a literary point of
view, at least, it is strong piece of work,
and its success on the stage depends only
on the company which plays 1t and the
temper of the theatregoing public at the
time Of its appearance. 1t is not one of
those plays which will compel acceptance
at any time, by sheer force of dramatic
situations; but it is interesting TO read,
and there is a chance in it for much good
acting.
The heroine OF the drama Is a maiden
called Juliet, but a modern Juliet, with
certain complexity of emotions. She is
poor, but of good family, and has become
engaged to certain Sir William Beauve-
dere. of immense fortune, whom his
friends, with that charming English nom
chalance to be observed in the titled aris-
tocracy, call invariably "Bill." She knows
that in spite of the fact that she has made
good match in the worldly sense of the
phrase, she is not happy. because she does
not love Bill" at all; and the play is be-
gun with letter despatched by her to that
young gentleman, breaking the engage
ment.
Meanwhile the Beauvedere family, while
outwardly cordial to Juliet, are hating her
in their hearts, especially one Lady Gwen
dolene, who has always expected to marry
"Bill'' herself. Then arrives on the scene
the ambassador, Lord st. orbyn, a some
what blase but really good-hearted indi-
yidual of forty-five or thereabouts, who has
for some years carried on more or less ar
dent Irritation with Lady Beauvedere, but
is now ready 10 marry nice, little, white
muslin schoolgirl and settle down. He
meets Juliet and finds much TO his sur
prise that he can fall in love- which he i'm
mediately proceeds TO do with that vehe-
mence which is only possible at the age of
forty-five or thereabouts. Meanwhile he is
bothered to a certain extent by ghosts of
his old sins, in the shape of Lady Beauve-
dere and Princess Vendraminl from
somewhere on the Continent, a lady who
expresses her emotions with the frankness
common to Italian ladies of title in Eng
| lish novels. 1t is not altogether pleasant
for Lord st. Orbyn, but he is diplomat
| and clever. This part would fit John Drew
like a glove, and when that has been said
| the average theatregoer will know exactly
what sort of a role it is In the intermis-
sions there is conversation between more or
less feline ladies of rank, who alternately
purr and spit at each other after the man
ner of refined society.
The development of the plot comes about
| through youthful scapegrace of the
| Beauvedere family. who contracts gam
| bling debt to a certain Major Lascelles, a
scampish but good-hearted officer who has
| been a friend of Juliet's father This recll-
| less youth, Vivian by name, forges his
mothers signature on a check to pay his
debt, and subsequently discovers that
BILL" with true loftiness of soul, declines
| to help him out of his scrape, but leaves
| the matter to come to the knowledge of his
mother as best it may. Juliet, hearing of
this, impulsively determines to throw her
| self into the breach to save Lady Beauve
| deres feelings, and runs across the lawn
| to Major Lascelles' rooms, at three in the
morning, during the closing hours of a ball
at the Beauvedere house, to beg him to let
| the matter drop. He does so without de-
mur, but incidentally st. orbyn, and also
Lady Beauvedere, discover Juliet's pres
| ence at that unseemly hour In the major s
not very respectable bachelor quarters, and
as the damsel has sworn the major to ST.
| lence, and refuses to explain herself, there
is rather an uncomfortable misunderstand-
| ing. In the last scene, however, St. Orbyn,
who has believed in his little lady despite
| appearances, accidentally discovers the
| truth, and with brilliant exhibition of
diplomatic brains, explains the whole mat
ter to the satisfaction of everyone. Then
he claims Juliet and the curtain goes down.
The charm of the play lies in the charac-
| ter of Juliet. She is as fresh dainty, and
unsophisticated as June rose, and a play
with rose maiden in it generally sue
ceeds. New York: Frederick a. Stokes
Company