Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-05
Copyright, 1892

Lord and Lady Algy," which is the
current attraction at the Empire thea
tire, is likely to remain there until at
least we'll on toward the close of the
season. 1t is the work of r. G. Carton,
the author of Liberty Hail." which
was produced by Mr.. Frohman at the
same house three Or four years ago.
The play abounds in bright lines and
numerous strong situations, and while
the story is really continuous it is held
together by a series of episodes which
give the comedy its greatest charm.
AS fact, the plot might be dropped at
any time without serious detriment, SO
cievcrly are the aforesaid episodes
blended.
''Lord and Lady Algy," like the ma
10rity of very light comedies, is based
upon a string of misapprehensions on
the part of those most interested. There
Is a sufficient regard for the probabili-
ties throughout to make the work seem
possible. However, when analysed
thoughtfully, away from the glare Of
the footlights, it is easily seen that very
little of what transpires on the stage
can occur in real life, at any rate out
side of an asylum Nevertheless, and
in spite of this hypercriticism, Lord
and Lady Algy" is, as has been said,
delightful play.
At the rise of the curtain Lord and
Lady Algy have separated, and the for
mer has apartments in a very sumptu-
ously furnished fiat. The two are very
fond Of each other and makes no bones
of admitting it, but both Of them be-
ing sportively inclined they have decid-
ed opinions as to the merits of certain
race horses, cigarettes, ETC., and the
petty squabbles resulting therefrom are
responsible for their separation. At
the end of the play Lord Algy has lost
on certain horse the little money he
has left, while Lady Algy has won
fortune on the horse which beat him.
Lord Algy is popularity supposed to be
a very wild sort of rake, and he is in
reality no saint, although he is not
guilty Of half the things charged
against him. OF course the couple are
reunited in the end after Lord Algy
has been suspected Of being unduly
fond of Mrs. Tudway, the wife of his
friend, a wealthy bone boiler Tudway
and his wife have become estranged,
and the former has earnestly requested
Lord Algy to attend a ball to be given
to his wife with the object of giving
that lady some sensible advice as to
the folly of making enormous sacri-
fees for the purpose of getting into So
ciety. Tudway incidentally informs
Algy that he is about to go to his bone
boiling establishment up the country
The willy gentleman, however, does not
leave London and appears at the Dali
en- masuue, succeeding in making MINI
self a nuisance to every one present.
Algy, true to his promise, appears, Dut
he is in an outrageously intoxicated
condition. and Tudway, having heard
that his wife has visited Algy's apart
ments and not knowing that it was for
go Injecting the latters
~ is of Quarmby, sus-
q 6ecfr 44e 1911 in love with Mrs.
Tudway. When, therefore, he sees MN
In his drunken fashion, trying TO hold
confidential converse with MIS-. lud-
way. he is Infatuated and orders the IN
toxicated lord from the house.
The ball occurs in the second ;4ce'
and it is this act, it might be adoeo'
which makes the play success.
miIliam Favarsnam as Lord Algy,
demonstrated in the second act that ne
he capable of greater fnesse than ever
his warrnest admirers were inclined TO
think he possessed. AS the drunkard
in the company of ladies and gentle
men he gave a performance which has
rarely been eQualed and never excelled
on the New York stage. 1t is the best
impersonation Of a drunkard, given by
! man. that l have ever seen. | think
1t even exceeds in subtlety Maude
AAdams' feigned tipsiness in The
Masked Ball." a bit of work. by the
(ay, which was the direct means OF
4oInchlng her on the way to successful
starhdod.
In the first act Mr.. Faversham is ac-
reputable. lust as any actor receiving a
salary OF SIS or 800 would be. In the
third act he was exceedingly good, and
TO equal his work it would be necessary
to find a really high grade leading man,
while in the second act l think it is no
exaggeration to say that there is no
other performer in this country who
could do SO well.
Miss Miflward was to me distinct
disappointment as Lady Algy. She is
q competent actress ait all times, Dut
she seems to have a little musical scale
which she runs over in her speeches.
Il the speech happens to be twice as
long as the scale, she runs it twice, and
if ten times as long she runs over it ten
times. While this may be pleasant ct
first it gets decidedly monOtonous when
it is continued throughout an evening.
Miss Robson was as outrageously un-
natural as Mrs. VCkins in Lord and
Lady Algy" as she also was in The
. Conquerors." On the American stage
there seems to be no woman who is
able to disguise her beauty in charac-
ter makeup so perfectly as May Rob
son, but the constant reiteratior Of this
self evident fact seems to have induced
the lady to go beyond the limit in the
effort to startle her auditors in each
new production. The result is startl-
ing, although, as in this case, it is also
sometimes absurd. The Mrs. Vokins
whom she shows us in Lord and Lady
Algy'' is q caricature, not a human be-
Ing The costume would really be in
perfect taste in children's burlesque
or in Christmas pantomime. This
may be high art, but l do not think
there are a hundred people who have
seen the play who regard it as such.
Miss Blanche Bates is the most talked
of young woman in theatrical circles in
This city.
She simply eclipsed Ada Rehan at