New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-01
THE DRAMA.
Mr.. CRANE IN A NEW PLAY.
"a RICH MANS SON"


The farclca comedy that Mr. Crane produced last
night Mt Waacks Theatre. and In which he and
his Efficient company interested and pleased a
numerous audience. illustrates the self-evident
proposition that there is romance in poverty
and that IL Is not dsGra ceful TO be the child OF
wealth. The method chosen for tho enforcement
OF this truism IS strictly conventional and the
piece ambes pleasantly in a beaten track. pre-
senting no exceptional character and no feature
Of novelty. 1t possesses. however, the merit OF
cleanliness and Il IA uniformly gay In a remote
manner by marking the contrasts Of wealth and
poverty, TT IS reminiscent OF the comedy of "Our
Boys" and. descrpuvely It may be classified
as a humble member Of the family Of mirthfJl
plays OF that order, in which manners are freely
sketched and fobles satirized.
Arthur Dibdin a young architect. deemed himself
unfortunate in being the son Of a rich father and.
in this priggsh and irrational belief. he talked and
acted so much like a fool that presently the elder
Dibdin-a plain. blunt sensible man. fond Of the
lad but not Of his foy.-determined 10 give him
practical experience Of poverty The ancient eX-
pedient Of a pretended loss Of fortune was there
upon adopted by tho father. and the
shifted from home OF luxury to one of indigence.
from n mansion in Madison-ave. to garrett In
Tompkins Square. In that squald abode the elder
Dihdin and his son and daughter visited by
former acquaintances. and. particularly, by a
comic adventursr named Cling. who suspected the
imposture and who presently able TO profit
10y surprising Old Dibdln's secret The labOrs OF the
younger Dbdin. in the impoverished circumstances
for which he had onged, but which he did
not enjoy. proved. OF course unremunerative, ana
he soon had abundant reason to regret his lost
comforts. His sweetheart. apparently alienated.
bat really faithful TO him IN adversely. devised
method for his relief by giving him employment
al an architect for secret syndicate" supposed
TO be engaged IN building homes for the poor THIS
again shifted the scene 10 a dwelling OF wealth.
and the elder Dibdn. forced for a while 10 maintain
his fiction. thus compelled 10 become a pen
sioner upon the earnings OF his At tho last
the innocent double-deception was explained. and
Arthur. cured Of his folly. satisfied TO find
himself once more rich mans SON
This thin story embroidered with few playful
incidents and with here and there piquant line
affords Mr. Crane occasion for a vigorous imper-
sonation OF bun. busting. kindly. jocular man
of affairs. comicaly rough in manner, but sensible
aNcctionate. frank and superb with animal spirits
"a kind Of part that he likes 10 play. and in which
he always wins and holds the public sympathy. Sew
era Of the siuatonsin which this character Is placed
are dron. and the comedian made them still more
comic by his exuherance OF fun and his crisp and
whimsical methods OF speech Among the associate
player Mr.. Charles Jackson. Mr.. Wilmerding.-
"a part somewhat like that Of Henry Dare. in Mar
RED Life "-became suddenly and pleasantly con-
splcuOus I'm quite a remarkable outhurst Of farcical
humor toward the end 81 the play. There Is
lack Of substance IN the piece and Of reality In
most OF It's characters and this deficiency. per-
haps may account for tho indefinite quality OF
acting 40 deep impression was created by any
OF the actors Cling. II made less openly aggres-
sivc would be a capital part-a sort Of representa-
tive hunbug Miss HasweI and Mr. 1ngersol were
pleasing in the passages Of sentiment. The piece,
however depends Mr.. Crane and he carried
with incessant vigor and humor, and by his fine
delivery Of an adjuration 10 youth and love toward
the close he evoked hearty tribute OF genuine
enthusiasm. W. w