New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-12
THE DRAMA.
EMPIRE THEATRE-JoHN DREW.

Melodramas the fashion OF the moment at
the theatres. One Of them was brought forward
for the first time here Monday night and
other had its first performance at the Empire
Theatre last evening This was the play made by
Edward f. Rose from Winston Churchilrs novel
Richard Carver" II acted by John Drew
and his company who thus began their annual en-
gagement at this house The title part in Rich
ard Carvel" is not character OF the sort with
which Mr. Drew's talents usually associated.
He played It in effective manner and deserved
the large measure of applause which he received,
but there was. nevertheless, feeling that he
might well be using his abilities in part more
worthy of them. and that somebody else could act
Richard Carvel pretty nearly as We'll
But Mr.. Drew. in spite OF his habit of walking In
a CHEEKY and quietly dignlhed manner through
the polished drawing rooms of the modern drama,
dropped easily into the style of century ana
quarter ago. and was. indeed, about the only one
in the cast who able TO use the language
wherewith he was provided with the manner OF
being used This language, as is so often the
case in plays dealing with periods OF the far past
made an attempt at conveying the impression OF
antiquity merely by becoming now ana then extra
stted. The manners OF other days are rarely
enough set upon the stage realities and II Is
not strange II. when the only note OF eighteenth
century discourse is an occasional thee or thy
II should come a little sthiy from the average
player But Mr.. Drew has had good training
in these matters and he able to present the
Colonial gentleman even while he was the vigor-
Gus of action.
Mics Ida Conquest looked extremely pretty as
Dorothy Manners, and acted with more freedom
and grace than she has ever done before. She was
numbered by the necessity of rather tiresome
geometry In the first but found the greater sin
ceritv of action In the later parts OF the play
more congenial and acted them with better effect
Miss Olive May played small part attractively'
and Mrs w A Jones. Mrs. Manners shared
with Mr. Drew more than any other the distinction
of giving flavor Of the time to the scenes in which
she appeared II could be wished that person
so dear TO the American imagination as Captain
| John Paul could have seemed little less clown
| than John lie Soir, with the help of the authors
| made him.
The play the merit afterthe first act OF getting
| rapdly into its story and, indeed. It has enough
story to tell that IL needs all the time that the
evening allows the telling of It, II does not get
! conspicuously from the recognized melodramat-
| ic lines and the that is done in IL has been
| done many a time before. but II moves with stir
| and life and the audience Is pleased There Is
| indeed a fine hustle at the end Of the third act
and Richard CALAMITY dehes the British capital in
| honor of his name his country and his love
| There was no doubt that the play and the acting
NJ II pleased the audience of last night, and there
need be little doubt that they will please many an
| other audience The work frequently shows the
| hand of the stage mechanic. and 1t has few marks
of any uncommon genius. but II presents train OF
stirring affairs and is made up or healthful activ-
itv not wearying the nearer with the actors phlo-
sophc contemplation Of themselves and one another
This is a merit in these times and in this weather
II will also have Mr.. Drew's personal popularity to
| holm Il and that will be small help.
rrta on is appended: