The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-26

Suptdlu JluhS Ol tue l1olS "oiihVS'
Captain links of the Horse Marines" clyde
Fitch's latest comedy, was presented at the
Lyccum last night. II is the creation in which
Charles Frohman is launching Miss Ethel Barry
more as a star. and 1t is being whipped into
| shape for its New York r,n which begins ncN
Monday night.
Miss Barrymore made most favorable inn
preston on last nights audience, but so much
cannot be said for the comedy, which is
| rather poor and cooiless affair." II has been
largely rewritten since its first presentation
ocme two weeks ago in Philadelphia and will
| stand lot more repairing. 1t IS 10 he doubted,
however, ii any tinkerins make any very
substantial improvement ia the comedy.
The story of the comedy rcvolyes about Nine.
1cntoni, an cperatc singer who came 10 this
country in the early '1OS TO sing under the
management Of Colonel Mapelson. Three young
New Workers, two OF them members of the
Horse Marines, and one OF them, Robert Carroll
| Ion Jinks its captain. made wager TO the
| effect that they will make love to the foreign
| opera singer within specified time after her
arrival. Captain Jinks directly he meets the
| sorg bird on the dock after her arrival falls
| in love with her and repudates the wager. lie
| finds favor in her eyes, and the morning OF
| the day she is TO make her New York dcDut
| accepts Captain Jnks, who asks permission
| TO declare his love before the public passes
| and he wants her to believe him when he tells
her so.
After he is accepted come his friends on the
| scene who tell the prima donna's foster father
OF the wager, only they color the truth until
| it has dark, forhidding look. The engagement
| is broken but Nine. Trentoni cannot Danish
| her love for the gallant Captain Jinks. and on
| the night OF her debut when she returns to her
| hotel after scoring great success she sends for
| knOWlelra
wishes OF her foster father, TO give him op.
portunty to explain the motives that led him
| to make wager disgraceful to her. She
| forgives him even before he has half explained,
| and the foster father is also over almost
| without an effort.
| Captain Jinks' mother, who belongs TO an
| old and aristocratic southern family, hastens to
| New York to break of the affair when she learns
| that her son proposes to marry opera singer
| but after she hears Nine. Trentonis beautiful
| voice at the opera she goes to the latter's
| hotel after the performance, unmindful OF the
| latencss OF the hour, to beseech the songstress
| to accept her son. So everything turns out as
| happily and satisfactory as the best good angel
could desire.
But It's all rather thin and watery, this story
of the comedy, it must be admitted Much OF
| the dialogue is bright and smart, but the
| dramatic has been studorsly avoided, one is
| almost tempted to say. There are some pretty
| contrasts and artistic lights and shades in The
| comedy, but Of the strongly dramatic almost
| nothing except in a general sort OF way. The
| second is by far tho best o. the three acts.
| But Miss Barrymore triumphed, even il Mr.
| Fitch's effort did not. II were vain effort in
cold type to try and tell just why she tr.
| umphcd, but she did, Her work perhaps will
| not stand the test of cold analysis for her voice
is neither good nor particularly pleasing, but sire
| is young both beautiful and graceful, and has