New-York tribune., 1901-05-21
THE DRAMA.
MIRTH AT THE HERALD SQUARE.
THE BRIXToN BURGLARY"

The three-act farce called THE Brixton B,,->.
larry" which was presented last night at the Herald
Square Theatre, is a chaotic conglomeTation n,
preposterous ineidents.-most of them silly but
some of them comical.-twined around an inco
herent story, which exemplifies possible and I'm,
possible consequences of wholesale lying by several
persons who have been engaged in nocturnal mis-
chief. and who wish. for various reasons to con-
ceal their profigate or erratic proceedings In 4,
constructed upon the usual plan of the old English
farce-frst series of soloquies 10 disclose m.
scheme, and then reckless current Of absllrdtr
alike in deed and word. Two Of the blithe liars ar.
husbands who. in the absence of their wives have
INDUCED in questionable frolic Another is a foot
man. has surreptitiously arrayed himself in bt
employers garments. in order shine at partv ~
funkeys. Another is housemaid, who has wronp
fully made use of her masters bicycle. All Of thas.
jewellers have come to grief at Brixton and tbs
farce displays the results of their several indiscrs
tions and mshaps, as manifested the next rnorni,,
The footman has been compelled to EXCHANGE
elothes-hs masters clothes-wth burglar Tba
housemaid has had a collision and has lost her
masters wheel. The himself has reveilsd
with certain cyprians who are designated as the
bounding sisters of the air. and he has broush,
home distressing headache and embarrassing
photograph. Mrth is expected to precipitate itself
from the efforts of these sinners 10 mystify each
other elude police investigation-the police hav
ing scented Brixton burglary. arrested the burg
lars overcoat and seized the abandoned bicycle
and especially to ensue upon the confrontment OF
the truant husbands with their suspicious or of
Tended wives. The materials il will be seen ara
very old; the OF them. IL may he inferred ia
not particularly clever. The farce made bv
Mr.. F. W. Sidney. 1t has been acted many times In
London.-where multitudinous things thought 10
be funny which not funny at all-and doubtless
IL will many times acted here; for its spirit is
frolicsome it's situations are occasionally udicrous
and 10 affords a rough sort of amusement, Congenial
to a vacuous popular taste The representation
of 1T was more remarkable for effort than for
either vivacity of behavior that spontaneity OF
involuntary humor which is the vital principle OF
all farce acting. Mr.. Joseph Holland, un-
lucky rover in the pathways of dalance. suhmis-
sivey bearing the storms OF fate. meekly bore the
burden OF the play, but was not especially drol
Mr. Ferguson can, of course, be conicay gro
tesque, at moments. but his drollery soon becomes
monotonous and he is at his best in serious eccen-
tric character. Miss FiIkns might enliven a Dor
cas- society, but certainly does not illumine the
realm Of farce; nor is there much danger that the
present frisky proceedings of Miss Elita Proctor
Otis will disturb the tragic aurels that adorn her
serious brow A little spice OF ginger i'm
parted by Miss Jessie Busley. The serious part os
the Police Inspector was thoroughly well acted
because made sharp. clear curt. decisive. formal
and easy-by Mr.. James Kearney- All the players.
no doubt will become more 1.-THE and fluent in sub
sequent repetitons of this farce but felicity os
histrionic- treatment lift such trihe into i'm
portance. W. W.
CAST OF THE BRIXToN BURGLARY"
Septmus Pontfex ...--Joseph fioila1d