New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-17
LONDON DRAMA.
prHE ADMIRABLE CREIGHTON" AT THE
DUKE OF YoRKs THEATRE-A DE-
LIGHTFUL FANTASY AND A
GENUINE BARRIE
LONDON, November 5.

a. described by the author as q fantasy, and
hv the critics as a Barrie OF superior quality.
rThe Admirable Crichton" is not farce. al
.bough the incidents are distorted and the hu-
,,or Is due to eXaggeration Of effects; nor is IL
/, burlesoue, although it is a ludicrous trav-
estv upon social distinctions and aspirations
above and below stairs; is II a satirical
oonedy in which the affeetations Of reformers
are playfully Knocked and the foibles OF hui
man nature are gently ridiculed; still less is
Il melodrama. with its transition from May
fair 10 a tropical island after the wreck OF an
eccentric peers yacht; nor is it idyllic
nance, with "reminiscences Of the Swiss Fam
gy Robinson" although two OF the four acts
nave the environment Of Charles Kingsley's
musical West Indian lyric and the exile of the
cestaways is a progressive period OF inventive
,anaicraft II is a fantastic representation Of
an English household reduced TO topsyturvy-
dom. peer living luxuriously in Mayfair is
rreoccupied with a fad and in order to illus
4rate and enforce social equality asks his
servants 10 tea in the drawing room. where he.
his daughters and their suitors wait upon them.
Nv the wreck Of a pleasure yacht those who
have been entertaining their servants are cast
away on an uninhabited island, where the bar
yiers of class are thrown down, and the butler.
bv virtue OF versatile practical talent, becomes
sovereign in the small estate and compels his
his commands. The arrival of a ship is the
signal for reversion TO the former order. and
the curtain falls upon the household in May
fair with the butler in his accustomed attitude
and having no higher aspira ton than marriage
with q cockney girl ana taking up a public
house in Harrow Road. fantastic design
sfridly colored by imagination and Illuminated
with wit is embroidered on the plain texture
Of the ordinary relations Of master and man.
OF mistress and maid; and in the end there is
q return TO the simple, prosaic tints Of every
day life, with everybody in his natural habitat
Il is a perfect example OF a stage fantasy. and
also characteristic Barrie. fresh, original. de-
Iightfully humorous and whimsical in move
rnent.
Serious criticism IS at once disarmed when
aIr Barrie defines his work as a fantasy, which
is the stage equivalent for fantasia in music,
and proceeds TO disport himself with nimble
wit and capricious fancy. The first act opens
with Crichton, the wei ordered. pompous butler
at the door Of Lord LOANS drawing room,
where the monthly tea for the servants is COM
ing on. The earl's three daughters and two Of
their su.tors, Lord Brocklehurst and the Hon.
Ernest Woolley. with the vicar. the Rev. John
Treherne, are awaiting with impatience func-
ton which they dislike, and the butler. after the
arrival of his master, announces with stately
formality the various domestics Of the house
hold, who are shy. awkward and Ill at ease
when those about them attempt TO coax them
into conversation over their tea cups. The
earl with benevolent face, makes address
on social equality. but is unable TO finish il
since he cannot recall a proverb which he con-
siders essential TO the calculation Of his theory
The butler, standing behind his master,
solemnly gives the cue to the servants, who
scuttle out OF the dining room. and the torgetful
ed IN raTf FeT crnf
can collect his senses and recover his grip upon
the proverb. Meanwhile there is revolution in
the household in consequence OF the earls order
that IN the family yachting cruise only one
maid is TO accompany his three daughters. The
valet and the three ladies' maids decline TO ac-
company the expedition and the butler, as
personal favor, consents 10 become man OF all
work, provided a cockney girl below stairs,
Tweeny. upon whom he has deigned 10 cast an
eye, is pressed into service as maid. The far
cical act is brightly written, and there is fine
sense Of the ludicrous in the grotesque Incl
dents OF the afternoon tea.
In the second and third acts the eccentric
earl's theory of social equality is subjected to
a practical test a tropical island, where the
host and entertainers Of the previous scene
have been cast after the wreck OF the yacht.
The barriers OF class are thrown down when the
helplessness and selfshness Of the earls family
and their guests are disclosed and the salvation
Of the party is dependent upon the practical
ability Of the butler and the serving maid. The
second act substitutes the wildness OF tangle
OF tropical vegetation for the refinement and lux
ury Of conventional society in Mayfair. reveals
the ingrattude of the buffers superiors and their
revolt against him when he assumes the func-
lions OF natural leadership and closes with their
submissive return when he has lighted fire
and the pot is simmering with savory broth
The third act records the triumph OF the Ad-
mirable Crichton after sojourn OF two years
on the island, which is out OF the track OF
trade winds and commerce. The butler. having
shown himself TO be in possession Of all the
talents has built a commodiOus cottage and
supplied IL with modern improvements such
as electric light, and has taught the earfs
family and their guests 70 adapt themselves 70
their environment In return, he exacts i'm
picit obedience 10 his commands. disciplines one
OF the suitors with a bucket of cold water for
repeating the offence OF a faulty epigram, con-
Terts the earl into a mental with odd Jobs to
perform and forces The ladies 20 wait upon
him. he is the king OF the island. dining alone
IN solemn state, and initiating so far as the
resources OF the tropical refuge will allow, the
manners and etiquette OF Vanity Fair. The
earI's daughters and Tweeny, reduced 20 a COM
mon level OF equality, compete strenuously Tor
the honor OF standing behind his chair ana
ministering 10 his caprices. The Oldest daughter
has fallen In love with him. while her sisters
sutton has become enarnoured with Tweeny; and
topsyturvydom reaches the climax OF merry
extravagance when the Admirable crichton or
Gers ball in honor Of his betrothal and allows
his household of retainers TO join in a romping
dance 10 the accompaniment Of the concertina
played by the noble earl, whose dream OF social
equality family prehgured by the afternoon