The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-08
"IMPRUDENCE" LAST NIGHT.

"IMPRUDENCE" LAST NIGHT.
"Imprudcncc,' II, V. Esmonds new
comedy, received its first presentation
on any stage at the Lyceum last night
before a brilliant audience that contained
n number of men from New York prom
inent in the theatrical affairs of the coun-
try who came on to- be present OH the
first night.
Il was a notable first hight aside from
the production of the new play for 1t
marked the opening of the second season
of William Favershanl as a star and the
first American appearance of Miss Fay
Davis. n young Boston woman who for
several seasons has played leads IN Lon.
don where she achieved high rank among
the actresses of that city. Charles Froh-
man brought her back 10 her own coun-
try to become Mr.. Favershams leading
woman. This young American who went
TO London unknown returns to her native
land as one of the bright lights IN the
theatrical armament.
The comedy is in three acts aud tile
scene is laid in England. Tho story opened
on the Terrace of ttarlcsdon Manor. where
a lot of gossipins women disclose the fact
that Jim Greaves wife has ferretcd out
another of his little affairs. Jim Is de-
scribed by one of the gossips as a"gilded
youth who has lost his gliding" His wife
has been the widow of an alderman. She
has discovered some letters written to
Jim by an evident admircr and in which
mention is made of Nat in Victoria
street. Jim fees when he gets wind Of
the discovery. knowing from experience
1t means n storm. The sossips know
who the Victoria street woman is and
they are therefore surprised when that
individual. Lady Duncan. makes her ap-
pearance at the Manor. She comes on the
scene as Jim is disappearing and tells him
she will straighten matters out. Her ser
vices in this direction bring about the
MISUNDERSTANDING and complications that
make the play.
She is taken into Mrs. GrcavCs' cont
dence and right there all the trouble be-
gins. Lady Duncan has hcr heart set on
captivating Jack Frerc. who is an odd
sort of Young man with broad shoulders
and who has decided to go into the
church. Jack gives no thought to Lady
Duncan, but is in love with Wilhelmina
Marr who is called 'Blly" by her
friends. Billy is a great girl whom
everybody likes. She bnnters Jack for a
while, but finally conlcsses her love and
they become engaged
Lady Duncan knows all this. and her
plans are summoned up in this remark,
which she makes TO herself: II really
must see that Jack Frcre doesn't throw
himself away on Miss Wlhelmina Mari
And this is how Lady Duncan pro-
cecds to save Jack. After going over the
letters which have started Mrs. Greavcs
on the warpath. Lady Duncan meets Jack
and tells him that the letters were writ
ten by Billy" Then comes along Mrs.
C;reaves who reads him one of the let
ters. At its end is signature which
Jack knows that "Billy' has used Jack
is puzzled perpleXed. frightened. Can
his Billy he the other party to jump
Greares Victoria stlcet-hat scandal:
While he is in this bewildered state Of
mind, Billy calls on him before Mrs.
Greavcs and all her friends TO announce
their ngagement. He heSitatrS for Il mo-
ment and then daShng all suspicious
aside, he takes Miss Mari in his arms
and tells them she has promised to he his
wife.
But Mrs Gre:lres hasn't done with the
letters or the Hat in Victoria street, yct.
The scandal keeps on simmering. with
Lady Duncan tending to it as skiilfully ~
she knows how. Jack FIerc is confident
that Billy did not write the letters. and
he is anxious to save her from amy such
accusation. "Billy" herself knows moth
ing about the imputation. Jack takes
counsel of his friend, Sir Harry Maimon.
and they agree that it would be wise to
acquant Billy with what is going oil.
At about this moment Billy comes in.
and Sir Henry passes Jack Il newspaper
with this message pcncilcd in the margin:
I'm clear out. Get hci to explain cN-
erythng, once for all. Better too soon
than too late The paper is noccntly
passed on to Billy" who on reading
the message grows indignant. because ii
shows that the men were discussing her
before she entered, because TOO, they
refuse to tell her what there is to explain.
She filings her engagement ring on the
table and is about to go. when Mrs.
Greaves appears and reads more Of Jim'S
letters. "Billy' startles everybody by
declaring that the letters were written
by her; not only that, but that she has
lived in the much-talicd-Of Hat in Vic
toria street Mrs. Gieaves orders her
from the Manor, Jack endcavors to in
telvene, but billy" hnughtiiy distlaius
his chivalrous offers and makes prcpara-
tions to leave.
Nothing remains for Jack, but to clear
Miss Mars good name lie happcns
upon a slight clue that Lady Duncan is
the Victoria street woman and bv clever
Sherlock IIolmesng'' he becomes con-
WINGED of the fact During an his tur-
moil and tlibulation Lady Duncan. the
golden haired hcalt-winuar has can,mcd
an aged millionaire and the marriage IL
to take place very soon J;lcl, k'rorc by
threatening to reveal TO The millionaire