The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-04
ADJUSTMENTS
Andrew Mack in s"rom Moore" at the
Metropolitan.

ADJUSTMENTS
Andrew Mack in "TOm Moores At the
Metropolitan.
Literary men az stage heroes are no longer
novelties. Chatterton, Savage, Goldsmith
ana Cyrano de Bergerac, we have had them
all and host Of others beside. including
Sheridan and Garrdck for while Garrtck's
cnletest Tame rests upon his ability as an
ACTOR ne was also q successful playwright.
Chetterton was an ideallsuc boy; Savage a
man with the heart Of woman; Goldfe. the
author OF the greatest poem, the greatest
novel and the greatest play Of his times.
distinctly unique, lovable and interesting
character; and Cyrano curious admixture
of Doet and aswashbuckler.
Tue latest conner is Tom Moore, put into
play by Theodore Burt Sayre and introduced
| to local theater-goers at the Metropolitan last
evening by Andrew Mack. Moore is by no
means the least interesting of the lot. In his
play Mr.. Sayre has introduced number Of
characters more or less familiar to the Amer
lean stage. There are Sheridan, Beau Brun-
mel in his earlier years, the Prince OF Wales
and hds friend, Mrs. Fitzherbert. Among the
other historical characters are Moore himself,
Lord Mora, his patron, and Mistress Bessie
Dyke, his sweetheart.
The lives Of the Georgian poets lend them
selves readily to dramatic treatment. In
those Gays poetry and poverty were synony-
nous. The combination is always interesting
and effective. The spectacle of poet sing
Ing out his heart in dingy garrett. struggling
for recognition and love; that ds the picture
presented by ''Tom. Moore,' and that it has
distinct charm few who witnessed the play
last night will deny.
Mr.. sayre makes no attempt at historical
accuracy DIN his drama, but he has told a
pretty story and has told it well. He makes
Moore poet laureate of England, position
ne never held. He prepares him for politi-
cal position in Bermuda and then sends an
other IN his stead. Moore went to Bermuda,
but was not a success there and returned
shortly. He makes him sing ..The Last
Rose OF Summer to music that was not
composed until forty-seven years later; yet
the touching words Of the little verso would
sound strange set to other notes.
However, Mr. Sayre has succeeded in repro
ducing the atmosphere of the period, despite
his historical Inaccuracies and anachronisms
Has dialogue is terse and crisp. With the
frankness of their time his characters speak
without embarrassment of subjects that are
now taboo in polite society, yet it all has the
saving grace Of wit, Irish wit, the sort of wit
for which the race is proverbial.
There is nothing half so sweet in life as
loves young DREAM and to this fact is due
Tom Moore and Bessie Dyke is singularly
charming. Mr.. Sayre has brought them to-
gether dn an apochryphal first act, which in
! PRODUCES Mistress Bessie as a country school
teacher in ireland So far as have been
able to discover, there is nothing in literature
to show that Moore ever met the young wo-
man who afterwards became his wife before
she arrived in London and took her place
among the leading women players of her
day It is probable that Sheridan, in whose
'School for Scandal Mistress Bessie scored
her greatest success, and who was a close
friend of Moore's, brought them together
However, that does not touch the merit of the
story.
The charm of ''Tom Moore is in it's love
story, The plot itself is new neither in theme
nor treatment; but the delicious roguery Of
winsome Bessie has q charm all its own; a
charm that is not to be gainsaid, and suftices
to atone for the lack of novelty. Bessie Dyke
was a coquette. She loves Moore from the
first, and yet she fortunes him. Several times
he asks her to become his wife, until finally,
in desperation, he bursts forth with the state
ment that he will never ask her again.
''Oh, Tom,'' she says. 'tYou won't ask me
again? Then I'll have to ask you.'' And she
does, too, although that is not until later.
Andrew Mack has brought with him to
Minneapolis An excellent company in support;
a better company, it would almost seem, than
the exigencies Of the play demand, for outside
of the characters of Moore, Bessie Dyke and
Sir Percival Loyelace, the roles make. no
strenuous demands upon the players Mr.
Mack plays Moore with an unaffected natural
ness that makes his impersonation highly en-
joyable He handles excellently the love ban
ter with dainty Bessie; and at the same time
Is not wanting in the most exacting scenesenf
the third act. He has a clear, pure tenor
and his interpolated songs, albeit they fit the
play nicely, are by no means the least i'm
portant part Of his work. He does not look
the part. Few actors could, for Moore was
an understood man, whence his pseudonym
of Thomas Little, and lack of stature is some
thing that cannot be simulated
Miss Josephine Lovett plays Bessie Dyke
in sweet, winsome manner that early en-
dears her to the hearts of her audience. Miss
Lovett is an unusually pretty girl, with won
derful hair and an indescrlbable color.
George F.. Nash, who played Rawdon Craw-
ley with Gertrude Coghlan last season. has
the part of Sir Percival. 1T is an un gracious
role, but Mr.. Nash handles 1t effectively
Theodore Babcock as Lord MORA, and Myron
Calico as the Prince of Wales complete a
quintet Of players of uniform excellence rare
ly seen in one company. Richard j. Dillon Is
good as Buster, Moore's servant. and Maggie
Fielding presents humorous portrait of
Moore's landlady. Much credit is due the
school children Of the first act for the natural
manner in which they play their parts.
j. S. Lawrence.
Foyer Chat.
"The Climbers a new four-act play by
Clyde Fitch, will be the offering at the Metro
politan for the first half Of the week., be-
ginning Sunday night. This play had run
OF 200 nights in New York last season and
is said to be one Of the best efforts Of Ameri-
cas- most gifted playwright.
1.-THE Pride Of Jennico'' will be the attrac-
tion at the Metropolitan the latter part Of
next week. The play is romantic drama on
the style of "The Prisoner Of Zenda" The
action in the earlier scenes is quite and re-
strained and for the most part given To love
making, but later, when the misconceptions
begin to arise and the plot thickens there is