The sun., 1903-11-18
1.-THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON."
j. VI. BARRIE'S NEW PLAY SCORES
A GREAT SUCCESS.
A Quasl.Fantastic and Sentimental Play
Receives the warm Approval Of . New
L,ceum Autiience-William Gillette
Is the Clever English Butler.

Readers Of THE Sun need hardly be told
the story Of "The Admirable Crichton,' by
Mr. James NJ. Barrie. 1t is play, or rather
q fantasy, which will appeal here as surely
as It did in London-there is almost every
thing in this little and charming piece which
touches the spectator Ludwig Fulda
wrote its prototype, play called "Crusoe. :"
In substance this is what we saw at the
New Lyceum Theatre, but treatment tells
heavily in all matters Of art. The Ad-
mirable Crichton' is no more like "Crusoe"
than it is like Sydney Rosenfeld's "A Mod
ern Crusoc" The proof of this is the first
act of Mr.. Barries playa more charming
and characteristic act is difficult to con-
ceive The Rosenfeld play was first given
at tho Fifth Avenue Theatre.
Tho Earl OF Loum--is there not some
h,rnor in this title7-is hell-bent on cheap
socialism. Like a certain character OF
Capt Marryat he seems to think that the
morale of mankind can be elevated by me-
chanical means; in this case taking tea with
the family is the great social lever, and here
il where the resemblance to Dickens comes
in There has been nothing 30 laughter
breeding on the New York stage for many
seasons than the successive introductions
of the tmorous servants in Lord Loans
household.
They are brought on by Mr.. Crich'on,
the butler, very much against his will
he is a tremendous believer in caste;
the adorable Jeems YeUoW Plush Of Thack-
erav is more of snob than Lord Lodm's
butler BY tonal infection, by the lifting
Of an eyebrow he signifies his displeasnre
for things mundane; above all his profound
pereota contempt for socialistic tendencies
Of the kind displayed by his employer.
But Ncmcsis is his role in the next act
the character of Mr.. Crichton grow into
something quite heroic The family OF the
noble Earl, having embarked on n pleasure
,rip, i-, thanks to the author, cast away on
desert island ard there begins the treat
ment of a theme as classic as Voltaire. We
all know, or raj her we all guess at, what we
should do if confronted by circumstances
Az a matter Of fact. what happe ns in the
second act Of The Admirable Crichton" is
so del 10 lslv improbable that it would float
the fortunes of play Of much less ce libre.
The opsyturveying Of social relations
was to have been expected And it Is Just
here that Mr. Barrie displays himself at
his cleverest. Father, daughters, nephew
finally made subservient to the genius Of
Mr., Crich'on. If by any possibility the
play should fail Of appreciation in America
Il Will simply be because the character of
Crichton is incomprehensible. Why a man
of his commanding intelligence should
retire to the doadening influences of a
public house is something that cannot ap-
peal tous. Possibly as a matter Of psychology
Mr. Barrie may be right-once a servant
always servant! However, here in Amer
aspire TO be President of the United States.
Therefore, his presentation is the whole
play.
MIR, William Gillette was the butler last
night. III London Mr. H. B. Irving achieved
renown by his lifelike rendering of the
part. To those who have not seen Mr.
Irving it would be super fllous to suggest
that Mr.. Gillette's performance might be
bettered. Mr.. Barrie il he had been at the
New Lyceum Last night, could have OBJ
Of its having been played in London by
Mr. Irving; otherwise he would b e a churlish
author to find fault with such finished
interpretation.
Cockney maid in London, one is tempted
to superlotives On her native heath she
was a dangerous opponent to Mr.. Irving
himself: and no wonder-such n combina-
ton of humor, soft femininity and rich
human nature has not been so aptly IL
ustrated here on the boards for years.
The applause which greeted her last night
was enthusiastic, yet not enthusiastic
way, is a perfect artist. Naturally the
much praised third act has a singular air
of falseness with all its bombast, its rhetoric
and it's poetica quotation from the late
" F., Henley; up to that moment Mr.. Barrie
seems to have been playing fair in the
game. Why he should lose his ironc
grin on matters in general can only be eX-
rlaned by the fact that he is Sentimental
Jimmie at all times and hazards
In the cast was; Sybi Carlisle Lusenby
as Lady Mary, the part taken in London by
Miss Nanbrugh; the cynical and honorable
Trreei so cleverlv enacted in the original
cast by Gerald Bu Maurier, uas. on this
occasion, Carter Pickford: The Earl of
Loane was Henry Kemhle. A crowded
house welcomed a play which in a season
Of dramatic sterility seems like mama
dropped from heaven.