New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-12
THE DRAMA.
A PLAY ABOUT MAJOR ANDRE.
Savoy Theatre.

-,.v sbovt the unfortunate Major Andre writ
= -, NJ clyde Fitch. was acted last night at
=. savoy Theatre. and Mr.. Arthur Byron came
80 - the Major. ~. Fitch seems 10 have lately
ss.,,,.ore6-Nhat the rest OF the world has always
,o-----hat Andre was good fellow. that be
= --scad in a false position. and that he was
ss--.s because OF military necessity: and this
,s-.r-s-sl flurainstion he is wishful 10 dispense
-,.--1sn the old theatrical manager and historian
- a tragedy about Andre, published IN llSS. n
,hich the hapess gentleman Is justly ahd tehoeIlS
s~f-,ed and about sixteen years ago Mr. BrandeT
,r-+bcvrs wrote a scholarlike. judicious. and in
.--aserr ra7er on the subject. FOR reprint OF
-,-1,r.s NAV which was then made. with al the
.,.far documents reletive 70 Andres e-tanEle-
- hi Arnold's treason. other narratives exist
- indeed the subject has been 50 thoroughly
1891 and exhibited that nothing new can pos
-D,v he told about II now. Andre suffered death
,- = srv IN I-s0 AZ tie age OF twenty nine. ana
--,cb difference OF opinion existed az the tine as
= sbe absolute justice OF his doom A contem-
-,-v letter attributed 20 Hamilton. said and said
- that he died universally esteemed and uni
--ssrlv regretted The visitor 10 Westminster
a,hev sees HIS monument IN that hallowed place
-. romance q his life was his love for Honora
500 q the dear old cathedral city Of Llchheld.
--rg1s-a whose parents compelled her TO discard
ain and marry another man i have been taken
---,sore- by the Americans he wrote and stript
- everything except TIE picture Of Honora, which
7 concealed IN my mouth Preserving that yet
.hs-k r-vself fortunate Honora was then dead
NJ Flrch's play leaves these matters untouched
.hfch is q nercy.-and concerns itself with
s-rstious love affair between Andre and girl from
Ebna6elphia. named Barbara Allen who is be-
ioved alike by the English officer and patriotic
American and whose dilemma is the theme Of he
action Barbara Allen $50 called. il order that
s,atch nay be introduced Of the old soug-whIch
NJ Byron sang with feeling has promised 20
marry M-. Goodrich, but ia his absence. and he
osuse he has not written letters she concludes 10
n. hin when wooed BY Major Andre. and then,
later When he has come back determines TO jilt
Major Andre and revert TO he first love. Such
-s.snation h the youthful female mind may be
uossbie Mr.. Fitch knows: but IL is not possible
FOR any girl 10 make II the subject Of an exPiana-
tov conference with TIE two suitors whom II most
concerns The play opens. after prelude Of
prattle by several prOfane soldiers, with confer
ence Of this kind and when this is ended general
sisIocstiOn eusUes. al first Of all probability IN
conduct and then Of all common sense and all his
-oricsl fact Major Andre undertakes the West
Point affair not because ordered 10 do So but be
cause he has been jilred and can welcome al sorts
az perl with the svCiry OF reckless despair Punch
Is consumed also time There is a rehearsal Of
something which promises unspeakable stupidity,
s-s an I-shnan tUnbles over spear Various
--,nen run I'D and down surmouuted with hideoCs
hssdges- and enc0mpassed with hoops. Colonel
Beverley Robinson frequently enters, saying that
the thing must 70 on and departs in anxious haste
middle Of a wood ana examine pile OF documents
BIZ the light o. q lantern The major is captured
bv three screaming patriots who apparently sup
pose him 90 be deaf. For while lie eludes them.
snd he and Barbara Allen climb tree. At the
last the MAJOR is displayed Z proud patient.
noble captive. and Mrs. Sol Smith explains 10
dubious Colonial functiouary that ne is no spy.
while Mrs.. Thomas WhIfTen says a good word for
General Washington-of whom M Fitch himself
seems 10 entertain a favorable opinion. and the
major is cheered with funeral music on the way 70
his fnal exit. Nr. Arthur Byron manifested album
dart zeal In the various trying situations 10 which,
the major is assigned. and especially pleased his
auditors. who were numerous and friendly, by his
executive force and his jOvial demeanOr His vein
seems to b. that OF Rover. in Wild Oats" He
certainly was never intended for sentiment OF
romance or grace or the comedy Of manners Most
~ the parts IN this play are feeders. Some good
acting in the sketch line. was done BY Mr. Arnold
DAILY Mrs Smith and Mrs. WhiTen- Mr. Guy
Bates Post might perhaps satisfy his aurlcular
AMBITION Il provided with a megaphone. The play
is -Psror Theatricals'. NJ Fitch must have had
il in very early lfe-at about the tine Of measles
Colonial dresses. furniture, and decorations are
copied with considerable fidelity.