The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-28


tiers who did not have an opportunity to
choke the Desperate Lord Darlington"
during the initial performance Of Dane
and Winslow's melodrama at Havlin's
yesterday afternoon. but IL they were
there they forgot their cues.
The choking that was done, however,
was the most thorough that has teen
seen on local stage this season, and 1t
was not at all necessary to be a power
fully built hero" in order to enjoy this
edifying pastime. A chance was given to
almost everybody; even the consumpti"e
factory girl, with 4o-inch chest, was not
overlooked.
Nor was it imperative that the situation
demanded choking in order to nave the
hero grasp Darlington by the throat and,
after getting death grip, endeavor to
force confession of guilt from the I'M
fortunate man,
There would. perhaps. be an animated
discussion relative to the just demands
of labor. when Darlington would dash
across the stage. and. apparently with
out provocation, punch the heroine in the
face or kick her feet from under her.
That was invariably a signal for
choking. The hero never dealt the viii
lain a singing blow in the face" or
''felled him to the ground with mis- good
right hand" but always quietly and with
out unnecessary violence laid Leymour
Upon the ground and spoiled his collar
From the first scene, when Grace Rawl-
ings, an heiress, causes excitement by her
original method Of fainting. there is plen-
ty of action.
Grace first accuses her lover of muir
der. and then. overcome by his heartless-
ress, hurries across the room to table.
brushes q book upon the floor. arr,nges
her skirts and calmly extends herself en-
the outer edge, where she is in imminent
danger of rolling off.
The plot of the play is original. It at
tempts to clear the early history CT Lord
harrington and also furnishes the reason
for his alleged visit to Bonfils last Sep
TENDER.
The synopsis of the scenes refers to the
Bonfils tragedy as follows:
Scene 3-Bonfils. near st. Louis. Mo.
Time, September. 1905 Solving the great
Mccain mystery"
Oscar Dane as Frederick Leymour
proves q very acceptable Desperate Lord
Darlington after he has usurped the
title of dead English noblenan.
He early gains the hatred OF the gal
lery, and his appearance is the signal for
generous kissing. In fact, Dane is such 4
success that yesterday afternoon the off,
cial bouncer was forced on several occa-
sions to announce in loud tones: eff dat
amt cut out, I'll trow de geese OUT
Victory Bateman as the most abused
heroine (there are several of the latter.
only Victory seems TO get hers with more
frequency than Wife No. 1 or Prospective
Wife No. 81 looks a trifle too healthy for
the consumptive role assigned TO her.
However. in the last act. when she ap-
pears with her hair about her face.
seated in an armchair covered with
brilliant red blanket, she arouses the sym
patty OF the audience to such an extent
that the choking she gives Darlington Is
heartily approved.
The play opens With a baby carriage IL,
which appears a real baby. Why II snould
be there is not disclosed, as it is hurried
ly taken out
Several other characters drift in, bur
do very little until Frederick Seymour, or
Leymour, begins TO show his hand He
learns various secrets regarding the wife
Of his employer. Lord harrington, an ell
derly English nobleman, and attempts to
gain her love by force.
Not succeeding, he VOWS vengeance. ard
| accidentally learning that Barrington's
nephew. Jack harrington, is the object of
Lady Barrington's affection, plots to ruin
him.
Lord Darlington becomes intimately ae-
nffa nj cd he
electrical machine through the machina-
lions of Leymour. but the latter places the
blame upon Lord Barrington's nephew.
and the latter is sentenced to Jail for tit-
teon years.
The second act is rather confusing. 1t
is divided into three scenes. the first hay.
ing for its apparent object the introduc-
ton of foot race, during which Leymour
sustains his reputation by being various,y
beaten and kicked by ell the members
OF the company who can succeed in CIV
ing the stage manager sufficient reason
for allowing them on the stage
The second scene allows the introduc-
ton of several Hebrew jokes and stories
by James R. Waters, and also gives the
| stage hands time to shift the scenes for
jail interior.
Jack Darlington is shown in the char
acter OF ''trusty." and Frederick Lev
mour saunters out of his cell. why he
should be a convict is not explained, but
he comes out in time to get thoroughly
choked by Jack Darlington, who shows a
desire to retaliate because he was barred
from the general assault of the preceding
scene.
Leymour calls for help. and as the war
dens rush to his assistance. he skips up-
stairs. and presumably gains his freedom,
as his next appearance is in America as
Lord Darlington.
After Leymour's. escape, however. there
is an exhibition OF ground and lofty tum-
bling that arouses the enthusiasm Of the
audience. harrington grasps a chair and
hurls Il into a corner just to show how
strong he is. He then grasps rubber
club and pounds everybody over the head.
The third act brings the characters tn