The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-17
THE HIGHEST TYPE OF COMEDY
1.-THE MAN FROM BLANkLEY'S"
rs THAT AND SHOULD TAKE.

Charles Hawtrey Scores . success In What
Il by No Means . One.Psrt Piay-Per.
trays . Parvenu Dinner Party and
Reveals Fine Character Drawins.
Charles HAwtrey. the popular English
comedian. made his temperance last
night at the Criterion Theatre in the pres
ence OF large and we'll pleased audience.
The vehicle which Mr.. Hawtrey has chosen
for his reentry to American favor Is far
cical comedy In three acts entitled Tho
Man from Blankley's," by Felix Anstey.
= Mr.. Anstey is we'll and favorably known
to the American public as the author OF
some amusing stories. As playwright
he Is a comparative stranger, but when
"The Man From Blankley's' has become
familiar acquaintance Of the town he will
be cheerfully welcomed to the ranks OF
dramatists who have contributed to the
gayety Of this nation.
The farce IL Of the slightest texture.
but it Ia continually amusing, delightfully."-
satirical and full Of character. 1t fulfls
the high mission OF comedy, to 'chastise
manners with a smile.' and holds up to
goodnatured ridicule a stratum OF society
against which most persons OF experience
have stubbed tneir toes In their climb toward
the upper levels.
The story Is OF a dinner party given BY
a well-to-do couple, presumably in the busl-
ness Of selling groceries at popular corner.
They have asked an agency to provide
them with an extra man, hired diner out,
to make fourteen at table, because q rich
uncle objects to thirteen. At the last
moment one guest cannot come and they
try to head of the hired man. To their
discontinue he arrives and Is announced
as Lord Strathpspper IAN assumption, OF
courss). So he u told OF to take the govern
ess, Miss Sraton, in to dinner, the hostess
meanwhile having warned him to say az
little as possible, 70 that he may not betray
| himself.
It seems that he used to know the gov
erness in earlier days, when she was an
heiress and he a poor gentleman with two
| lives between him and the title. For he
into the wrong house to dinner. He Is
an amateur Egyptologist and 80 Is the
man next door. Lord Strdthpepper has
asked to see the muInmies. ct cetera, and
has been invited to dinner, and, as they
say in English plays, there you are.
| OF course the hostess bullyrags him.
the host insults him. the governe,s; think,
he has . seneraliy ohssrfui time Of II. But
It all comes out properly In . very good
third act. and the governess consents to
become Lady, strathpepper on short n3tio e.
texture, but Il Is capitally conceived and
excellently written 1t is by no means a one
part play, and for this it will be censured,
| There is not enough OF Mr.. Hawtrey to
please those who pin all their faith on q
single personality. But comfort should be
found n tn. gallery Of character pictures
The FOUNDER" the kill-Joy, the heavy
Drained pedantic dolt, the rampant repnb-
lican who becomes sycophant at the
nobeman's feet, the aged spinster whose
life is wrapped up in her parrot, the gush-
ing d..msel, who vainly wooes the boundcr;
the tragic aunt, the kill.loys joyless VIE nl
husband, and their en1anl terrible, who let's
| the cat out Of the bag In the presence OF
! the cornpany-all are hrmly and artisticslly
drawn. Among them Lord Struthpepper
and Miss Seaton move like two normal
persons Of gentle birth and seem like sane
| human beings among eccentricitiee
| Mr.. Hawtrey's acting Of Lord StTcth-
pspper is 80 good that IL dehes analysis.
| It is the perfection OF naturalness and ease.
But, as has been said. the part is very
slight one, and It does not afford the actor
the opportunities 6 ven in Message
| From Mars" Nevertheless the perform
ance should be seen by every lover OF ad-
mirable light comedy.
The company Ia excellent. Not part
was badly played. Therefore it is diff,
cult to single out any for special mention
but praise must be awarded TO Fanny
Broueh az the hostess. Arthur Playfail
as the butler, Henry Kernke as the ricf
uncle and Beatrice Terry as the dreadful
child All the others were good. but thes'
| -ta1l