New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-05
A NEW BARRIE.
Another Social Fantasy, zcith Sound
Sense Underneath the Sparkle.
LONDON. septemher q.

/
produced last night with aeclanations OF publ,
applause at Wyndham's Theatre. is a pIay virs
out single dramatic motive OF situation: b,,
IL is a unique entertainment that piques crl-t
osty. battles conventional criticism and delight,
alike stalls. pit and galleries Its secret IA a
hygienic idea. dietary reform. and that IS abou.
the last thing one would look for in a comedy
tinged with SATIRE and it is concealed so artfuI
ly that it is not revealed until five minutes "a.
fore the final fall of the curtain: and when ..
comes out the spectators perceive that thew
have been the victims OF delightful fooIinz =
not OF a downright practical joke. and laugh
merrily with the author at themselves u "a 40
amazing an achievement IN topsyturvydom
that writer's will have Il that there 10
something serious behind Little Mary" "a a
euphemism for the hard working organ. tho
stomach. and that there is a symbolic theme OF
instructive motherliness underlying a whimsical
comedy. 1t viii be wiser not TO analyze this
delightful trihe too closely. but 70 accept It
gratefully jeu d'esprit from def hand.
and TO enjoy IL a bonnie bouche OF nonsense
worthy OF the inmortals
Tie story opens with a prologue FOR which
Dickens might have supplied the staging and
the underplot An aged Irish chemist Terence
Reilly. receives in his quaint London shop a
customer. Lord Carlton. who has prescription
for nervous headache While the earl Is waiting
covers that three OF four children are kept IN
boxes in amateur creche and that a little
girl Of twelve Is mothering them MORA Loaey
talks frankly with the earl about her grand
father, who loves the English arfstocracy and
wants TO set them right He'll touch a spring
in you and you'll ell be cured" remarks the de-
nUre little maiden Her grandfather Is a won
derful man. and has found out what Is the nat
ter with the upper classes and told II IN a book
When the earl has received the prescription ard
departed, the book Is produced in three pon-
derous folios. and as a birthday treat she is al
lowed to read a page Of It and 70 write The
words. The End" Her grandfather sxacts
from her promise that she will study the book
until she Is eighteen. and then enter upon mis-
sion for the salvation Of the British ariscoc-acy
The prologue Is acted with fine effect By TIE
three figures in the shop parlor. The chemist Is
Mr. Wharf, with a delightful SCOTCH Irish
brogue. a passionate love Of the dear Saxons.'
a reverential sense OF the epicai dignity % n
lord. and realism IN the denotement OF the
feebleness Of old age Mr.. John Hare Is ths
earl. looking perhaps too elderly for a man OF
forty-fve. but not missing a point in gesture
facial expression or bearing. The twinkle IN his
eyes when he says: Yes: so rich I'm afraid
of being ruined by the income tax" sufices to
set the spectators in an uproar OF merriment;
and his mastery OF bypIay is complete AS for
Miss Nina Boucicault's impersOnariOn OF tho
quaint little mother in charge Of her grandfather
and the creche. it IS perfect in tenderness. de-
mureness and sincerity-one Of the loveliest BITS
Of acting anybody can ever hope to see CT ths
stage.
With an interval OF six years bracketed IN thu
programme. the first act is staged for Lady
Plumlegh's country house. where the ailments
and inane occupations OF the titled class ex-
hibited in series OF episodes. There Is scene
between Lord Carlton and hts son. Lord Rolfs.
who Is bent upon marrying actress. and il Is
admirably enacted by Mr.. John Hare and Mr.
Gerald Du Maurier. who are restrained by dig
nifty and shyness from mutual admiration and
misunderstood each other. This is followed by
the Introduction of the actress herself. who calls
upon the arfstocracy to testify how Ia6yiike the
women OF the stage when they are admitted
TO the great houses There IS an Elton boy too
lazy 20 work at his Latin. and there is the hys-
terical invalid. Lady Iillicent. who Is brought
IN, wan and helpless. IN Bath chair. sDe-
cialist and family practitioner. admirably In
personated by Mr. Eric Lewis and AIr. Blakiston.
call upon the patient and advise nOurishins
food and sleep. but before they can be ushsred
out they are accidentally confronted with a
rival This Is Mora Loney. now eighteen. con-
demned by the regular profession as a charlatan
and an impostor. but reputed TO have wrought
many wonderful cures with the aid OF a uys-
terious medium. Little Mary" The specialist
and the family doctor denounce her and osten-
tatiously abandon the case; but the faith
healer. or whatever she may be. holds her
ground, and promises TO cure the patient and
70 reform the titled family generally IN the
course Of thirty days All these episodes are
illuminated by sparkling wit. and the acting OF
Miss Nina Boucicault and 11r. Hare Is without
flaw.
The second act reveals the transformation
wrought in month by the nnotherIiness OF ths
Irish girl. who had established az twelve 4
creche in her grandfather's parlor. Lord Carl
ton. returning from London finds the schoolboy
hard at work at his lessons and his son. Lord
Rolfe dutiful and considerate. Gymnastics have
been introduced indoors; the breakfast hour has
been changed from II to s: dinner is mid
day. and all dress for light tea: and every
body except the invalid daughter Is brisk and
animated. and even she has better color. Lady
Plumleigh, disappointed because the girl cannot
rise and walk. has summoned the two medical
lights TO a consultation, and when Lord Roles
love affair has been broken OF grotesquely BY
the actress herself who is appalled, by the pros
pect Of his growing up to be like his indoent
father. they are admitted and report that the pa
tient IS alarnlingly worse and that the family
have been duped by an adventurer. IN a moment
Miy comes tripping downstairs. singing and
dancing. and announces that she has been com
pletely cured, and the discounted doctors are
bowed out unceremoniously. MORA Lo-ey re-
ceives the homage and embraces Of the family.
who impIore her to tell how she has done her
marveIs Who and what is Little Mary IL
she spirit. is il something working inside.
like conscience? She agrees to tell her secret
II servant will help her in bringing her grand
father downstairs. and accordingly the chemists