New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-24
THE DRAMA.
Dir. Richman at the Manhattan.
CAPTAIN BARRINGTON.n

Mr.. Charles Riehman who gained much public
esteem and admiration men associated with Days
Theatre. and whose acting the Empire is
meTnbered with pleasure has recently assumed
place among the wandering stars OF the stage play
ing Captain Barrington,-in a drama by Mr..
Victor Mapes. first called 1.-THE Tory's Guest"
put now designated by the name OF It's hero-and
IN this character he made his re-entranee last
night. at the Manhattan Theatre. where he
cordially welcomed. The play was described in
this column at the time Of its first production and
the opinion then expressed that IL carefully
prUned and condensed, and then committed TO the
hahos or experienced actors. IL would make brave
snow and probably capture the public fancy Mr.
Mapes has filed and FURNISHED his drama and as
now presented II ought have career Its merits
as recognized at the first conspicuous II tells
Its story more by action than by words II sug-
sests the atmosphere of the time TO which it
ates 1t Discriminate between varieties Of charac-
ter II arouses and maintains feeling OF suspense
1t contrves situations Of an effective order II Is
written in fluent English. and it is comparatively
free from long speeches. On the other hand its
incidents are occasionally forced: it's movement is
fnpeded by episodlcal triviaIites-of dialogue, to
explain what needs explanation: fits heroine is
made too easily credulous that her accepted lover
Is an impostor and spy; il contains too many per
sons, and it is weak in hurnor. The introduction Of
Washington, necessary aad cleyerIy managed in the
fourth act, is superfous and ineffective In the first
The ezpedient of the twin brothers, who so closely
Voice,-that no observer can distinguish between
them, has often been used and is venerable with
antiquity Mr.. Mapes making one OF the hrothsrs
gay and rafting British officer and the other
staid and serious Continental, has, in a series of
connected scenes, caused them TO be repeatedly
mistaken for each other. and, by involving them
in the plot Of three old Tory Inhabitants capture
General Washington,-by Turing him TO a dinner
party al a country house. and causing the place
10 be surrounded by British troops.-has made their
personal similarity contribUtive to a romantic
climax The situation in wnicn the ContiE entail
brother is surprised by the British guards and
then. being mistaken by his captors for their own
leader in disguise. is sufficiently alert TO surprise
their secrets and discomft their plans is dramatic
and decidedly effective II good expedient
TO introduce Washington, but now, always,
since the tie-wg time of Peter Riehngs that great
American energies as all buckram and starch,
creature momentarily escaped from marble pedes-
tai and.-as old Henry Clspp said OF the Rev DR..
OsgoOd,-only waiting for vacancy in the Trinity
The play that shall do justice TO the character Of
George Washington has never been written, and
probably never will be.
Mr.. Fdchman PLAYS both the brothers. and.
the scamp in the more effective part Of the two.
he makes rather more OF the rake than Of the
patriot; but he is picturesque figure in every
scene