New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-16
THE DRAMA.
Mr.. DREW at The HERALD SQUARE
Captain Dieppe. /"

The Herald Square Theatre was opened last night
for the regular dramatic season. and Mr.. John
Drew appeared there. in a new comedy entitled
captain Dieppe." The audience was large. and 81
welcomed this fsvorite comedian with the kindly
fervor 81 zeeous friendship. Mr. Drew has been only
moderately fortunate IN the choice OF medium for
the pleasurahle and effective display OF hts whisi-
ca personality and HIS elaborate art. The comedy
q CAPTAIN pieppe" tells wild and whirling story.
ond tells ~ by means cf queer incidents and brisk
dialogue. but its central character-a good fel-
low, placed IN a perpiexing dilemma.-is precisely
acrimonious with Mr.. Drew's constitutional mood
snd cultivated style. The story is that Captain
Deppe. q political fugitive from France took
refuge IN village o. Italy and presently made the
acquaintance. and became the guest, OF a local
nobleman. the Count Fieramondi. between whom
no himself various condolences ensued. culmnst-
lnr IN q situation OF half serious and half humorous
compeNity with reference to q woman. The basis
o. the plot Is mistaken identity. The obtains
from the captain a willing promise that he will
svoid meeting with certain lady who happens 70
be resident IN the Fieramondi Castle. The captain
ard the mysterious LADY accidentally meet and i'm
redistoly become interested in each other. and,
sae LADY declares herself in trouble. the captain
promises 20 assist her. The count confoes TO the
captain that he has been at variance with his wife
vho Is dwelling apart from him and he requests
that officer 10 Vah upon her with a message Of love
md a prefer Of reconciliation The captain under
takes this a1ectionate mission. hut. enormously
imposing that his unknown charmer and his
f~ferds wife are Identical. he only succeeds in
creating q situation OF embsrra ssment and mysti-
f-ation The drol felicity 81 this whimsical device
g. obvious The authors Of the play. Mr.. Anthony
1-ope and Mr.. Harrison Rhoades. have exploited
this fabric Of romance in several comic postu-es
and have ernbellished Il with some bright colo
ouies and with infusion Of sentiment; and
NJ Drew makes the most that executive art can
make az situation in which lambert humor must
softiv tighten the surface Of ardent feeling.
The stvle OF this comedian. preserving 10 some ex-
tcnt the Wheatlev and Wallack traditions OF
ssunty demeanor end hold execution. as inculoated
b. his honored mother ana by Augustin DAILY. is
happily touched with the case. composure. and light
ness Of the contemporary manner SO that a
performance of his seems like q study IN mosaic
Fe vas observed with interest and. at some points
rewarded with hearty applause. The spriehtiE
eoui,oke Of the play Is its predominant charm ana
NJ Dreu's treatment Of a. r. in his happiest VEN
u is somewhat he regretted that the authors
OF Captain Deppe." having hit upon such hu-
,7o-ous central idea. should not have wrought II
INTO an altogether appropriate web 81 literary ana
dramatic expression. The employment Of a police
spv who plans a robbery and is assaulted ana
robbed by his enforced accompce in that rascaitE'
cannot be deemed felicitous eXpedient IN pure
comedy The fable itself being intrfrsioaliy Hrs-
.soral a sort az rhsrtasy.-there was imperative
need that St should be developed by fanciful airy
delicate means. and not by such downright vulgar
eids as assault and battery. for the purpose OF
.,,eft No objection holds against the slight dash
~ farce Life would be insuTersble II its victims
could not sometimes trffe with il and make light
o. n But q bludeeon is inappropriate in a comedy
q manners and rousce OF love; nor does IL seem
suftabl that contemplate scamp. like the hlack-
mailer in this piece. should be dismissed WIN the
word Of sympathy and the handshake OF friendship
Not 70 repine upon St. OF this play Is silly
ana come 81 Il Is bathos. There is enough left'
however 70 confure with, rs Mr. Drew uses IT,
end his huoyant personality and polished executive
Y-t nav suffice 10 carry it upon the tide Of popular
~evo~ E4e has the auxiliar alureEent Of Miss
AIarearet Dales girlish mTth and agreeable spirits
and OF Mr. Sidney Herbert's remarkable talent IN
she EXPRESSION ~ character. Mr.. Herbert acted
tho bland candid. expeditions agent Of the secret
notice and made that trifing Part conspicuous
without e,sgeeration and important by Its hdelity
10 q clear artistic purpose w ".