The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-21
4 NEW ENGLISH MELODRAMA,
"THE BEST or FRIENDS'' AT THE
ACADEMY or MUSIC.
Brilliant stage Pictures in the Big Show
-tccil Raleigh the AuthOr--(;ailery
Shows Its PrOBOer Sentiments
Individual Hits Made by the Actors

Shows Its Pro, ROer SentIments-SOms
Individual Hits Made by the Actors
That pro-Boer sentiment still prevails ir
this city was demon strated at the Academy
Of Music last night when Cecil Raleigh's
BIG melodrama, THE Best of Friends
was produced under the management OF
Charles Frohman. The story-"a drama OF
modern life" said the house bills--deals
with episodes In the late Boer war Natur.
ally, the playwright takes sides, though he
has unconsciously made his Boer charac.
tiers the most interesting.
Before typical London melodrama audi
ences the various patriotic speeches prob
ably met with an enthusiastio reception
last night they fell as fiat as lions appeal
The cause was not long concealed. In the
last act, when the Boer general appeared
heavily bearded, dusty, but defiant. the
gallery rose to q boy and Justify yelled.
The war is over. but the feeling still lives
Apart from that. the tale told is a dis
jointed, even rambling one, overloaded
with details. often diverted from the broad
and straight road which leads to melo-
dramatic glory, But az a production no
fault can be found with the Best OF
Friends" Not at Drury Lane. where it
is said to have achieved a success. could
the scenic splendor have been surpassed.
Ten scenes, solidly built, three of them
really remarkable, lured the eye when the
dialogue, stuffed with genuine heavy British
wit, fell upon unheeding ears. A scene
In Oxford, in the shadow OF historic col
lege, was enlivened by a gorgeous circus
parade, brass band and scarlet uniforms.
Then there was terraced lawn at the
Dukes castle, charming in it's pictorial
scenery
The Dukes hall presented a novel spec
taCle when the Nverlea yeomanry regiment
suppei There was revelry, there were
speechmaknc, raw uniforms, dazzling lights
and all the usual happenings Of joyous
evening. But there was no leader. The
old Duke could not 60 to the front; his next
of Kin, and heir to the dukedom was a
tainted Little Englander He spoke Of
peace while these gallant young dogs were
fairly Juggling at the leash to meet the
enemy. the hated Beers. A sudden con-
version-after hearing OF English reverses,
after listening to a sentimental appeal
from the Duke, Joseph Wheelock, the
wavering Earl OF Amesburg ayowed his
LOYALTY III dRltdteu accents. iHeTe were
cheers-but only on the stage.
1t was only the sight of the regiment
pledging the Queen in robust fashion,
and standing on their chairs and smashing
their glasses after the toast, that set the
audience applauding. There was no
doubt about the stirring nature OF the
scene and there was no doubt about the
admirable stage management OF Joseph
Humphreys.
Thirty-five people we're In the cast and
many in the mob. Some Of the former
were not happily cast; yet there were indi-
vidual hits. Agnes Booth, az an old circus
rider, strong woman and parrot queen,
was capital. She had her audience with
her from start to finish. Her accent was
pure cockney, her humor unmistakable.
Lionel Barrymore again displayed his
skill in make up and, better still, charac-
terization. as the Boer commander. Young
Joseph Wheelock returns looking stronger,
and acted with his ,oldtime effect a rather
foolish part-foolish and sentimental.
Katharine Grey was a fainting circus
heroine, defiant lady to aristocratic folk
who patronized her and red cross nurse at
the last. Her resonant contralto did not
fail her; what she had to do she did well.
Frank Burbeck. looking more than ever
like James Gordon Bennett, was the Duke,
every inch Duke, Herbert Standing,
Richard Bennett, Ralph Delmore, Prince
Miller, Ray Rockman and Godfrey Stein
we're all very busy, especially Mr.. Dclmore,
who was hissed by the gallery for his com
pound villainy. Indeed, veteran theatre
goers shuddered when he appeared at the
lawn party in frock coat and top hat.
That always means deviish business on
hand for Ralph Delmore,
There was a very large audience and a
familiar first night one. The general YER
dict was pro-Boer and admiration for the
production. The name Of the author was
not onca mentioned