New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-23
THEATRICAL INCIDENTS AND NEWS NOTES.
MRS GILBERT IN "GRANNY'-A NEW ENGLISI
MUSICAL PLAY At DAYS.

AZ. Gilbert begins her farewell to the stage
AZ the Lyceun Theatre on Monday evening,
when she viii appear for the first time in the
comedy entitled Granny" which Clyde Fitch
has written for her. Mrs. Gilbert's farewell sea-
an AZ the Lyoeum viii last three weeks, ard at
i,s close she VIII start on q tour Of the prin-
ciEal cities At the end OF the present theatrical
season, when she will be eighty-four years DID,
she VIII retire TO private life, hoping with the
proceeds Of the present venture to be able to
spend her declining days in ease and comfort.
Mrs. Gilbert has been on the stage for upward OF
sixty years. For considerable time she was
one OF the great favorites at Days Theatre.
when John Drew. Miss - Rehan and James
Lewis were also there. N..r only IN New-York
but throughout the C.ir. ..tates. she has made
hosts OF friends and here n the metropolis she
stu remains one Of the first favorites with both
the young and the elder generation Of theatre
Eoers. She has rendered excelIen> service to the
stage IN her time and many Of her creations are
remembered with pleasure. Her many New
York admirers NIL no doubt be glad of the OPP
portunity which this VIII give them to testify
their appreciation OF her acting and their af-
fection for her
Clyde Fitch wrote Granny for her, and a
character has been provided suitable 10 her
years The play and character were both sug
gested by work OF George Mitchel's in French.
but the scenes have been laid in Massachusetts.
Al the end Of the performance on Monday night
Mrs Gilbert VIII address the audience
The story OF Granny is as follows: Mr..
Ailenbys wife, Margaret, has been dead some
time when the action OF the play begins. but
her loved and revered memory still fills the
house. Her place at the table is held sacred,
and fresh flowers stand beside the unclaimed
plate at every meal The house is ruled gently
and sweety by Marsaret's mother. Mrs Thonlp-
son, who is called affeCtionately Granny" Her
special charge and delight Is Jack Allenby, her
grandson, and he is the apple of his fathers eye
Happiness reigns in the home and there Is not
q oiscoTdant note, until Granny and everybody
else notices that John Allenby has been atten-
i've TO Mrs. Mason. a divorcee from nobody
SHOWS where, and who sings in the church choir
HAe mas a ten-year-old daughter. Granny re-
sents his Unknown woman taking her daugh-
ueis place IN Johns heart. and she pointedly
ems MIN so. he insists that she IS a misrepre-
stll.ee ana prosecuted woman. and tells Granny
NAV ne will brook no interference with his af-
-usie. 10 snow that he means what he says, he
o4ueIs the maid TO lay plate for Mrs Mason
as he Intends 10 bring her 10 dinner thar very
Gay ana al the table wiz announce his engage
Hleilt 70 her. This drives Granny and Jack from
ne nome and they do not return 70 fl for six
80 1ts- JACK enlsts and is SIN in the Philip
pines "hen Granny makes a visit to the Allen
- i-o1se' 70 say she Is sorry for what she did
ana sad, She begs John 10 write to his boy
ahG Forgive him. But the father is obdurate
-. =. insists that Jack must ask the present Mrs
AAeAbys pardon before he can re-enter the
nome, granny does not like TO confess TO Jack
maj she mas been the cause Of the trouble be-
tween him and his father She reunites them
however In another and more romantic way
lore, now a girl Of sixteen, and she have be-
come fast friends. She interests Dora in Jack
enc JACK N Dora. The result is that the two
youhg people are head over heels in love when
jack comes home from the Philippines. Just