The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-03
MAN PROPOSES" {"
Henry Miller and a New Four Act
 Comedy Presented.

Comedy Presented.
 But after all Man Proposes" IL has been some few weeks since critical New Haven sat in judgment upon a brand new production, and the opportunity of having the first glimpse Of the new four act comedy Man Proposes with Henry Miller as the stellar attraction was gladly welcomed at the Hyperion last evening. The audience was large and decidedly characteristic of first nighters.'' While there was no pro- nounced outbu-st of approval Of the piece itself there was a generous omount of applause and this attested to the satisfaction gained by the audi tors. At the close oe the second act a curtain speech was demanded, but the substance of the remarks were inaudi- ble owing to the din of those going out ito see a man.
 The play is by an English author, Ernest ssenny. The scenes are laid in village near London. Here the real Lord Wykeham (Afr. Miller), preferring a quiet life, is acting assistant to a phy- sician, and is known as Dr. Lee. He learns to love the doctors niece Esther (Miss Dorothy Hammond). She has been proposed to and accepted the love of young man who tells her he is Lord Wykeham. Tn reality the fellow is the wayward brother of the real lord. He has no knowledge Of the elders regard for the young woman.
 Esther goes to London to meet the young man, but before she reaches proposed visit and procedes her, believ- ing fully that some one has been using his name. but not suspecting. at the time, that it is his brother. He meets the younger brother Ken (H. Hassard Short) in the midst of a coterie of rol- licking companions. Just after the girl has been announced Lord Wykeham learns from frenzied Frenchman, who demands duels and many other irnpossi- compromised himself with the French mans wife. He calms the ire of the husband by taking to himself the guilt os the entire mater and agreeing to fight duel. Then comes Esther, and when she calls the younger brother Lord Wykeham' the rcal lord is an- gered and humiliated. He recovers his composure, however, ard again shoul- ders all the blame. IE the closing scene Ken realizes what he has done: the exact position into which he has .thrown his brother, and how much has been done for him, and explains. The concluding act brings the real lord and Esther together, and man proposes"
 MT. Miller made capital Lord Wyke- ham. or rather Dr. Lee. as he assumed { this title during the major portion of 1 the action.
 i As Dr. Lee he is jovia1, good natured sort of chap, who wins the esteem and admiration of all He maintains their ! friendship and admiration by an even I temperament, which meets all obstacles
 wholly unperturbed. As a comedian oi I considerable ability MT. Miller is emi- fnently suited to the role essayed dur I ing the lighter portion of the action 1 h the third act, where the French hus- band demanded satisfaction and the dis. closure was made that his own brother 1 had been masquerading as the real 1 Lord Wykeham" he rose to the task with that consunmate skill and clever ness which betokens great dramatic ability. The scene was intensely strong especially when Esther, bewildered by
 the sudden change of affairs, beseeches Lord Wykeham for an explanation, but he, crushed and humiliated, declares il impossible. This is the strongest piece of acting in the entire play, and Mir
 Miller displayed much of the ability which made him favorite on previous appearances.
 The remainder of the company which Charles F'rohman has provided is one of much merit. Most of the members are English. H. Hassard Short as a scapegrace of a brother is quite good and Miss Dorothy Hammond as Esther was very good in the emotional parts. She is on the whole quite satisfactory. | Much humor was provided by Mrs Boultbee (Miss Eleanor Sheldon), | Agatha Thistle (Mrs. Felix Morris) and Mrs. Matt. Cooley (Miss Claire Kulp), the village gossips. who were very in- tent on finding out all about the scandal of Esther and Lord Wykeham. Miss Helen Tracy as Priscilla Quaritch, mother Of Esther, was also good. l The piece has been very beautifully staged by MT. Frohman, and should be success.