The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-14
CECILIA LOFTUS AS A STAR.
"THE SERIO-COMIO COVERINGS"
PRODUCED AT THE LYCEUM.
New Play Written Around Agiss Loftus
and Introducing Her Vaudeville Imi-
;ations--A Curious Story That Was
We'll Conceived by Israel Zangwtil.

New Play Written Around AIiss Loftus
and Introducing Her Vaudeville Inii.
,atIons--A Curious Story That Was
We'll Conceived by Israel Zangwtil.
Cecilia LOTUS disclosed herself last
night at the Lyceum heatre as o hub
She is the hub Of q play, which revolves
around her with the grace and celebrity
of n skiddng automobile wheel on a wei
road. The play Is called "The Serio- Comic
Goyerness" and it was written by Israel
Zangwill.
Some day Mr. Zangwill, no doubt, will
explain his play. 1t needs it. Just now
there is ample room for doubt as to whether
the production Is explicahle on any other
grounds than those Of emotional theatrical
ism
1t is sort OF comic opera play with
vaudeville specalties thrown In. Every
one knows that Cecilia LOTUS was once
Cissy LOTUS and did neat but not gaudy
music hall stunts trimmed with limitations
Of prominent actresses.
The limitations were 80 good that Miss
LOTUS tried to De an actress whom other
music hall goddesses might initiate. She
finally reached the goal Of all ambition,
the legitimate. She acted OpheRd. Now
she does her neat music hall stunts again,
but this time in the second act OF play
written for the purpose Of introducing them.
She is also the heroine Of a most remark
allie story. She is a governess In q rich
London family in the day time. In the
night she appears at tho Frvolity Theatre
singers. Certainly Mr.. 2angwill never be-
tl,pt al hnlt
IN this for single moment Could he ever
have believed in it HIMSELF 1t is comic
opera parading IN respectable garments
and trying to be decent by keeping out of
the society of ribald music.
This heroine has two lovers. One she
school girl fashion. The other she meets
while governess and does not love. The
latter proves to be the real article. The
first one. soldier, goes to war and she
waits for him. When he comes back he
goes to see Nellie O'NeiH and leers and
ogles at her from box.
This disgusts the governess. The other
lover also goes to see Nellie and the next
day calls and proposes. This does not dis
gust the governess. Here we enter boldly
the happy domain of the gallery drama,
and virtue strikes the rafters with the glory
Of it's ascension, while the walls CULVER with
the applause OF the godly who sit in the
top seats.
Mr. Zangwill's sentiment in this play is
Of the dime novel order, but 1t is Of the sort
that is understanded Of the people. His
wit is Of the style familiar to British bur-
lesque. Yet he has done some clever
character drawing.
The little convent girl who becomes a
governess is lovable. The music hall singer
Is prcpos.erous. The other music hall folk
are all caricatures and consequently are
frankly funny. The manager is worth his
weight in gold. He Is real comedian.
Again the people IN the home Of the good
lover. wherein the governess first governs,
are excellently drawn, and the stag has
not recently received a more delightful
old vulgarian than Mrs. Moper Of Holly
Hall, perfectly embodied by Eva Vincent.
The play was we'll acted last night and for
two acts looked like thorough success
After the third act. however, interrogation
points entered, and it will be for the public
to wipe them out II it so pleases
Miss LOTUS. acted with much zest and
with good deal OF technical skill in her
comedy scenes. Her pathos would have
been more interesting had its purport
been at all times clear
Herbert Standing made fine figure OF
Josephs, the manag ger, and Julia Dean was
competent as his wife, Mdrceile, The
other members Of the company were ao-
cePtable. The play was neatly and taste
fully staged and it had evidently been
carefully rehearsed