New-York tribune., 1904-09-13
THE DRAMA.
LEFTY" At THE HUDSON.

Lefty" a drama in five acts, by Arthur Wing
Ptncro. was shown for the first time in America at
the Hudson Theatre last night. with William
Faversham as the ostenSibe star and Miss Car
iotta Nillson in the title part An audience OF un-
usual size in attendance. and large measure
of applause followed each descent of the curtain
Nevertheless. the performance of the drama was
disappointing in almost every respect. and fire.
quently inadequate to the demands OF the play
that one could hardly be these demands ex-
listed. whatever his faith in Mr.. Pineros skill in
sight and artistic restraint. and constantly
blaming Lefty" for failures carry conviction
that at the next moment ne felt to be the faults
of the players. instead. OF thing. however.
there was a certainty-"Letty" never failed TO in
terest That much of Mr.. Pinero's power was
manifest.
Indeed, 1t may be doubted if Mr. Pinero has lost
much or any of his technical cunning or of his
sense of character. Certainly he has lost nothing
OF ms probing interest In the vulgar, the Sordid
the morally rotten in English life and In spite OF
the happy ending of Lefty" he has gained no
atoning cheerfulness or Browningesque optimism
that would best suit him If he should fall heir to
any optimism He is still the very limited Mr.
Flhero. who sets essentially weak woman In
the midst of the temptations that are offered bv es
sehtlally weak and base men. and then follows her
career with the remorseless eye of a trained OBJ
serVer-nothing more. As a critic of lfe TO use Mr.
James's useful and much used phrase Mr.. Pinero
stands after Lefty just where he stood before
Lefty Is the daughter OF a defaulting solicitor and
clerk in a bucket shop. where she has attracted
the admiration of Vaudeville. one of the partners
and a brutal and vulgar cad She is also friend
~ terms with Letchmere. we'll born debauchee,
who Is not in position to marry her. since he has
a wife, but has neglected to mention the fact. In
the first act Letchmere entertains her and two
Of her friends at his rooms, and is warned by
Vaudeville that the truth about his marriage will
be disclosed unless he promises ito keep off the
grass The intruder Is dismissed insolently. and
appointment is made for another birthday party
at Hilda Cummings, and sealed with kiss This
appointment is kept. in the second act on the roof
OF the lodging house. where Lefty is receiving the
congratulations OF hde fellow dodgers. a COM
a photographer. from all OF whom she
with a confession that he is already married and
with proposal that she shall take Vaudeville as
schemes. for she has been dressing srnartiy and
living beyond her means IN the expectation of
bearing offer OF marriage from the other man. The
has been dining with married sister Mrs Crosble
ana handeVille'S party from the lodging house,
night at the Aihambra The two rivals are spurred
on by jealousy, and Letchmere asks Lefty to meet
coming at midnight to his apartment. she agrees TO
% I'VE Wth LeteIhmere rather than marry the repul-
note from his sister, confessing that she has left
revelation Of the degenerate Eetchrere stock Ietty
snatehes her hat and coat and begs him to let her
The epilogue supplies the sequei-her marriaSs
Win Win the good natured and respectable photogra-
pher and her acceptance Of life among the IowIy.
In the presentation OF this drama Mr.. Faversham
enacted the lover, Nevill Letchmere, and almost his
entire performance not only inadequate, but
beside the character. Like most OF Mr.. Pinero's
rakes. Letchmere IS no fool but possessed OF con-
siderable intelligence. polished manners. a turn for
epgran and cynical sense of humor. Letch-
mere. In fact, may not wrongly be supposed to
have kind Of intellectual paltry about him. that
gave 10 his wrongful wooing added charm for
the girl. Something OF this may be found in his own
words, more in the fact that Lefty passionately
loved him But all these traits beyond Mr..
elected
the loud Vaudeville with the air of hero OF melo-
drama rather than the polished. cynical superiority
OF man of the world. conscious OF his superiority
and in fun command OF the situation
Miss Carlotta Nllson. the heroine. however
did not overact. as. indeed, IL reasonable to
expect she would not And in moments of poignant
feeling. whether OF grief or Joy, she denoted with
compelling effect the passions that swayed her.
Her little cries her little gestures. her bursts OF
laughter were natural life. and. like life ire
sirtihle.