The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-25
PROUD LGIUD'S CGNNY COMEDY
B4RRIE, GILBERT AND SHAKES
PEiRE WAKE HOLIDAY.

A Supple mental season nt the Manhattan
Of Polite English Farce, Heavy Joeu.
Iarity, UnNitallZed Characters and
PlotIeB Plot - Admirable Acting.
The Proud Laird with which the Man
haitian orened last night for a supple
mental season" is 20 picturesquely staged
and admir- ably acted, and II endeavors 50
amiably and innocently 10 be amusing in
A politely worldwise way, that II IL a
hardship not to be able to record a moro
favorable impression OF IL. or chronicle a
more enthusiastic reception.
Much might be said OF the defective
technique with which the main story is
TO d and more q tbs conventional arti-
Acjality Of much OF the character draw
ing But it is enough to come to the point.
and that is that not for a moment is It alive.
Any deep ly vital conviction one does
not demand from sucha piece. The pro-
cram calls it csnny comedy, which, Il
must be concluded, as the authors seem
10 be Scotchmen, Is way Of saying that
Il il farce. As far as il exhibits the folbles
and eccentricities Of Scotch character it is
written in the school Of Barrie and as far
a. il portrays English obtuseness, selfish
ness and amenty, il IA written in the school
Of Gilbert. But this particular school is
A grammar school, and the third OF fourth
grade at that.
The party chiefly res ponsible, one gathers.
il Cosmo Hamilton, young man who Is
le.t known az a writer Of dialogues In an
English weekly called The World. This Il a
society paper, the tone Of which may be
gathered from the fact that its editorial
column Is called what the World Says
and IL upheld by a person humorously
signing himself Atlas.
A column Of society chit chat is called
bellies letter. and il signed by person,
presumably In whiskers, who calls herself
Belle. The book reviews are called Pages
In Waiting" For a longer time than
Dggory laughed at the story of Old Grouee
delighted in these merry tests: And the
humor OF The Proud Laird is founded
firm in the belief that the vein Is still worth
working.
The hero is an impoverished laird and
the heroine distant American cousin with
an income OF ten thou and year. Neither
has cast an eye upon the other, and as the
Gnce stral carpets are worn and twelfth CEN
fury roof leaking the family and all the
killed retainers unite in plot to make a
roof mending carpet repairing match be-
tween them by alleging 70 each that the
other is dying Of unrequited love. Pity is
proverbially akin TO love, and In this case
at least not at all poor relation.
IL IS the story Of Benedick and Beatrice
told in kits and evening clothes. Eut
II any one is curious as to the difference
between Mr.. Hamilton and his elder country
man in technique and the grasp Of char
acter he has only to go 10 the Manhattan.
On this as a basis the authors Charles
Cart wright, the admirable Rleschnd, is
mentioned as collaboration erect a second
A hal
tive TO the castle. is also after the hetress
and In the moment Of the enraptured be-
trothal OF the lovers reveals TO them the
plot that brought them together. Each
quite idiotically doubts the other, and
thus, as Touehstone would say, the play
wrights spit, and there's new matter. The
last Of three very short acts ends with a
device revealing that the proud laird's
love is not at all mercenary.
The best Of the evening Is the stage man
agement and the acting. Much mild amuse-
ment with which Mr.. Cartwright Is probably
TO be credited is derived from bagpipes and
bare legs, eayesdropping retainers and |
driblets OF water that descend on the actors |
from the much discussed roof. II there had
been any vitality in plot and characters, IL
would be possible TO praise the production
for rather unusual suggestiyeness OF at
mos phere.
As the heavy but sincere and imprisoned |
Laird, Mr.. Robert Lorraine is strikingly |
gravity OF port which is in the true vein !
Of comedy He has never been better than |
In this rather thankless role. As the selfish |
and pragmatical English stock broker Mr., !
r Hassard-Short reveals a neatness and |
ceverness in aheurdity that provide several |
moments Of really delicious Amusement, |
His IL by far the best part IN the program, !
Mr. Edmund d. Lyons imparts to the char !
acter OF a oanny retainer his unfailing |
touch OF JUNCTION and lifelike humor
Miss Dorothy Donnely make little |
a the very unsubstantial part Of the AmeH- |
can heirese. Mr.. j. H. Bunny as a can- |
cature OF a Liverpool business man, Mr.. |
Tboman II. Tbome as his shadowy ne phew, |
and Miss ! da Vernon as the L1iT rs match |
making mother make the best Of nothing. |
As the family piper Mr.. W. H Denny tram |
sends his part and shines by virtue Of a |
rich brogue and much song through the |
nose.