New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-12

Tburston.s novel there is the SUBSTITUTION VI an
ardent. strenuous and creative HE TOT one '-a
has been shattered by sef-ihoulsehCeS o.
hopelessy wrecked The career whlch mas oe-
b1ieb+ed has its promise fuihleo IN aholieA
sunerJor qualities OF mind, heart ana sen
troll This powerful motive is not aoequa'e'S
brought ont in the play. The second, third ana
final acts are mainly occupied with the eAPo
ure of the inposture by two women Lazy
.s+-,nn whose dog had bitten Loder in the ran
nav accident In Italy, knows about the scar
,,,a DISTINGUISHING mark between the TWO men,
A. tho hall she is installed in curtaiheo teis
as a high priestess of palmistry anu ciSStHi
gazing and when she sees the scar recognizes H.
h,,+ y-ben she searches for Loder in the drawing
room she finds the man whom every one even
the wife herself has greeted as Chiicote. heu
che has convinced herself, in the course Oh lie
~. 90, that If Is I.oder and not Chicote. she
cannot bring herself TO the point OF ihloiii-
ing tbe wife who after reading the telegram
,,,1o,,s &c much about it as she does herself
Tho hulk of the pIay is taken up with these de-
+oo+i,a details and there is little time for auslI
else The triumph of the double ~ the COM
mons IA sses as trivial incident ana the oed'h
Of ChiIcote is hurried as soon as Lodef anu
Mrs. Chilcote have found out that they are III
love with each other.
Everything has been done at the st: James
Theatre to make this feeble dramatic Vereio"
effective Mr. George Alexander VINO mas
fine talent for dual roles, is most subtle III sePa
rating the main characters. Loder and Chficote
are dressed exactly alike, but one cannot DE iiis
taken for the other One is tremuous Win
sr,rressad erciternent over the novelty OF the
situation and the risks to which he is exposed
and the other is shattered in body and NINA
and incapabe of continuous sustained ehor|
The two representations are remarkably as
tinct and effective and there are Two stions
moments. once when Loder Is defying Lazy
Astrupp to expose him and again when he is
confessing his love for Mrs. Chcote and re-
minding her that it is her duty 10 forget MN
and to stand by her husband. MISS Miriam
Clements does everything that is possible TO I'M
part dignity and naturalness to Mrs. Chilcote'
Miss Marion Terry. Lady Astrupp, takes the
playwrights formless figure of pith and vitahzes
It with her own charm, grace and womanly feel
ing until it is something like character; ana
when the time comes for intense, decisive action
she gives the audience its single thrill OF gen.
uine emotion during a long evening. Every
mart Is we'll taken, and the ballroom scene is
brilliantly staged and enacted with viVacity.
John Chilcote" has not been scamped nor
sighted in the production, and with the novelty
OF the theme and the excellent quality OF the
acting It may receive a fair measure OF pop
ular support With more experienced play
wright the story in strong dramatic form
might have commanded phenomenal success.
The reverson from inane musical comedy TO
piquant and tunefui comic opera, which was
begun with "Veronique" has been continued
at Days Theatre with 1.-The Little Michus."
There is dainty little story Of the romance OF
two pretty girls, one shopman's daughter
and the other marquis's child, who have been
hopelessly mixed up. and who are finally identi-
fed and properly mated; and these types of |
righteousness are charmingiy repre-
scented by Miss Adrienne Augarde and Miss
Mabel Green Mr.. Willie Edouin appears as a
prickly tempered general, and Mr.. Huntley
Wright in a minor part, in which he is most
conical in burlesquing military manners There
is a gallant captain; there is well drawn
tradesman with a charming wife, and there IS
good work TO be done by every member Of the
company; and there are genuine lyrics in place
OF inane topical songs; and in place of artificial
dialogue. filed out with improvisation by pop
ular comedians. there Is humor in character
and situation. The music, by Mons. Andre
Messenger is ingenious. refined and full OF
melody. and the work a whole is long way
in advance Of such entertainments have
been witnessed for many years at Days
Theatre. The Little Michus" has attracted tn,
public at once, and its success is a satisfactory
sign that the ordinary musical comedy has lost
its hold upon popular favor. l. y. F.