New-York tribune., 1906-11-21
THE DRAMA.
MISS ROBSON IN NEW PLAYS.
Liberty Theatre.

IN a farctcai piece called Susan IN Search OF a
husband which presented last night az the
Liberty Theatre, Miss Eleanor Robson. Miss Isa-
Del irving and their associates amused consider
aoie audlence with the exposition Of a comic hoax.
Inc piece made by Mr. E. W. Presbrey local
stage manager. purports TO be based on a sketch
oE that laborious hunorist. Mr. Jerome X Jerome
The central figure. Susan Gambett. is an American
GIRL employed as a servant IN English rural
hotel The girl has husband. an English sailor.
but he has been for seven years absent from her
they having been separated by accident tmn1sdi-
ately after marriage. and she is desirous 70 find
hin The sailor arrives the hotel IN
wales where she is az work. his object be-
ing TO push acquaintance with a girl named
Robina Pennicuique- whom he has casually met, as
a fellow traveller, aboard a Southampton pack
ct. An exchange Of identity is made, between
Susan and Robtna. who. Upon meeting in the
pretty country inn. recognize each other as old
school companions and aIectionate friends. and
promise 70 aid each other in their perplexiti-s OF
the heart The sailor. who was only a sailor when
he married Susan. has succeeded 70 an estate and
title and is Lord Rathbone. and such
is known to Robina. who fancies that she loves
him. Upon coming 10 the inn he encounters his
wife Miss Pennicuique not recognizing her.
and he finds his fugitive acquaintance IN the per-
son OF the chambermaid. The two girls have made
a compact TO maintain their exchange Of positions
for week, and It is Susan's purpose. in her as
sumed character OF a wealthy heiress 70 test her
attracted by her. but believing the false Susan 10
be his wife. and desiring to act honorably and
avOw himself 10 her II he shall md that she
wants him. he is placed in dilemma az once
erduous and comicaL The girls Hkswise.-oe-
cause one OF them really loves him and
the other. while unaware OF his identity as
Susans husband is vain Of her supposed con
quest."-are brought iutohumorous feminine COL
luson. An amusing tangle OF Incidents Is the
result-a tsngls that is only little tedious be-
cause the process OF unraveiuent Is carried on
too long. Miss Robson and Miss Irving are both
harnonizsd and contrssted Susan and Rob4nA
Mr. p. B. Warner is easy and gay, as Lord
RathSone acting in vein os light comedy. and
making his p-rsonation OF a thoroughly good fei-
low sympathetic with sentiment and touch OF
tenderness. as we'll as with blur good nature and
q demeanor OF rnirth- Miss Irving, clever h.-sei1
keeps alive the arts and wilss OF Ada Rehan- CT
whom TO some extent, she Is an echo. Expert
snce seems not yet TO have taught Miss Robson 70
discard ssl1-con scdoususss and OBVIOUS aSl1lfce-
This actress does not discriminate az 10
character and therefore her fine iany olt-
,.-e IN no vav from her ohamDerrnaio'
and there ia az times certain hardnsss and mol
lowness IN her vocalizun. that pains the heaIIns
with sense Of insincerity. She had several i"r'1-
nate moments however, in the peEIo-ia
notably that OF the rejection OF Lord Ftatnnone
at+ar,ntad avoval Of love- and that OF the swift and
tncoherent explanation OF the dilemma, explaining
nothing An eccentric old man-servant was irnDer-
souated BY Mr. Reuben Fax who possesses, IN a
remarkable degree. the rare and fine faculty OF
devfstnz traits OF character and blending them
into a natural coherent, symmetrical personality.
The farce does not contain much novelty Of either
situation, incident. mechanism but 1t Is clean.
bright and agreeable and it IS sufficiently well
acted TO preserve Illusion and innpart Innocent
pleasure. An after-piece, called "A Tenement
Tragedy" by Miss Gothilde Graves was acted, Mr..
De Beisville becoming conspicuous IN II. amid grim
surroundings.