Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-19


tons piece, which Managers Hackett
and Curzon have Just produced at the
savoy ultra-critical persons may per-
haps claim that this clever little play
is too ultra English for American au-
dlences but | do not honestly think
that this is the case, for the very good
reason that this play has no end OF
real fun IN IT, but IN It's central figure
II Hopkinsou-"Oppe" as they call
him--Carton has given the stage a
character which Is practically new
Certainly Mr.. Dallas Wnlford, who
plays the role OF the little cockney
counter jumper who suddenly inherits
great wealth md succeeds In breaking
into society for short time, until he
Il suddenly unmaskcd by his Jilted
sweetheart Eliza Brigg. the ladys
maid, has de his part a really hui
morous creation. There IL never a
dun moment IN the farce while "Oppe"
IS upon the stage Mr. Hopkinsous
undoing Is brought about by certain
streak Of penuriousnoss, which he Is
unable TO get rid OF Even when he finds
himself with an income VI hundreds
Of thousands OF pounds He Is per-
tectly willing TO buy all the motor cars
ana the magnificent residence IN Gros-
venor Place which the duchess, who
~ engineering his social career, insists
that he must have. but no at once
Insists upon letting out the stables IN
order that he may get little bit Of
his money back, Again, when tho
crafty duchess has succeeded in get-
ting him engaged to a famous Lon
don beauty, "Oppe' when II comes
10 the matter OF settlements Is per-
fectly willing TO endow the fair lady
with several hundred thousand
pounds, but he positively refuses to
pay for the registry stamp, which costs
Just 10 shllings and 8 pence, How
ever, before these papers are finally
signed poor HOpkinson encounters
more expensive trouble from a totally
unlocked for quarter. His old sweet
heart, Liza Br!gg suddenly appears on
the scene with bunch of his old love
letters, She has Just been engaged by
Lady Thyra the bride-to-be, and an
nounces to the horror-stricken bride
groom elect that she Is going 10 ac-
company him on the wedding journey.
Hopkinson almost on his knees begs
her TO let bygones be hygones aud pro-
misses that IL she will only be n good
girl and get out OF the way that he'll
give her a ten-pound note But Eliza
only shifts at him and losses her head
in way which denotes more trouble
and very general indication that
there VIII be no wedding bells FOR him.
Ne sooner has the duchess arranged
the business meeting between Hop
hnson ana Lady Thyra's father than
Eliza instantly steps into the picture
and produces the letters, with the ulu-
matum that nothing less than 10000,
TO be produced at once, Will stop her
tongue and assuage her injured feeling
Nothing could be funnier than the
agony OF the little bounder during this
scene. Finally. pressed TO the wall, he
declares that he'll be- blowed IT, he'll
give the Jade penny more than
$4,000. and he will only give that on
condition that Lady Ihyras father
puts up a similar amount, Naturally
this blow almost Kills Lady Thyra's
father, but there Is too large an
amount at stake, so eventually, after
almost reaching apopleXy from rage,
the old man hands his check to Eliza.
With both checks safely In hand Eliza
instantly decamps and ave minutes
later In walks the Lady Thyra, who
! announces that they may spare them
| selves all the trouble Of settlements,
J as she has just been married to a
handsomer but poorer man In the
final scene Eliza returns with tho
money She bids Hopkinson, who By
| this time Is down and out from So
cial point Of view, to take courage and
let her. his old love bind up his ach-
Ing wounds.
Have you got the old toffs Ave thou
there, Eliza, asks "oppe," solicitously.
II most certainly have, Mr.. Hopkin-
son" replies the hand-maid, with her
most engaging smile
well, under those circumstances. my
dear" says Iiopkinson, seeing as 'ow
! should ate 70 see such haristocratlc
money get out Of the family / think IN
have 10 marry you myself. With your
wages and this extra bit Of pocket
money, | ought to be able TO save me
income. Because, darling, dearly as /
have hafSays loved you. you must re-
member IL | marries you that what was
his is ours, what's yours Is mine and
what's mines my own,
Capital as Mr. Walford's performance
Of Hopkinson Is, Miss Annie Hughes as
Eliza easily shares the honors with him
This little actress has long been one OF
the greatest London favorites. In The
Country Mouse" three seasons ago she
created quite "a furore in London, Sha
Is likely to prove just as big fayorite
here In America, for she IL one OF the
most fascinating artists that England
has sent here In n very long time.
In these busy days, when each week
brings at least half dozen changes Of
bills at the metropolitan theaters, Il
must be very strong attraction which
would tempt any Of the reviewers to 20
out OF town 10 get q preliminary
glimpse of IT, And yet | could not re-
sist the temptation OF running up %
Bridgeport, Conn, the other night to sea
what William Gillettes new play Ga
rice" was like OF all the plays Of the
winter few have been awaited with
more interest by theater-goers than this
new piece from the pen Of this famous
playwright The fact that while
London did not like II at all when IL
was originally produced there In Sep
TENDER and that Boston subsequently
raved over II has only whetted New
York's auticipations. but ! very much
fear that "ClarIce" 10 any sane and
who,o-lunged audience cannot fail 10
prove a disappointment / say whole
lunged advisedly, for the whole play
hinges upon a case OF consumption, and
IN spite Of several capital comedy ana
sentimental scenes, the play as a whole
Is unpleasant and narrowing Bridge
port. which IS one OF MIR. Gllette's
strongholds, turned their thumbs down
at IL to a man. The pity Of IL Is all tho
greater when one sees how much spen-
did workmanship an dstagecraft Mr..
Gillette has expended on his play MT
Gillette. like David Belasco and Bron-
son Howard is one Of the very few
American playwrights who devotes
anywhere from one to two years time
10 the construction Of play All three
Of them realize from the quarter Of "a
century or more which each 0t them has
devoted 10 playwrighting that a good