The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-29
HILDA SPONG IN "LADY JIM"
DIAPHANOUS COMEDY AT JOE
WEBERS MUSIC HALL.

A Play 90 Thin You Car See Thr ough Ht.
n q N1ystery Toe Thick to Explain
-Reaex Of n. q. Carton n II. 4.
jones' sfiss spong Laboss in Vain.
It's vastly amusing about the midnight
supper, the violets and the olohk-at least
90 the audience at Joe Weber's Music Hall
was assured last night, the occasion being
the appearance OF Mise Hilda spong In o
three sot comedy, Lady JIM II 90, the
author, Mr.. Harold Heaton, should have
told. us about those articles Of midnight
diversion and apparel, for his piece, though
II has some bright lines and oleverly sketched
situations, 10 not vastly anything except
light and thin.
Az It stands, Mr.. Heaton does not explain,
and q play that 10 more diaphanous than the
costumes usually on view at this theatre
ends In q mystery as thick as pea soup and
about as interesting.
On tho face Of Il II Is an attempt In the
manner 90 the modern English school Of
comedy. Mr.. Heaton 10 himself an English
actor reeidens here. But his models are the
secondary products Of that school. and the
imitation falls far short Of ever its modest
original.
Miss Spong was as deliberately gracious
and deliberately vivaoious as ever, and she
worked in~telligently to put life and charm
into the performance. But unless all signs
fail the life OF the production will be short.
Lady Jim Ia q maiden still young enough
to DO chaiYed about her advancing years
and still spirited and irresponsible enough
to be a dangerous object Of teasing. Her
niece, Winifred, Is engaged to Lieut.. Geof-
1904 vhA haa a Hon,tfaftNn for tha riuFa NJ
| gallantry on this mig ht~lycarpet; and in order
to learn whether he is a proper person to
| marry an innocent girl she makes an ex-
petition to his rooms at the wftchng hour
1 10 see what fairies she can discover in the
enchanted ring Of. his midnigh lamp. The
| fruits Of her search are the aforesaid supper
and violets and cloak, but the lady eludes
mised.
The result 10 that the youthful Winifred
| cries of with Lieut.. Godfrey, and presently
Is engaged 70 Lcrd Amy, e silly ass Of the
who has long sooed Ladv jim, and a Nine:
Mottison-Jones, who owns the cloak and
may have been the intended object OF the
violets and the supper, prolong the action
without enliyening 1t, and In the end IL Is
dashing young Lieutenant, as It has been
evident from the outset that she must.
| At the Anal curtain 1t Ii intimated that the
secret Of the cloak will be divulged In the
mystic privacy Of matrimony-and not
beyond Il.
The plain fact is that nobody cares. MIR.
Carton made a comedy Of the rich Mrs.
Repton, who interfered In the love affair
OF helpless youth; and In spite Of q very
real wit and much knowledge OF Theatre
Jones made a mystery play Of the white
washing of J1lia, and he also failed, but
because his theme was too intellectual
and his satire too. delicate and keen for
the public Of Broadway. Mr.. Heaton has
only a fraction Of Mr.. Cartons aldll and
briliancy and none Of Mr.. Jones's vigorous
intelligenoe-hence these tears.
The fact is that the piece does not for a
moment convince one as being true. The
story and sit4ations are obviously actor
from the point Of view Of the stage and not
from that Of life. The wit bears q hall
mark-whioh In matters dramatic mean
~the1everse Of authenticity. Z The die havin 4
bean cut, almost n one can use it.
The hasstsrsn.'. conduct toward his
and compelling; but In fact 1t is the conduct
| Of a cub who ought to be licked. Major
Carrington's' plot to force the. Lieutenant
TO avoid, abandon and surrender the fas.
c9inatins Lady Jim is cheer S elaSkm : and
| man and drum q soldier out Of his regi-
ment.
In the character and conduct Of his heroine
MIR. Heaton had a better. opportunity; but
be Is so far from taking advantage Of It that
one never gets beyond a Willingness to be
Interested In her and her fate.
The three acts are prettily staged. but
the acting is mediocre and the stage man
agement negative. As the Leutenant Mr..
Herbert Percy helped on the impression Of
Incredible cubbishness. Mr.. CHARLES Har-
b,,rv did bettar IA the Nj ior but WAS
hopelessly handicapped by his part. The
Wtnifred Of Miss Antolnette Perry had
some girlish charm and the dawning Of
intelligence.
As Lord Alny Mr.. Lionel Walsh cleverly
denoted aristocratio imbecilty but lacked
aristocratic distinction. Mr.. Fred G. Pat
terson had two small parts. as a valet and
as an incredible servant in an impossible
club, and made more than would have
seemed possible OF both Of them. Miss
Spong was beautifully gowned as usual;
the d priori conclusion was that the cloak,
n thing of beauty In it's way. was hers.