New-York tribune., 1907-11-07
THE DRAMA.
MADISON SQUARE THEATRE.
THE Coming of Mrs. Patrick. "

4Ae OOmlnS OIL Mrs. Patrick.
The purpose of this comedy-"The Coming of
MIS- MIS- Fatrlck' by Rachel Crothers, happily pro-
uuced last night. at the Madison Square Theatre
and received with favor by an interested audi
ence-ls TO portray the character of a noble self
sacrlhclnS woman, who comes into the domestic
life OF a moro or less representative New York
4dllliS ana by her tact discretion, and expeditions
conduct, benefits every one of its members and
causes happiness where. before her coming, there
was a cloud of dissension and discomfort. The
rect of the mechanism, the analytic observer of
human nature is the assumption that and
woman. each Of fine and sensitive nature. can
LOT long time. be in love with each other and
neither of them be of what is existent In the
heart or the other. The fault OF the style is
lavish use OF hippancy and slang; but unhappily,
that trait IN the play is only too faithful copy
OF a prevalent trait in contemporary social life
All the s&me.-since the stage ought to conserve
refinement of manners and beauty of speech,-it
must be earnestly wished that comedy could be
written without slang and manners portrayed with
out coarse eXuberanCe.
In this play the picture Of manners IS photo-
graphic. The action passes in the house of Rich
ard Lawton, elderly New York banker and It
duplicates twelve persons. The bankers wife,
who does not appear-is understood TO a chronic
invalid, and the family physician, Dr. Bruce. IS
attendant on her. while Mrs Patrick at the In
stance Of the physician, is employed as her nurse
Lawton has a son, Billy Lawton. who is a good
fellow at heart, but wayward and inclined to dis
| sipauon; and presently it is indicated that he is
bent on making a marriage with a girl of low
station, Crssy Heath, artists model,-who has
been Victimized by elegant blackguard named
Dudley birmingham, but rescued and befriended
by Mrs. Patrick Lawton has two daughters: FL
lnOr, cold formal girl, inclined to love Dr.
Bruce. and Nina, frolicsome kitten for whose
hand Dudley Birmingham is a sutor, and therein
a temporarily favored rival Of another and
worthier matrimonial aspirant Tom Crowell. 1t is
promised that DR. Bruce and Mrs. Patrick have
long been acquainted and that secretly. they have
long loved each other but have been parted and
have never spoken. In the sequent action the bur
den of duty imposed Mrs. Patrick is,-witnout
meddlesome interference,-to safeguard the girl
Crissy Heath. whom she has saved from life of
shame, TO prevent young Lawton from making the
rutnous mistake OF an injudcious marriage and to
accomplish the repulse of Birmingham. with whose
crime she IS acquainted. Her fulflment OF that
duty creates circumstances that seem to be dis
graceful TO herself. especially in the eyes of the
man whom she loves, and her acceptance Of the
situation provides for the comedy both thrill of
noble emotion and a momentary but positive touch
of pathos.
One of the finest fbres in this braid of fiction is
the instructive apprehension of each other that the
two women Mrs. Patrick and Ellinor Lawton,
shown 10 have, at their first meeting when each
perceives the latent concealed love of the other
for their friend the excellent and manly physician.
Delicate, womanlike perception. indeed IS one Of
the most pleasing attributes of this comedy. Tho
play begins in shade and gloom-a living picture OF
discomfort and fret but It ends In light and
shower OF roses. All through it there is a percep-
tion of the anomalies OF life: that circumstances
tyrants that it IS through affections
that we are rewarded or punished: that some per-
sons must be happy, and that some must suffer;
and that nothing is inscrutabe as the moral
government OF this world. Well might Hamlet
excaim:
VIII The i5 hart 5hg uagaSd sTiiSd" pisy dsyF 60
For some must watch while some must sleep
Thus the world away!
Intrlnsically the comedy is not strong one, but
IT possesses character. incident. feeling. cumulative
movement and valuable meaning. Tho eXpedient
to which the heroine is driven. OF saving tpsy
boy from folly and disgrace by making him sun
more tipsy, is effective but IL cannot be deemed
artistcally felcltous. Her pretence Of false posi-
ton and her acceptance Of a disgraceful personal
mputation. in the later scene when she achieves
her final victory. stronger and finer eXped!ents
Much however. depends on the acting ana more
especially on the acting OF the representatives or
Mrs Patrick Billy" Iawton, DR. Bruce and
C.rissv Heath Each Of these performers gave
evidence Of zeal fine intelligence. careiuI STUDY
and conscientious eudeayor. II was tho authors
error TO provide an excess Of talk TO make doctor
consult various other persons instead or ordering
his ARRANGEMENTS to be made prior 20 the perform
ance Of a surgical operation and somewhat TO I'M
pede movement by eXtraneous episodes,-such as ue
cooks interview with the nurse. more rapid
action IS Imperative 10 the success OF the play; ana
probably that will come The acting Of Miss Laura
Nelson HaI-who very cordially welcomed
was marked by force OF Will. authority OF de
Yneanor and proficient executive facility. The
mart Is not one that necessitates wide. or
even a considerable, departure from the usual
condition of fine womanhood. In other words
not much opportunity is afforded by II lot
inpersonaton. Miss Hall had little more TO do
than TO act herself. Her voice, perhaps affected
nv nervous tremor, lacked sympathetic quality ana
the chief impression that she conveyed was lha0
of n somewhat stern personality. In her working
I'm Of the tipsy scene with Billy LaWton ana IN
the still more exigent with Crissy Heath
however she evinced complete command or her
dramatic resources and of the situation showing
a clear purpose and attaining to its distinct ful-
hlment Force, far more than tenderness
seems to be her predominant character
ts+ic The acting of Mr.. Walter Ihonas
as RuIv Iawton. is especially to be commended for
9deIjtv 10 a true conception Of kindly. foolish
cub Of bow and to an artistic scheme of inebrlety
making that condition effective without making
II ofrpsive Mr. Melville Stewart, in the rather
thanBless part OF Dr. Bruce, personihed elegance
rectitude. and kindness, and pleased by speaking
eyerv sentence with excellent discretion and taste
Tho reception accorded the comedy was an
INV of a prosperous run W. w.
CAST OF THE COMING OF MRS PATRICK"
melville stewart
Walter Thomas
C,rOwel IttSI '. al
dudley Birmingham. Charles DouEls Eoourh
Matthews george n Nisella
EllinOr Lawton t HeNa
lawton
Par TX.