New-York tribune., 1910-09-02
THE DRAMA
"The Upstart' Is Presented at
Maxine EIiiott's Theatre.

Mr.. Tom Barry tso his name Is an
nounced) is to be congratulated upon writ
ing his first play (subject: divorce) in the
form of a farce-comedy rather than as a
dTtma bidding for serious corsderation-
Such a step enabled him to hide a serious
face behind a mask of frivolity, Tor IN
his farce. The Upstart, which vas nitro
duced at Maxine Eliott's Theatre last
night he had a message. and he let IL
come largely through the mouth of young
cub whom he did not ask TO be taken Sc
riousIy.
The audience liked Mr.. Barry's piay-u
liked it immensely In justice 70 the actors.
however let it be said the audience ikeo
it better than they would probably IKE 1t III
written form or in noveIized version, Tor
there the impossible character OF CoNeh'iZ
Penmore (the upstarD is accumulated. ana
the boredom of much talking-parucula
in the first acts more glaringly patent
,,oventrv Penruore is a young chap who
had beer expelled from college because ne
got up in chapel and advocated affinlties a.
The remedy for divorce. He went home 10
his father who decided that the best thlns
for him to do was to go to the house OF
his friend. Judge Mitchell, in Elwood' y j.
vbere he might be cured of his vague
rotions Coventry arrived. He began oS
saving that he understood that EI"oou
was botbed of divorce, and he con-
dernned Judge Mitchell and his SON tile
Pow lanes as the prime factors response
bic for the situation. He refused 70 stay o.
Judge Mitchell finally persuaded MIN u
change his mind. however, So COVehlIS
hapau to find a field for his theories III the
domestic affairs of the Rev. and MrS-
Mitchell on the evening of his ARRIVAL nc
found that Beatrice, the wife OF the Rev
lanes was flirting with Larry O'NeliI the
chauffeur He heard Larry declare MS loNe
for Beatrice and arrange for an elopeiiieii1
the next dav. He was delighted And ne
quite agreed that Beatrice mad the I'7iiO
to be happy He took part IN the plans Ioi
q runaway and rehearsed Beatrice III what
she was 10 say to her husband III al
abstract way he convinced the Kew James
that if his wife should tell him that sue
loved another the proper thing tor MN W
! say was: MY first consideration IS your
( happiness 1t will break my heart 10 lose
. YOU, but if you love him more thah you uo
I me I beg of you 10 go to MIN
/ However. the plan failed. When Beatrice
/ made her startling announcement the f'e y
James refused to let her go beatF'oe
| dashed away in neY fathers automopie'
nevertheless. only TO be oVertaheh VIZ"
| the motor broke down James came ATOMS
/ later and said the very thing that 'oF-
| entry wanted him 10 say. ana bed'l''N
70 iacted the chauffeur and went back nome
/ with her husband The outcome, ho"e'e'
| did not satisfy Coventry and ne went
away disguised
John WestIey is entitled TO very Erea.
credit for his excellent tmpers"natlon u
! Coventry Peumcre dhe upstarD- y Hl'''
impossible creature could scarcely oe ere
ated. vet by sheer force of imashlatioA
Mr. WestIey succeeded IN making the young
man real David Cilassford was most
convincing Rev. Mitchell George W ood-
ward was capital Judge Mitchell Francls
Rvrne did we'll a. Larry o NeiiL a ehauI-
feur. Miss Cowi was charming in appear
ance as the young wife of the clergy man.
hut she was so conscious of the impression
that she was making upon the audience
that much of the effectiveness of her acting
was lost.
CAST OF THE UPSTART
Tavid 0TIaSSt ORD