New-York tribune., 1910-01-04
DRAMA
OTIS Skinner IN a Neao Play at
the Gnrick Theatre.

Mr. Otis Skinner appeared last night in
one. Of those harmless but inevitable Tark-
.ngton-wilson plays which fall Of late
,,pon the. stage like autumn leaves in Val
,ornbrcss. The Harrington Wilson plays
ere as sweet as q confecticner's shop and
hacked with sentiment in every scene
Your Humble Servant is the latest of
these: that is 10 say. the latest to come be-
fore an audience in New York AR Skin
ner made 2 speech al the end OF the third
act. and this gem Of rhetoric crowded, one
suspects, by the authors OF the play) con-
Guided with the thanks of the Humble
Servant who delivered il. Perhaps that is
why the play bears its name. In that case
Mr. Skinner must be expected TO make
speech at every performance, although this
is rather iaborioas method OF explaining
why day is day. night night and time is
time. or why the new Harrington Wilson
play has one name instead of another.
once there FSas a play called His Majes-
tvs Servants" Il was about the actors of
Drury Lane. Your Humble Servant is
play about actors on the road in hard luck.
and in New York in prosperity Mr. Skin
uer impersonates the chief actor, one La
fayette Towers. described on the pro-
grsmme as IAN optinist' and revealed in
OF Wilkins Micawber, the Brothers CHEEKY
ble and David Garrick (stage version
Lafayette Towers is a transformer, and
in the first act he is seen with the barn
storming company Of which he is mem
ber on The stage of the Weedsport Opera
House. behind the scenes, of course, where
: stagehand is grinding out rain, wind.
thunder and lightning, and the local Sheriff
is IN possession OF the players trunks,
II the company is Margaret Druce. q.
ward of Lafayette Towers. There is also
Dick Prentice, the runaway son OF q New
York millionaire. Dick being in love with
Margaret. you now have the essential ele-
ments Of the story. For Of course.
Towers loves her. too. and as usual in
these cases. the young lady doesn't know
of the elder mans affection. The manager
Of the company runs away with the
oeipts. and the actors are stranded Dick,
1-ho IS e cad, returning TO his millionaire
or billionaire-father. BY and by Isidore
Blum. the absconding manager. turns UP
again. Towers and Margaret lend him their
last SIS part Of il, by the way, is Dicks
TO bet on "a sure thing racing tip. and
the fellow returns with $50 in winnings,
which he shares with the stranded pair.
Now the luck turns, and Towers and his
ward go into vaudeville as The Belmonts.
Subsequently Margaret Druce is starred
III the legitimate makes e great success
and reQuites Towers's long tried devotion.
The play is all for Mr. Skinner. whose
acting is quite remarkable. He drew the
sanguine and undaunted transformer to
the life. and surely won the approval Of
su attentive audience
Mr. SINNERS acting not only saves the
play which is {. very slight if very sent-
mental affair, but IL adds 10 his long list OF
successful aracterizations- All the same.
u Is less worthy his powers than one could
wish II. His part is one that appeals TO a
stay and yet doubts may fairly be held
about the sdvisa bility Of turning the stage
inside cut fer The delectatior of theatre
going crowds. It Is quite the thing nova
dzvs for dramatists and actors 70 exhibit
life behind the scenes. or what passes for
thar life. They appear 70 be bent upon de-
srroying what little power Of Illusion they
have permitted tl2eir calling 10 retain But
surely II the stage has any purpose beyond
the making Of z commercial profit that
purpose Is not fulfilled by holding the mir
ro- I'D 10 the life Of the theatre instead OF
70 the life OF the world AIr. SINNERS
company supports him well but without
making any special claims for commando
ton a w