New-York tribune., 1910-09-25
THE DRAMA
''The Little OamozeI," by yMonck-
ton Hoffe. at Comedy Theatre.

A pleasing play, perfectly acted at al
points and in all parts. For these reasons
the entertainment offered is of uncommon
quality. There is Atmosphere. and the
persons who appear I'm IL belong In H. me
play itself will not endure serious analysis
II Is artificial theatrical in streaks. and ~
leaves YOU a bit uncertain about some
things But the acting does not The
Little DarozeT'' was produced in London
last season by Mr. Charles Hawtrey. who
assigned to himself the character of Reck-
law Poole. On Saturday night. at the Com
edy Theatre Mr.. Cyril keightley was the
Reckie. If Mr.. Hawtrey were any better
than Mr.. Keightey, who came from Lon
don for this production. he must have been
sstonishingIy clever. Another Engiishman
Mr. George Graham. was first rate at the
Comedy He reminded one very much OF
Mr.. Cyril Maude. and he had cyril Maude
mart. Then there was Mr.. Henry Wenman.
who appeared as the proprietor Of a Bo-
bemjan cafe. and who left literally moth
ing to be desired In his representation But
II was by Miss May Buckley. whose dainty
beauty. dainty ways and captivating skill
whether in passages of coquetrv or scorn.
anger or pIayfuIness. deep feeling or rip
ming r,irth. were we'll worth watching,
that the chief share of praise was earned
Miss RrcLIev was the little damozel. Julie
A1ardv, harpist of the Blue Hungarian
Rand at the Caf6 Angelique. in London.
somewhere in Soho. and probably up there
behind ST. Anne's Church, where there are
a dozen of these places in row And
there are several rows Jufe-weH. II there
we're such a girl as May Buckleys Juiie
in such a cafe she would make the fortune
of the place Oddly enough. the business
of the Cafe Angelique is lanSuishlng, aho'
as WaIly Angel. the proprietor says 10
kept alive only by the largesse or captain
Neil Partington. a person OF sunlptuouS
raiment and large wealth In New hoth
the reporters would describe hlm dS
cIubrnan and there would be stories. more
or less accurate of his wine supPelo.
And he would be-but. never mind ne
scattered pounds sterling In Sono, loEeu
Julie the harpist. was betrothed 70 her. anu
wrote to her letters of his sad-doS days
Then he transferred his well-to-do anec-
| tions to a lady of station Julie tnen piO-
| posed to use his letters to his undolns-
But he persuades Recklaw Poole-tne per
suasion being f15.O1o-to marry Juhe anu
get the letters. Reckie, who is IN disgrace
| through his adventures on the tufI anu
elsewhere. Jumps at the chance so does
| julie VINO is 1O0G OF ulllA anu oNNS--
that he is being paid to jump
lust what Mr. Monckton Hoffe, the au-
thor. is aiming at here IS not plain as a
nilxestaff. Was Julie the mistress of Part
| ington? You rather guess that she was
but when YOU see Miss BuckIey's Julie you
| don't believe that your guess is near the
| mark. But 5000 is a large sum even for
tho records Of "a cIubmans'' life- And II
Ju1fa were the good girl of the domestic
| drama would she not return the letters
without attempting to make trouble? But
ahf II is quite plain that Mr.. HOffe doesn I
make it plain Take. then, Miss Buckley $
| Julie for the voucher, as winsome a wee
| woman as ever was seen. of the right sort,
right through. Let IL go at that You
| mustn't be exacting in Bohemia, that
mythical island OF social democracy where
| pals and 'chums' abound. where the ten
commandments do not jostle the populace
and where despite the fact that the Golden
| Rule does not hang over the fireplace, the
| men and women come and go. live and
laugh. or despond and die. without hyper
critical comment or hypocritical obituaries
| II is lust as we'll not to tell the story Of
Mr. Monckton Hofre's play because. para
| doxicaI though II may seem, the story IS
weaker than the play. And yet II IS attrac-
| tive in a way. like, say. a bohemian dinner
| at certain cafes YOU know OF. but DO not
| frequent. All comes out right In the end'
| inst as the dinner belI does-for the house
| And you come away from the play with
some contentment, wishing again to see
Miss Buckley. Mr. Keightley, Mr.. Graham
| and their companions. among whom Is Nh
| Henry VogeI. who plays old Papa Bar
/ thoIdv. the bandmaster. For what you
are convinced of is that you have seen the
best acted play in New York thus far this
! season There Is not a shadow Of doubt
| about that
! The play is in three acts, and IL lets out
| at 1O:45 O'Clock. for which ''the gods give
| us low" There is clever dialogue THIS
| man Hoffe can write He is young ana
has something 10 learn about playmaking,
| but he has shown that it is worth while
| TO encourage him. There's very pleasant
| evening to be had at the Comedy, because
| after all is said and done. the piece Is
| entertaining and somebody has really put IL
| on with attention to details. 10 that usually
! lin New York; missing attribute "atmos-
| nhere'' and because every player is in the
| right place. every one is In the picture
| There's a cIean-cut effect in the perform
| ance which Is refreshing How much OF
this Is due to the players themselves IL
| easily seen-but that is not all The cast
was selected with good Judgment. and the
| production supervised by somebody VINO
knew how Result: illusion. the rarest re-
suit on the New York stage. Another word
| of praise for Miss Buckley nothing
| sveeter, more tender, nothing lovelter and
| tr,1er has been seen in long time than
her Jules confession of love, at the end
| of the play This sort of thing is usually
spoiled by young actresses. but Miss Buck
lev made 1t all memorably touching by ex-
ouisite moduIations of expression in face
and voice and motion A delightful little
actress in whom is the life of the play
a ".
CAST OF THE LITTLE DAMOzEI."
ReCklaw Poole. ----.-.tEEll heI-ulieF
The Hon Fitzroy Lock. George Graham
Captain Neil PartingtOn- Frank Lacy
Papa BarthOldy- Henry Nogei
Franz Pepo- Harry fraser
Abraham ...--...--.-.--..--- .haphael Newman
Clifford -FidITS IHAI
SityI Craven MARY OoIse