New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-02
THE DRAMA

"The Lights O. London Is Re-
vived at the Lyric Theatre.
The Lights O. London" stirring melo-
drama Of thirty years ago, was trium-
phsntly successful in revival at the Lyric
Theatre on Monday night-not as melo-
drama. however. but in the spirit of farce.
The actors did not play il farcically, mind
you but the first night audience insisted
upon taking it that way.
Inasmuch as the theatrical season is we'll
nigh over. there were large number OF
stage folk in the audience. There were
others too who knew the old play by heart.
They fairly waited at the corners for tho
familiar lines of the villain. Clifford Army
tage, spoken by the gentlemanly Charles
Richman They thirsted for the sobs OF
the heroine, Bess Marks. impersonated by
the lovely Miss Doris Keane But after
the expected came. in place OF the shud-
ders Of a generation past there were the
laughs of to-day. Instead OF the tear OF
sympathy there were the smile and chuckle.
The audience was not altogether respon-
sibe for this new attitude toward the melo-
drama They were given the cue by sew
eral unexpected things that happened dur
inc the early part of the performance.
When A perfectly serious rohber and muir
derer like Seth Preene, impersonated by a
Vicious looking man with the voice of Hol-
brook BIinn. tries unsuccessfully several
lines 10 extnguish the electric lights lin
ipp T.
vine spark Of Squire Armytage. Edward
I.mery. il does not produce the proper
frame Of mind in the auditor, even though
the would be robber bring his hand down
upon the lamp very hard, with crash.
Then. TOO. while the robber struggles with
the lamp. the Squire is forced TO wait IN
his chair for the fatal act While the
about to- be- murderer struggles with the
aforesaid lamp. In the mean time the
Squire sees that the murderer is Seth
Preene the north country poacher. whom
be knows as well as he knows his own
image So when the Squire saws in Gasps
(after the ASSAULT that the near assassin
was his own son, Harold Armytage the
handsome and gentle William CourtenaD,
the remark does not carry conviction TO
the audience.
Other inishaps also came 70 Mr.. Blnn.
His long stcnmed clay pipe was broken ny
the clumsy jim. the props and his DIE
bass drum This. of course. raised
laugh Another one came when the be-
whiskered Seth (the same Holbrook Blinn)
tried to LIGHT his cigar. and couldn't from
the solitary little gas jet that lurked at one
side Of the stage fireplace. Then when
II
The station house. just In time to receive
the curtain on their shoulders and helmets,
The atn1osphere Of seriousness was again
dissipated
And in the last act the audience fairly
waited for the familiar Then he betrayed
me-" And when il issued from the mouth
Of the gentlemanly villain. Clifford Army
tase Charles Richnlan). everybody just
shouted And toward the end when the
dear little heroine Bess Marks MISS
Keane) said 10 her husband, after the
worst vas over: And then we Will go
back to the dear OLD home" Joy reigned
in orchestra and gallery.
II was very evident that some Of the
actors did not know exactly how to take
the reception they We're getting. When
the PASSED before the c'Ktain in single ME
each one was most cordially applauded.
Miss Keane got her share. and Mr.. Court
enav his Hobrook Rlinn was cheered, and
so was Thomas A. Wise. who. by the way
was never more delightful than in the part
Of Jarvis.
Miss Leonora Harris was literally ap-
plauded for her work as Hetty Preene.
Miss Jeffreys Lewis was capital as Eliza
Jarvis and the audience took pains that
she should know it. Douglas Fairbanks.
Lawrance D Orsay, Thomas Q. Seabrooke
Frank Hatch, Marguerite Clark and all
the rest were applauded to the echo. The
crowd felt SO good that 1t Kissed Charles
Richman in good old-time fashion. Mr..
Richmans face darkened-for a moment
he didn't know how TO take it. Then the
whole house laughed. but Mr.. Richman
saw the point.
II was really a wonderfully good cast and
nearly everybody played his part very well
indeed BY reason Of the fact that there
were so many stars in the company tbs
audience seemed 20 take all the more pleas
IRE in getting as much fun as possible out
Of the actors But il was all in good
nature and indicative only Of appreciation
and satisfaction
William A. Brady gave the play an elab-
crate production. The scenes al Armytage
Hall. on the road TO London and on the
bridge were as beautiful as could be de
sired
The old play has not yet lost its appeal
in spite Of its theatric devices and It's
rnaudlin sentiment 1t is still rich in its
suggestion OF sympathy for the weak and
unfortunate; il has at least one real dra-
matte situation and there IS intervening
comedy that really entertains.
c.c.r az, ...rur LIGHTS q, LONDON