New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-10
P|NERO'S NEW PLAY
41he Mind the Paint Girl
Succeeds at Lyceum Theatre.
ollie BURKE MAKES A HIT
~ vital Comedy Capitally Acted
by Everybody in
the Cast.

u,,..o will be two causes for surprise
.nrectjon with the New York pro-
- ,'o,,on OF Pinero's play, 1.-THE Mind the
- 49,, Girl: First. surprise that on the
a. " ,of its original production in Lon
"o .,ere should have been riot; sec
uVi, s,,rnrise that Miss Billie Burke can
O.' .he principal character in this much
r.sa-of comedy. and act so we'll that
holds the serious attention of the
- There can be no question that the
.,oy made a hit at the Lyceum Theatre
20. night that Miss Burke made hit,
"a chat everybody in the cast acted well.
,S.,ber the parts were major or minor.
49, Burke for once took herself seri-
ord because she was in the hands
Aramatist who compels an actress
% bring out whatever powers she may
.,.s.ss she found her audience taking
- seriously. Her prettiness was not her
ale reliance. She employed some art, eX-
,,;h1,sd much article, and really wrought
,,,o, the feelings Of the audience to an
aytsnt quite unexpected by those who
s.vs been reasonably familiar with her
,,ooa work these half-dozen years.
countless columns and pages have been
,-nted during the last seven or eight
,,ontbs about this play by Pinero, The
Mind the Paint Girl" There may be
soms readers OF newspapers who do not
know what the comedy is about, but
tssrs cannot be many. As in the case
~ a certain play by Synge. public at
tsntion was drawn by a stupid disturb
,,ce IN the theatre. They must take
,hs,r musical comedy ladies very seri-
ously in London II they thought this play
an unkind satire on stage favorites,
,our. 10 be resented by stanch souls In
nj, and gallery. To be sure, the play
contains satire, but the satire is not un-
S;rd And nobody here will be offended
nv what is shown OF the private lives OF
q certain kind OF stage players and their
associates and followers. Here so many
things get into the papers" that New
York and Chicago viii think the expert
.nc.s Of Lily Parradell and her group
rather tame. and neither more repre-
h,ns,ble nor vulgar than the goings on
n, more or less fashionable society" in
regions adjacent.
There was a famous song In comedy
that was possibly funny and was incl
dentslly musical. II was called Mind
the Paint" and it made the fame and
fortune Of Lily Parradell, who sang 1t at
the Pandora Theatre. London. LILY, OF
course became the talk Of the town and
Al II haGf0OAn
adorers. Her own origin was poor and
"h"-less Her morals were. as. they Say,
above reproach," and her manners-on
the stage-a veneer OF gentlty over Vul-
gar. II honest. impulses. She knew how
10 take care Of herself" She has a jeal-
GUS If devoted lover IN Captain Nicholas
Jeyes. who ruins himself for her. She
has a worshipping and trusting lover IN
The young Viscount Farncomoe. In the
end she accepts Farncombe. But before
she does 80 she leads Jeyes dance. she
is a birdlike, irresponsible creature, mean
ing no harm, and really doing none. for
she is a means of bringing about the re-
generation of the uncomfortable Jeyes.
HIS regeneration IL, however. touch too
theatrical. But a British dramatist al
WAYS has the colonies as a refuge for his
distressed characters. Pinero sends Jeyes
to Bulowayo, leaving the songbird to the
yiscount.
There is a scene in which Lily PARA
dell unpacks her heart, telling her life
story to the young vlscount, who is
clean cut, worthy fellow. In spite OF his
belongings, as virtuous democracy would
put IT, In this scene Jeyes also tells a
life story The two contribute TO a highly
effective scene, in which there is deep
searching OF deeds and motives, much
poignant distress, any amount OF oppor-
tunity for acting that will hold house
quiet and touch its sympathy. sometimes
in this scene Miss Billie Burke is swept
to and fro by the waves Of emotion which
the dramatst has stirred, and you think
she will presently be overcome by them
and drawn under. But she struggles
oravely, and really succeeds In the con-
test But she Is still an irritating little
piece Of loveliness, Not yet can she walk
gracefully, and still her gestures and bows
are little pecks and mods. All this Will do
very well while she is distractingly pretty
ana archly fascinating. And II may be
the tine and the charm will suffice for
ner ambition. But II would seem not diff
CUT 10 learn the technique Of the stage
"hsn one has constant practice and op-
portunity. But let all this be as II may,
mere Is no denying that Miss Burke
lea H,.ls ~
her even II its demands are at times
more than she quite knows how TO meet.
MT II. Il. Herbert deserved the hearty
applause he received as Jeyes. There are
tmrty-two characters listed on the bill
OF the play. Many OF them are filters. but
they are well nlled. Nothing is over
ora"n' unless II be the sudden change in
'eyes' The portraits OF theatrical folk
are wei done. The sketches OF theatrical
me are faithful You may not like them,
out they Will interest you. II Is unusual
VI new York 70 see play so well cast,
90 Wen staged" 20 we'll performed in
all IT'S parts.
ohhe Burke sings once or twice In q
'a.ching little way. quite suited TO ''musi-
al comedy" where only catching little
Ways seem 10 be required; she dances
eiaceiully And, OF course. everybody
WI go to see her on these accounts. And
AZ" mat she has a chance 10 act, and
1Oes her best with the opportunity, her
pVpu'srity which has been amazing. will
npfease. She has a part which she un-
''slands' and the sincerity Of her per-
'O'Haoce, rather than the art of II. COM