New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-21
Cort Theatre Opens with Hart
ley Manners Comedy.
NEW STAR GETS OVATION
Laurette Taylor Plays with
Telling Characterization
as an Irish Lass.


deal Of the former in New York and
starvation rations of the latter. Last
night, however. pleasure was reused and
a good bit more than usual Of il was
shown. After the second ect Peg was
forced by determined applause to make
a speech, and Peg-not LaGrette Taylor
responded. For once the curtain speech
was p success and roses sailed through
the air from a stage box TO fall AT the
feet Of new star as tribute Of pleas
ure
peg o. Ny Heart should redeem Mr..
Manners from a recent Lndiscretion al
the Harris Theatre II Is not problem
play and has no artillery Of any sort. It's
purpose IS TO provide some people with
mat eral for acting and with thanks Y
should be accepted. Plays are largely
given to providing material for taking
but when a little acting along with IN"
talk t. longed for. one must revert 10
Sheridan. Shakespeare or some one nea'-
" obsolete IT, bringing 10 nina tho
pleasure there IS in acting. Peg as
modern play, has accomplished great
deal. Perhaps the future drama VIII ann
10 combine serious thinking and the arr
of acting. but there is no use In waning
everything 10 happen at once.
Peg comes out Of America and falls
unannounced upon family OF Enshsh
aristocTats of the conventional story pook
kind. She walks into their library WIN
her clumsy travelling bag IN her hahu
and a shabby-but genuine-dog under her
other arm.
Il was told to wait" is all she says IN
explanation Of her call OF herself.
It seems she has been wilied on the
Chichesters by a relative just dead. She
il the daughter OF runaway sister "l
the family who married beneath hel s's-
ton and went off 10 America. reg mas
had no advantages. except poverty winch
let her see something Of life. Her lrish
father. whom she describes az the DeSt
man in the world. gave her her lltidh
hair. her quaint brogue and her VII pu'
nothing else. The wealthy English reia-
tive who offered her education in Eng
land died while she was crossing the
ocean. and wllled her on his sister MrS'
Chichester.
The light and shadow OF contrast De
tween the convention petrified Chiches'els
and the Just plain Peg forms the whole
play. Peg defies any one TO make
lady of her" As for learning "Ha'
the use o. her KNOWN the heights oi
mountains she's never goin' to chilo OF
the history OF lot o kings that shou'd
a been ashamed o. themselves!
She falls I'm love with Sir Gerald,
Young executor Of the will which has
nd
her TO a dance after she was forbidden
to go
'IH 90 mad il l don't GO she de-
clares. swaying to the rhythm OF an I'M
aginarv waltz NO one smiles In TINS
house I'm crazy with it all
She wonders why they keep her there
they all disapproye of her so sterniy-
her aunt and her cousins Ethci ana
Alaric She does not know That the WI"
allowed Il thousand pounds a year to Inc
one who should provide Peg with a homo
and an education. and this Chichester
family. having recently lost all their
means. are living on this income
There are in and outs of plot-a side
affair between Ethel and some one abe
should not run away with, and other
things which Peg straightens out. reg
is A great little straightforward. II the
pIaygoer Is not too sophisticated she can
make life look simple and graceful all
during the evening for him. too. note |
of Measure struck is an amazing sim |
pliier
Almost all plays Of to-day are by TOT I
or about women. The only thing they
al - IA
for women to play. Women Oh the stage |
are deliberately gowned bones Of cunten- |
ton whose part Is To sit or stand about |
like patience on a pedestal and watch tho
battle rage over them II the playgoer |
becomes so used 10 this as not to miss the
acting OF women, the sketch-artist does !
not Ask him what women on the stage |
are interesting for drawing purposes and
his list will be small, indeed. They are |
all well looking, well gowned and express |
sioness. The fault is not theirs. They |
are pla aging the role assigned them. For |
this reason more than any other Peg |
is a relief. 1t provides a capital acting |
part i'm the little lrish waif, who, III clad |
and stranger To the social whirl. but |
bonny, sagacious and natural wanders in |
10 break up the world Of fashion at Regal |
villa and lift the weights from every |
ones shoulders.
Laurette TAYLOR, on her first night OF
stardom in New York, made a great hit |
as the whimsical Peg. Pleasing she was
I'm THE Bird Of Paradise" she aid not |
characterize her part as she did last |
night. There is the spark of genuine act
ing i'm her Pee-not PLAYING
II. Reeves Smith a. the only human |
Englshman" played with his usual feel |
ing and variety. The others were accept |
able. The play ran off with most unusual |
smoothness and finish for a first night. !
II was one Of the few occasions when q I
first night audience saw as good "A per- |
Torrance as any audience which will fol- !
low.
The new Cort Theatre which was de-
signed and built by Edward B. Corey, |
has already been frequently described. IL |
proyes TO be as delightful as the descrip- |
lions would have 1t. The rose color when |
nreyails in curtains and box decorations |
is Of that mellow and curious shade used |
in the old French embroideries in the |
time of Louis XVI. IT lights up with a |
glow which cannot fail TO cheer any eye |
that finds delight in right colors. The |
dance IN the Gardens OF Versailles, a !
scene painted on the sounding board has
a charmingly decorative spirit
Happy DAYS for the future of Peg
CAST OF PEG o. NY HEART"
80 IL