New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-09


Elvira Nanni ................ Edna W. Hopper
The Christmas spirit, as II is not infre-
quently known in the theatre. arrived at
the Maxine Elliott last evening-unrelent-
ing parents melted al last. snowfakes ard
bells. invalid angel child and all. The
guise I'm which il was offered, Mr.. Law
renee Eyres The Things That Count
could scarcely be called n play in the
sense that IL possessed either ideas or
dramatic action. II was rather a collec-
ton OF familiar stage types and situa-
tons, strung together into a harmless and
more or less consistent whole, and thickly
coated with sugar and sentiment appro-
pirate to the holiday season
There were a pair OF grandparents who
lived I'm a big house in Washington Square
and refused to forgive their son for
marrying an actress. There was the one
time actress. now a widow, with one or
those abominably precocious and poetical
angel children, who lived in an East Side
tenement and supported herself by doing
sewing There was doctor who was 10
cure the invalid angel child and marry the
pathetic Young widow. And there were
various subsidiary characters.
There was a Swedish French maid, who
was supposed TO be comic-and possibly
she was-and the butler she was forever
making love 10. There were Irish, Ger
man and Italian neighbors in the tene-
ment. cut strictly to pattern, and there
were-and the spectator was deeply CRATE
fuI for 1.-TWO little tenement house chill
dren.
one Of these was the ragamuiiin little
daughter Of Mrs O'Donovan. the irish
nelghbor. and she was played by tiny
imp of the name OF Maxine Hicks, not
more than nine or ten years old apparent
Is. with a quaint unregenerateness that
was a delight TO all Her inpishness
was particularly grateful In contrast 10
the angel child. who rolled her eyes as
moorily as n miniature Olga Nethersole'
and the pantomme she exhibited when
she was not talking had a light and ac-
curate touch which we'll might have been
initiated by some Of the older players
The other little tot was brunette fairy
I'm a pink ballet sklrt. one Edna W. Hop
per. according to the programme. the
daughter Of tho Italian neighbors, VINO
were going 20 make a dancer OF her. she
didn't do much but look cute but TINS
she did with such complete success tiat
several OF Tho curtain calls after the
second act were undoubtedly due 10 the
audiences amused desire 10 see her
again
I, il pcrhaps needless 20 explain that
| the grandparents who started out by
being very selfish and unforgiving In Their
Washington Square house. ended by for
! giving everything. and completing the
porfect Christmas card picture. Mr.. Hen
uaberrv was heupecked and Mrs. lienna'
berry very opinonated and stubborn with
a warm stage heart very close 10 mel
crustaceous surface. In the experienced
hands OF Miss Florne Arnold she was
often amusing and az real as such q
| figure could well be. MIR. Albert Reed
az Mr.. Hennaberry. repeated the sketch
Of the pussy-foOted, squelched HUSBAND
he has given successfully before aho
Miss Alice Brady was pleasantly natura'
as the poor young widow.
| Mr.. Laurence Eyre gave one Vl the
most entertaining performances OF the
! author that has been seen In many nFs'
nights. Unlike the usual craven Vctih
| Mr.. Eyre was beaming like sprihs
morning. embracing every one OF the
company he could lay hands on and APP
| bearing to have the time OF MS ne
! The audience was having a good time
zoo. and would have liked to have had
sneech from Mr.. Eyre, who seemed noth'
ing loath to respond, and probably "oulo
hay. done 80 had not it been Tor MS
evident terror Of Mr.. William y. Brady'
the producer, who had defeated seVera
Of his irnpetuous previous efforts to dash
ON the stage and stood glowering oy th'
curtain rope. enough TO strike terror into
g.. marc autbor's heart. 4. Il.