New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-22
THE FAMILY CUPBOARD"
Owen Davis's New Departure Is
MeIodrama Still.
MIXED entertainment
From Drawing Room Drama to
Vaudeville Sketch-Likely
To Be Popular.

" IMAM n DI dugs WHO pIOuuffu Wv II
Dayis's The Family Cupboard" at the
Playhouse last night called 1t a great
play in the little speech with which he
introduced the author at the end of tn
third act But If not that, it is likely to
prove a highly successful one. To that
extent the managers faith in Mr.. Davis
will most probably be vindicated. The
melodrama. for that ii Is. and nothing
else. is certainly capital entertainment
from first to last. the interest and the
comic reliefs being carried with increas-
ing pace from the first to the end Of the
last act
The Family Cupboard" contains
little Of everything. from drawing room
drama in the first act to farce in the last
I, begins with the rich and fashionable
New York family so familiar nowadays
OF the stage and in fiction. whittier they
have been more or less accurately trans
ferred from real life The father a money
maker, has been for five years practically
stranger I'm his own house His wife
has played the society game so intensely
that the great affection cnce existing be-
tween them has. though not killed. been
at least oyerlaid with Indifference Their
daughter serious girl. is about to be
married Their son is wastrel The
man is on the verge Of bankruptcy.
When he informs his wife Of this re-
morse seizes upon her. the old love
awakens within her and then the son. in
an intoxicated quarrel with his father.
accuses him Of having kept a mistress
for several years past The family cup
board Is open. A separation is 10 be fol-
lowed by divorce. The husband. repent
ant dismsses the woman who has been
his secret companion. and she. furious at
being cast of. swears 70 be even. Her
revenge takes the form Of a successful
attempt TO ensnare the son.
Here melOdrama enters undisgused
The son determines TO marry the woman
even after he has discovered the rela-
ton that has existed between her and his
father. What saves him In the end. al
ter a most violent scene In which ne
strikes his parent. is not the efforts OF
the latter. OF his sister and her future
husband. or OF his mothers social secre-
tary. who is In love with him. but the
girls character which comes 20 the sur
face when his money gives out and a
vaudeville artist. an old friend. tempts
her with a return to the stage.
oh. 90 81 a
which have done service often before. and
the same may be said Of the plot and It's
development But nevertheless the play
is interesting and entertaining. once one
chooses 10 accept the unpleasant sugges-
ton implied in the boys infatuation. The
acting is good. william Morris plays the
father consistently. and even succeeds in
maintaining the dignity OF the role in the
cranky melodramatic quarrel scene.
olive Harper Thorne. as the wife. did all
that can boz done with part that Is de-
cidedly conventional.
Alice Brady. "a the daughter. was win
ming and convincingly serious. and For
rest Wlnnant. as the dissipated son. gave
"a good sketch OF a gudgeon who believes
himself a man OF the world until MS Dyes
are opened The best parts IN the play
are those Of the mistress and the vaude-
william. Irene Feuwick gave partic-
uIarly deft performance Of the former
and entered into the spirit OF wild farce
Of her scenes with the joviaily vulgar
variety actor. played by Franklin Ardeil.
who pleased crowded house most OF all
and deserved the applause he received. IT
is a strange mixture that Mr. Davis
offers us. but il went well last night.
CAST OF THE FAMILY CUPBOARD. "
Charles Neison.............. William Morris
Mrs Nelson ...........O olive Harper lhorne
Alice Nclson--.... .Allce BFddy
Kenneth Nelson. ........... Forrest W imam.
Kitty May.......-.............lre Irene Fenwlck
Mrs Clement Harding ....-.. Ruth Benson
Thomas Harding .-........ Douglas j. Wood
Mary Burk, a social secretary
Alice Lindahl
Mrs Lawrence Winthrop. Irene Romano
Lawrence Winthrop ......... Harry Reddlng
Dick lie Roy ................f rbnklNn Ardell
linn Garrity. ...........,........F Frank Hatch
Potter. ........... ...........N wallace trsklne
Telephone Operator. .......... Louise Alchel
Elevator Boy...............B Barney Johnson