New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-03

A'I hItl AN''t NNtl NN'i''
Lady Extraordinarily kate Serjeanisor
EIa Southwood. ............. LILLIAN Cavanagl
Sins Tadmau... ..-...... Barbara Fcur
Mary Mrs Whichcuo........ Marie Tempest
By HECTOR TURNBUIL.
Henry Arthur Jones's bright comedy
MARY Goes First" proved TO be q
happy choice for the opening Of Marie
Tompest's farewell tour last night al
Che Comedy. IN this play tile gifted
dramatist. so successful in the past in
his satires Of British aristocracy, has
trained his shrcvd W.; upon the socig.
climbers of the English middle classes
And while his theme is fragile and his
humor wholly dependent upon the
rare2 niceties Of the players art, the
fact that an American audience enjoyed
itself hugely last night is a fine tribute
20 Miss Tempest and her company, as
well as 10 Mr.. Jones's talents as &
caricaturist of human nature in gen.
cral Every spark of fun in the comedy
IS so artistically stressed and every
ruarcc Ia the development Of its slen-
der plot so tactfully emphasized that
the play engages an interest and SYM
pathetic appreciation quite out Of pro-
portion TO its actual significance. This,
however, merely proves the unusual
quality of its humor and the superior
playcraft of its author.
he author has taken risky sub
lect for his chief character. In real
Is N. Ill -.saf.l ID. i
cred a distressing cat, and her meth
DDS and manners cordially disliked.
iu the play, due TO the consum-
mate art Of Mr.. Jones, we find
ourselves not only sympathizing with
Nary and her methods, but following
her selfish career with most fattering
interest and revealing in the delicious
ly expected consequences of her
witty and remorse.ess tongue. She
chafes at the advantage given her So
cl4l rival by q generous government,
and upsets the peace of a voting dis
trict in order 10 have a full revenge.
The happiness Of her leisurely husband
is Of as little consequence 10 her as the
Ultimate welfare of the town, when her
ambitions are at stake. Everything
goes by the board when Mary mods,
and she is forever nOddlng her ultl-
mate triumph Is a fOregone conclusion
once she lmpresses her audience with
her iudOmitable determination TO sue
coed, and one follows every move IN
the game with the utmost confidence
i'm her ready resource and with lively
interest for her eXhllaratlng Intrgues.
any attempt 10 relate the plot OF the
play here would be decidedly unfair 10
al concerned. Such a delicate thread
e rpf to % rnngpnarQ a. q
little theatre like the Comedy and the
intelligent cooperation of such cast
as Miss Tempest has provided before
10 may be properly spun. On the very
possibilities Of the word Improperly
depends the entire effect Of the
comedy. In cold type this word can
never suggest the delightful entertain
ment that its constant reiteratlon pro-
vides in MARY Goes First" 1t is this
significant fact that proves most con-
yincingly the talents of the author as a
writer Of high comedy. Not one Of the
lines in the dialogue, so amusing when
spoken by the various characters il
the various circumstances, would suS-
gest humorous possibilities If quoted
apart from the context. There IS not
sign Of the cheap and easy method
Of bidding for laughs" with pat and
patent phrase. An the fun Is sheer
wit, and its exposition q true example
of the best form Of dramatic satire
we are likely 10 see IN long while.
One could not spend a more enjoyable
evening than at the Comedy, whether
one is a Briton and familiar with the
musty social formulas Of the hlde-
bound middle class English, or whether
one is merely a plain American WIN
g lfffnrQpflu de-
yeloped. Such human foibles as are
caricatured by Mr.. Jones a. universal
and only require TO be pictured by an
intelligent cast of players that their
full significance be felt and their hu-
morous quality appreciated.
Miss Tempest must have been IN
the authors thoughts when he created
Nary. We can think Of no other
actress on the stage who would have
fitted the role 70 better advantage. All
'ro cruel cattireqs Of the ambitious
lady was so skilfully blended with a
constant show of naive good spirits
that Miss Tempest's Mary became a
very attractive and hkable person in
deed. much more in the sympathles OF
the audience than her poor abused
victim. IL is TO be hoped mat her
farewell" tour may last a long time
and resemble the "Iarewells OF otheI
foreign stars in It's frequent Tepeu-
zion. Such skilful playing is deserV-
ing Of 81 hearty welcome at VhIs par
ucu.ar phase in theatrical analIs. NJ M
company. too. has been carefully
chosen. Just why the stage eHec'9
Of the production should not nave DeeN
given a like consideration IN ther Sc
lection is q question upon when only
those familiar with the intricacles o,
foreign stars and their managerial
abilities can speak with autnorlJy.
That the wavering canvas walls OF lhe
one interior setting do not distract
The audience with their inappropriate
nimsiness is only another tribute 70
the players engaging skill. New YORK
las become accustomed 10 peIteI
things. thanks to the good taste OF lts
managers, and Miss Tempest wouIu 40
well TO invest in little real WOOD lor
her background. 80.
W. Graham Browne plays Felix with
easy command. and succeeds IN maHlhE
the vacillating solicitor very haVu
raj fellow, likable and entertaining
Linn Cavanaugh is quite the incest
looking English girl you could mag
inc, and creates a pleasing erect III
the negative role Of Ella. Her pro
nunciation of the name MARY" is the
most British feature of the play. Kate
Serjeantson is delicious as Lady Bods-
worth. In her hands every CHASTITY
Improperly in this elevated cockney
manner becomes Gmusingly emphatic.
and her nice balance in treatment oil
the role shows skill in characteriza-
ton that is as unusual as 1t is re
ireshing. Franklin Dyall is blum,
hearty, pleasure loving Richard
Whichello. and KENYON Musgrave adds