New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-25
MISS ELLINGTON
IS THE HEROINE
She Bears the Brunt Of a Sis
ter'S Sin with a
Vengeance.
"The Lie" a play by Henry Arthur
Jones. At the Harris
THE CAST
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.

Henry Arthur Jones's new play, 1.-THE
Lie" presented last night at the Har-
ris Theatre, proved TO be a very inter
esting affair indeed. To be sure, he
has used conventional enough stuff for
his plot as those of US who have read
the novels Of VI. =, Braddon lay bear
witness), but with his skill as q dram
atist and with the help of a good
cast the story took on an interest that
was lasting, even though the turns and
twists Of his tale were easily guessed
beforehand. See II you do not remem-
Der a plot somewhat like this: Shale
Abbey was in a parlous state for debt.
Old Sir Robert and his eldest grand
daughter are bullied about by old and
unpaid retainers, ard the only relief
IN sight is a rich marriage. The eldest
girl makes a despairing effort as 20
clothesJ 10 catch Gerald Foster,
wealthy ncighbor. Just as the troth
is about 10 be plighted in sails the
younger girl with a terribly upsettlng
story. She has been betrayed by a
young scamp, and just as she was go
ing 10 make him marry her the scamp
died Of fever. As she put it, WAS
there ever such luck" OF course, she
demands that the elder girl go or with
her till her baby arrives, and of course
the elder girl sacrifices her chances
with the rich neighbor 70 help her sis
ter i'm her trouble. The wealthy neigh
Dor goes 10 Egypt i'm hun. Two and
a half years clapse.
The wealthy neighbor returns, bring
ing a wealthy friend who wishes to let
the Abbey. The friend carlessly lets
drop a remark or two that he has
heard and Foster questions the
younger sister about the baby episode.
She, the viper, puts the whole affair
upon her sister. and again Foster de-
parts for Egypt This time the viper
sister visits Cairo and throws herself
i'm the way Of Foster, who marries her
for very loneliness, thinking all the
time that IL was the elder sister whom
he once loved that was the mother Of
the child. Over three years later Fos-
ter and his viper wife return to Eng
land and while she has been support
ing the baby she has never owned mp
10 her husband. When the two men
friends meet the old story is raked
out and. of course, the periidy Of the
younger sister is revealed. Wild scenes
occur and it all ends semi happily with
the Fosters friend marrying the self
sacrificing sister, and the other, the
viper, promising 90 tell her husband
"all" when ne gets through with a big
bit of work he is doing.
You Will admit this is hardly new
but you should see Margaret Ellington
tear up the turf when she learns the
truth; that is something you can't get
in a aovel. This lady, demure and
sweet al first, gives no warning OF her
powers as an emotional actress. sud
denly. when the fatal words have sunk
into her stunned consciousness, she
springs like a tiger at her perrdlous
sister. and, with a few, well chosen
gutteral speeches ldenotinc deep feel
ing), she shakes the unlucky girl al
most insensible. Il was stirring and u
was splendidly exciting.
One almost forgot 10 sympathize
with the heroine out of pity for the
chokcd sister. Violet Heming, who
played the girl with a penchant for
trouble and an irresistible vile for
men, was excellent From the hrst
scene until the end she showed fine
skill ana nice consistency lll litfA
preting the intensely selfish, unscru-
pulous, charming woman. {. Aubrey
Smith was his usual suave, command
ing self as the wealthy friend who
took over the Abbey. Ills humorous
speeches were spoken, too, IN way
that should deserve the thanks Of the
author Vincent Scrrano played Fos-
ter little self-conscously, perhaps,
but with some case and TO good CT
feet
Alfred Bishop was admirable as old
Sir Robert, the Cadging Gentleman, and
c. W. Arson equally good as the
bibulous butler Stuart Robson played
George, the boy Of all work, and
Gladwys Morris the dressmaker. Mar
garet Johnson made the slavey Gibbard
awfully good to look at-in the face.
She seemed as pretty as her North
Country accent was broad.
On the whole. as we may have init
mated, the play is quite worth while
and well played but it will not add
particularly to Mr.. Jones's reputation
as a dramatist. His art IN dialogue
and in constructing telling situations
without telephones or friction IS lust
as apparent here as in the best OF his
plays, but his fundamental plot is too
reminiscent TO strike one as new or
vital