Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-13
A LADY In DEBT,
A MARRIAGE IN JAIL
Mrs. Fiske in a Deliciously Amusing
Comedy, Lady Betty Martingale."
An Orchid Among PLAYS.

An Orchid Among Plays.
gay and dashins lady, a dare-devlish.
gambling. swearing lady, lady of wit, engag-
ingly unscrupuous, borrowing money right and
left, and running up exorbitant bills at the
dressmakcrs, jewelers. and perfumcrs. Such is
Lady Betty, the heroine ot the new comedy
bv John Luther Long, the celebrated author
of Madam Butterfly" and Frank Stayton, an
Englishman, which opened last night at the
Broad street Theatre. BY the Incompatible
art Of Mrs FislSe, Lady Betty vivaciously
and volubly stepped into life from the time Of
George II, and for nigh three hours delight
fully held a curious, surprised and questioning
audience by her whimsical escapades.
In n day of plays dealing with politicians.
criminals, lady smugglers, millionaires with
pasts derelict husbands and musical comedies
of surface humor Lady Betty Martingale APP
pears as an orchid in the theatrical conserva-
tory of ferns and geraniums. Quaint in its
hoop-skirt charm, bizarre in its reminiscence of
Sheridan and the atmosphere Of 1850, the popu-
larity of the play at this time is still dubious.
For while the play must have an irresistible
appeal to those who enjoy the unusual. the
subtle, the exotic, it will be interesting to OBJ
serve what wider appeal it may have for those
who throng houses featuring gorgeous girls in
Elittcring gowns or abbreviated apparel.
Lady Betty, summoned by her father, Canon
Slowpeck who has expended 10000 pounds of
money borrowed from Sir Ricochet Rascible
Lord High Chancellor of England, on the writ
ing of a dictionary, is confronted in the first
act by the aforesaid Sir Rcochot who sinks
upon his knees and begs her to marry him
The corpulent Sir Ricochet. as Lady Betty
says has truly a strawberry nose" Arthur
Elliot. as the clustering, bullying High Chan
cellor, is roarinsy funny-only he roars too
loudly at first and thus destroys the effect Of
his rage after Lady Betty-swearng-rush
away. screaming The Jail. The jail!" Prefer
ing jail to marriage. Balifrs waiting with
out TO arrest Lady Betty for her debts and
take her to the fleet.
Lady Fewits-Maric Chambers-arrives after
the outraged Ricochet has departed in high
dudgeon Hor most intimate friend, Lady
Fcwits advises Lady Betty how 10 escape the
bailIff and Jail, She tells Of a certain noble
lady who put wreath OF purple flowers in her
hair and by means Of jeweed dagger bled
to death. But purple flowers do not become
the color Of my hair" laments Betty, "and I
have no jeweled dagger"
Another noble lady. softly says Lady Fewits
Jumped into the English channel. But she
was discovered three days later and, oh dear
they say her appearance was dreadful-dread-
full. It unfortunate-but then she did
not expect to appear before people again"
Lady Fewits has suddenly an inspiration-she
remembers another lady who pressed by cred
tors. went to Newgate prison and married a
man who was hanged the following morning.
Now at this period. according to law. hus-
band, on marrying n woman, assumed her
debts. BY marrying man to be hanged a
noble lady could eXpeditiousy get rid Of her
her husband as we'll
In Newgate prison SuEgs, the burIy TALLER,
capitally enacted by Percy H. Standing pro-
poses to Jock Rumple, who is condemned to be
hanged the following morning, that he thus
help lady out of a dilemma by marrying her
For this little service he will receive such com
pensation as win enable Suggs to enjoy a tin
and buy coffin I'm which to bury jock Lady
Betty and her friend, having eIuded the hailiffs.
nave arrived at the prison, and beholdug
aides. though masked. so fair the gallant pris-
,ner consents TO the ceremony.
Newgate Jail Is about to he burned by in
Sir Ricochet Informed Of the plot
oy Terram-Tyke solicitor for the condemned F.
lock, arrives At the Jail just after Lady Betty
las been married, Learning Of the marriage .
by the solicitor. Sir Ricochet re-
'enges his rejection by psrdoniug Lady Retty's .
Unknown husband,
Five months later LADY BETTY, relieved Of ner
lebts by her Aunt Nah, believing that her
aiI-hushaud was hanged falls IN love with Lord
Tohu Derring, Lord pcrrnE, madly i'm love
With Lady Betty is withheld from marriage .
or awhile hy a terrible rnemory-that OF mar
wing an unknown woman when. under another
name. he was condemned to death IN Newgate
Already married and not realizing it, Lady
8etty and Lord Derring are plunged into
ftylI ,Fg
md whimsical distress. knowing more than
he two unhappy lovers. the audience, Of course.
ees the shining behind the clouds and
$ not narrowed by the Wild panic OF Lord
)errins and Lady Betty when they are led
o believe they have married otherwise than
hey did The conclusion OF the play. when