The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-09
The Story Of a Man who Was
Leased Out Because Of
His Title.
METHODS OF CLIMBERS

w. s. Gilbert has written about the
Duke OF Plaza Toro. Ltd, and his
amiable duchess who "at second class
party would win at ecarte and I'm by
no means a beginner and his efforts
to commercialze his title, social position
and other qualities OF greatness. AL
though the English satrst in THE Con
dOliers" treated the subject more anus
ingly than any OF his rivals the Idea
was not new when he took It up. Last
night w. A. Brady Al the Maxine Ell
lott Theatre produced farce called
The Rented Earl" which deals with the
use Of an English title commercialiZed
for purposes OF profit through aspiring
climbers II is by Salisbury Field. who
wrote the novel on which Twin Beds'
Is founded The Rented Earl" was also
a book in It's first incarnation.
The scene OF its three acts is Lenox
The first and second acts pass in the
morning room OF Wes,ways. a country
house there. and the third takes place
week later on the terrace of the same
home. Since there Yves to be an English
earl In an important part Lawrance
dOrsay, who was once successful In a
similar role, was engaged for the part
Of the man who was rented out for the
sake Of his title. Theatre managers are
nothing II not conservative.
Mr.. DOrsays performance was Of
course. the familiar one which New
York audiences long have known But
he provided most OF the humor Of the
evening This was much more abunda NJ
in the second act than in the first. This
actors fun possesses value in exact
relation To the degree that his physical
peculiarties are suited TO the scenes in
which he appears. His manner can
never he changed TO suit the situation.
g Fortunately hg was exactly fitted 10 ;he
part of the Earl who was as a matter
of fact rented out TO a parvenu hostess
for three DAYS, but was qu.tc innocent
OF any knowledge Of the bargain. Per
haps his bungling explanations OF Amer
lean slang were the most entertaining
points in his performance hut he kept
his hearers entertained frequently dur
ling the evening.
MIR Fields farce started slowly bu.
there was laughter during most OF the
second act. Nothing that the playwright:
has written could. OF course. be as anus
ing a. the truth abou, just the sort OF
struggling that he has selected ~ his
theme. Then there was no Illusion OF
reality about the circumstances or the
characters The full license OF farce
was utilized 50 far as they We're con-
cerncd. Sentimental interest came from
the relation OF the impoverished Earl 20
the niece Of the hostess whom he had
once saved from insult on Inv sllttlr VI
!aT:c. .! course he concentrated her
and even intlmtted that the search FOR
the young woman he had loved ever
since had helped to bring him 20 this
country. So there was a reward for the
undeserving climber In having him allied
with her family In the end
Mr.. D'Orsay's acting IN spite Of rs
nOnotony retains considerable FRESHNESS
which gave It's value To the authors
speeches. Teresa Conover's playing ~ a
brief scene In which she kissed the titled
visitor in order to win "a wager of which
she stood sadly IN need, revealed quite
the finest and truest bit Of acting that
the evening brought out, and the au-
dience showed its appreciation by warn
applause during the act. such occa
sionally genuine and human playing Is
one ~ the surprises and delights OF the
American theatre. As the schrminl
agent who was booking" the Duke AZ q
guest In the homes OF the climbing ricn
Albert Brown was amusingly direct and
Dusnesslike. II is not easy to under
stand why W. A. Brady. IA bringin- out
the production. did not make the part ri
the hostess an opportunity for comedy
That might have been better than tht
hard seriousness with which 1t wal
acted.