New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-23
The CAST
By HAYWOOD RROUN.


Possibly We expected too much when
John Drew made his first entrance
wearing trousers torn at the left knee.
Thereafter there were many interesting
moments in "The Chief" but nothing
so we'll devised to thrill an audience
as the spectacle Of a safety pin in tho
centre of Americas most famous
crease.
II was rather a pity that Horace
Annesley Vachell did not apply similar
treatment TO some of the rents in the
fragile dramatic garment shown at the
Empire Theatre last night. When the
authors away the actor will play. John
Drew has seldom appeared TO better
advantage than last night. OF course
his work was finished and polished TO
its usual degree, but, more than that, II
was positively sprightly. Even though
the play provided that the betrothal
kiss should take place off stage the
star of the evening succeeded in max
ing love without appreciably lowering
the temperature of the theatre.
The author has provided John Drew
with a definite Characterization. I'm
fortunately, the art of Mr.. Drew is so
deft that a popular conception has
arisen that he does not act at all, but
merely rcappears in each successive
season as himself. OF course. this is
nonsense. One can be natural on the
stage only by conscious effort, but
the effort and the tricks of Mr.. Drew
are concealed to the extent of making
an audience believe that they do not
exist
We don't think the American stage
has better light comedian than John
Drew, which may account for the fact
that he gets such trivial material. The
dialogue Of "The Chief" sparkles. In
fact, it is difficult TO understand how a
playwright who could write such skip
ping and tripping lines could also de-
wise so heavy-footed plot.
The story reveals how the Earl of
Yester succeeds in marrying the lady
Of his choice despite the plotting of his
mother-in-law, who wishes him to take
as his second wife his widows sister.
When the final scene came down to a
uutSllOI VI Which NOlhdu SAOlt n tti
tain ten pound note il passed the
bounds of that srtifciality of incident
which may be pardoned in a clever
comedy Of manners. We had some
what the feeling that might have been
inspired il Sheridan had called for
Theodore Kremer to put punch in
"The School for Scandal" Mrs. Bar
gus. as played by Katherine Stewart,
.~,,1l o.,tl,~ hopa oscaI tnr q villain
css in ono Of the old-fashioned melo-
dramas Of AL Woods's. Kissing Mrs.
Bargus would have been easy.
While it is true that even the least
critical spectator is likely to leave the
theatre with the feeling that the
dramatic repast has been dessert long
drawn out, he will just as surely have
many moments Of pleasure before the
inevitable safety sets in. The comedy
scenes of John Drew and Laura Hope
Crewes are a delight. Here Mr.. Vachell
is at his best, or at any rate so II
seemed when two such capable artists
were combining their abilities to bring
out the humor in his lines and situa-
tions. There was also not little of
interest in the scenes of the star and
Consuelo Bailey, who bounced through
an ingenue role attractively enough
and showed that even somewhat un-
pleasant voice may be more than neu-
tralized by spirited play. IL must be
admitted, though, that the manner in
which Miss Bailey goes after the Eng
lish language rather Jared the suppo-
sition that the action took place at
Hallicom be on Thames.
Yet, there were reminders. One
could tell that the play was British
and we'll bred when tea was served in
full view of the audience, and Of
course many things were ripping
while others were perfect "tosh.' Yes,
there was quite a lot Of "tosh." Pos
sibly Lord Arthur Wrexham, conven-
tional silly ass, might be so classified:
When he asked the heroine TO punt
him we knew perfectly what he meant,
but for a time We did hope that the IN
genue might take il in an Eddie Mahan
sense.
Echin Gayer played Lord Wrexham
and That's Lawton had an equally I'M
possible part. George Graham was
the secretary who married the in
genue, after she had proposed TO him.
1t was the second time within week
that an ingenue had been so bold. Al
that il is about time. for, according
TO the popular dramatic conception, a
man can be loved for acts and acts
before he knows anything about It.
Perception is quicker outside the
theatre. Any number OF men, We TN
derstand, are so sharp sighted that
they can tell a woman loves them be-
fore she has even given the matter
thought.
In one respect we hope that "The
Chief" tells the truth about life. Ac-
cording to the stipulations Of the plot,
CYNTHIA Vansittart, played by Miss
Crews, is an expert stenographer and
typist. The Earl Of Yester tests her
ability and engages her on the spot.
Her success delighted US. We never
knew that there was such demand
for operators who work with one finger
an aach Lard and The RIGHT thumb Oc-