The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-13
"Bevprly's Balance" at the Ly.
ceum Proves tn Re a
Bright Comedy.
PAUL KESTERTHE AUTHOR
Baiance''-At the Lyceam
Theatre.

After all. there need not have been
so much trouble in naming the new
comedy brought by Margaret Anglin to
the Lyceum Theatre last night. II was
called In It's first incarnation THE Lady
In the Case" and Annie Russell was act
ing its heroine. Paul Kester, the author.
renamed It Tho Desert Island" then
the The balance was substituted and
IL finally came TO the footlights as
"Beverly's Balance" which II was called
last night. But the efforts OF It's epon.
sors were after all unimportar,. since
act comedy pronounced Il charming.
This was after all the most important
designation Of the work.
There is back of the play the idea OF
the professional correspondent who
obliges In strictly buslnesslik manner
and for n financial consideration In
divorce case. Wife wants TO get rid of
number one to marry an English earl.
Husband Is more or less Indifferent.
rather fond OF the wife. but willing to
accommodate her. Correspondent IL
southern girl who has lost her voice. and
consequently her place In "A New York
church choir, and then been compelled
10 retire from the chorus OF a comic
opera. With starvation awaiting her
and her aunt. she accepts the duties OF
tn, professional woman i'm tho case. The
unwilling means of acquiring this job
for her Ia an impecunious lawyer cousin
WHO II about AS poor as she although he
protests against the contract in strict
business form by which she is to make
"A protence Of supplying the wife with
adequate evidence.
or course he is in love with her and
has been since their childhood days in
Virginia. Equally as n matter of course
the husband also falls In love with the
hired correspondent. 1t was quite as
much to he expected that the wife should
grow weary of her English lover and
come back to New York. II Is tho co.
respondent who brings them together
and she OF course-it Is all "ot course"
IN Mr.. kester's refreshing little play
becomes the bride of the lawyer cousin.
who had been hitherto too shy 10 claim
her.
There is refreshing humor IN the
comedy. which is sophisticated with well
written dlalogue-rather 700 well writ
ten in some cases, notably in the lam
guage OF the aunt, since II sometimes
destroys the sense OF ChHrlcter-fan-
thstlc and bright throughout. The first
ac; Is long with ten minutes OF rather
discouragingly dull Introduction. But
there Is entertainment IN all the subse-
quent passages of the comedy. There
will be stll more entertainment in them
when the tempo OF the acting IL accel-
Grated. The progress 81 tho scenes was
too slow more than once last night
TAere is every cause for gratitude. how
ever TO Miss .Angliu FOR bringing such
welcome novelty to tho New York
stage a. Mr.. Kester's play. Perhaps the
season Is suitable to IL as there Is little
dramatic fibre in any of the episodes
The air OF the spring nights is much
more adapted 10 "Bcvcriys Balance"
than a steam heated theatre might be.
Miss Angl.n acted the heroine with
keen sense Of the comic disabilities
oi the part and made her share IN the
{ business arrangement seem altogct her
Iuonenslve. The author had naturally
prepared that part Of the play FOR h.r
Sk'l!ully, Indeed thera was nobody
''nccrned n what might have been 4
rather dis"r"d.t.'il" Arrangement VINO
IN the least los tho sympathy ~ Tn"
audience. pcrhalS "Beycrly'S Balance"
seemed too ...yial for a'al,sis Rut
"" ~" rather d opposed - think thai II
Nts III" humor which IN" author Inn
parted 10 N" scenes which made the
NlI IlA vi les t'llll''t ltlll ip.ft we COZ. 70
slant brightness Of the d.alvgu. NJ -
iugln IN The few sensational minutes
If the play acted with her usual skill
She was in most respects admirably
=Uitcd to the character
Pedro de Cordpba's accustomed so
,CuE,ty OF manner is not 80 well suited
to the spirit ~ light comedy az 10 other
dramlij, moods, There nigh, have
been more personal distinction in VIII
/ lam Bpyds acting OF he husband. al
| though the humor OF his character was
well presented. lie must certainly suf-
/ fer from chronic smokers heart. how
over. II the play has as long a run is
: y deserves and ne clings 10 his cigarette
with tho devotion Ne displayed last
night.
Mr.. craig gave AZ amusing sketch "
The ar.stpC,dt'c aunt who saved her
deals Tor sundays and was practical
the rest Of the week. and Ruth Bouci-
cault delineated the wife who though,
she wanted divorce with considerable
charm. II was altogether a most happy
evening at the Lyceum Theatre