The sun., 1916-09-19
Otis SKINNER STARS
IN HARRINGTON PLAY
Acts the Part Of italian Ex-
patriate in "Mister An.
tonic" at Lyceum.
NEW YORK SCENE IN TT
1nurdy Gurdy Man Furnishes
Role for Display Of Ac-
tors Talents.
NEW YORK SCENE IN TT
"Mistcr .Antonio"-At the I.ycsusn
Theatre.

80
Mrs. Jorny ......... Louise Sydmeth
Milton Jorny......... Joseph Brennan
Rev. Jesse Walpole. 80. Ernest A. Elton
Mrs Walpole.. ....Jessie Crommette
M Cooler. william Loren1
MIS-. .Winona Dennison
There was every promise Of . profit
able evening TO the audience al the
Lyceu;n Theatre last night. Otis Skinner.
one OF the most skilful and interesting
actors on tho American stage. was APP
pear.ng In a play by Booth Harrington.
one Of the deservedy secular novelists
Of the country. who has iv,,s S~ce won
:enown through the imaginative and
humorous qualities OF his stories.
This combination Of native talents had
successfully been accomplished in "Your
Humble Servant" and there was every
resvon to hope that tho event OF the
ssAs happy conjunction might be re-
pe>-A.
How far Mr.. Skinner had departed
from the kind Of task which has recently
occupied his attention may be gathered
from the fact that Mister Antonio Is q
,1ssV surdy man. He Is tho fortunate
means Of rescuing a visiting small town
statesman who had felt the Irresistible
'npulse to ave his ding in the me-
;ropol!s.
!, ended with his violent expulsion to
tho sidewalk OF Manhattan by the UNI
grateful host. who when his watch and
money had been myster!ously distracted
merc!lossly chucked the visitor. Then the
genial expatriate arrived on the scene TO
act the good Samaritan toward the wor-
thy stranger. supply him with enough
money 10 proceed on his way and also
an oycrcoa,.
scenes OF the Play.
All this occur IN the frs. act. which
IL laid In New York. specifically In Tugs
European cafe. which Is Of course no
more exemplary part Of the metropolis
.ian I; ough: 20 be. The next act car
'es the story and characters TO .Avolon!a,
and IN this peaceful community the play
runs 10 lis end. Three OF the four acts
are played there.
Hitler must, OF course. come Mister
in'oniO. Here he finds hat the subject
% his compassion is the Mayor of the
town. With "A severity In marked con-
mast 20 the largcness of his behavior
avn sHN rbfo ~ y AStNs Nv ~ aoohk
70 expel from the community under his
guidance a girl whose acts have shown
;ha. sac may not be worthy OF 4 place
there.
In vain his savior in the city brawl
tries 10 persuade him that he might well
Low the girl to remain "a, home. lie
-, IN his national optimism. promised
Ter 'hit already. But the Mayor o;
Avolonia Is severe.
quite easily could the lighter side OF
As nature ia his metropolitan revels re-
veal il BE made known to his family and
friends At homo and the fate OF the girl
at least avenged. But Mister antonio 1.
MT Cor causing sorrow. SO the hurd!
:lrdy man and the outcast depart to-
sethcr from .Avolonia. leaving no sorrow
.IeliinI them and carry ing peace and
forgiveness IN their W. hearts.
Result Of collaboration.
The audience did not get all the en-
'oy!neut It had expected gu, OF tho col
.'Doration of Mr.. Skinner and Mr.. Tar.
Wgtoii. The beet that the playwright
al done was to show Mr., skinner In
ro!9 that he was altogether capable
I acting IN the most effective manner.
rs tho optimistic. volatile. lo,I ing soi,
~ Italy he gave IA remarkably varied
ana plastic performance. He wal elo-
f'nnt In gesture and byplay and hin
vel trained speech gave every word Of
''' aothor's Its fullest value.
It may not have been necessary for
mn to Increase the syllabies IN Sor.
'Hhto by the addition OF an "i,' but 1,
may hayo enabled him TO speak the
"sme with moro JUNCTION. And tina,
g1il'ty dominated his conception OF the
l'sil'dn organ 0ripd.r shrn,ub.
lheTe was. moreover. never a par,
''it SO dominated a play as this Mister
iN'onto. lie spoke three-quarters OF
.lP INES IN every act. He could have
'9Ied a curtain speech after the third
''l hdl the actor listened to the excited
"'nahus OF the audience. But even tho
""s'eh cries for the star and the au-
nor tailed TO do more han bring Mr.
'"'hA'r bowling before the curtain.
Authors Naive Effort.
MI larkington's effort ut drama was
"''I naive. Against "A background o!
'";rF narrowness and hypocrisy. h,
''No! MS Italian hero. There might ha We
'sH more interest in the fate Of the
'1hS girl had her offence been more
'"oHs. A. II was she had only gone
10 lance hal!. twice. So what the la.
h'"tea and ignored Freytag describes
80 no Importance OF IA motive had
g. effect here. ~
- Il matter OF fact Mr.. T%arkington'.
''Nt was not undramatic only. !,
's against interest. II may be one
ing ~ writing for the theatre ia
rsS no knowledge OF It's conventions
'' y Is quite another to be MS con.
''p'Nous as Mr.. Harrington was in tho
,'.I.'oH OF his tenuous II improbable
- Au5c the Italian hero planted his
't 'urdy at the front OF the stage
80 sept II there during three act.
u nc country people opposed 20 him
Was NJ dra matte element in tina,
''''"'' There was IA lack of motive
'''r\tliug that left the Spectators
.''1'Icnt 20 all but Tho brilliant bra.
a. ~ Mr.. SINNERS performance
''''r \ut"nlo' might have been much
't' 'lfscSlingly told in half the time
'"'' last night. II is inconceivabll
'' i.' body experienced in the theatre
''' nave allowed such thin matcria,
''' 'pread over tour acts.
''- country folk in Mister Antonio
presented with adequate faith.
"t 10 the stage type they reprc.
"rI. But certainly d somewhat NOR,
-Paln'tlG heroine than Eleanor " uod
w. VINO "ss az hard a. rocks, might
.''' .''n found.
bie " ak sure" Postponed.