Till oh! the world has rarely heard lovers who so nearly erred, "And yet—who did not 'These lines.of Tom Moore were the motto which literary London tacked to Henry Arthur Jones' "The Liars" nearly They point the moral admirably—w ight be said of them in relation to certain other plays. Mr. Jones urges—has always urged—that if you marry a young wife, it is not enough to buy her frocks or even diamonds, you must Gill her Says one of the characters: 'Don't think when you' married a woman you can sit down an neglect. her. You can't.... When 2 man has married a charming woman, if he doesn't continue to make love to her, some other man will. Such are the sad' ways of humankind." And so we plunge into the story.
Lady Jessica is young and frivolous, and Gilbert Nepean, her husband, neglects her. She is high-spirited and consequent ly becomes mutinous, in so far as to permit the attentions of Edward Falkoer. This her lover is a man of fine ardour, of nobility, but, carried away by his love, urges her to'fy with him. Lady Jessica temporises, but the last straw whi breaks her patience is the boorish intervention of her husband. If she plays him tricks he will make her smart, he Then comes one of the most tly conceived and admirably written scenes in modera comedy, wherein Lady Tessin meets Falkner at the Star and Garter, Shepperford. The ingenuity, the abounding humour, and the admirable writing of this scene make it a masterpiece. One after another the characters arrive—naturally, and without any strain on the credulity of the audience—and the plot thickens round the bewildered pair. Disclosure is threatened, and in the next scene we have the friends of Lady Jessica and Falkner preparing the' story which is be told to Gilbert Nepean. Here the justice of "Phe Liars" asa title is made manifest, and again we have s scene in the style of the highest comedy. It would spoil the enjoyment of many to tell how the play ends, and the part played by the principal character, Sit Christopher Deering Falkner's great friend. 'The Liars" belongs to literature. The characters are admirably drawn, they live before us their words and actions so clearly, the construction is so masterly, and the Gialogue so witty, that this must be written down one of Mr. Jones' finest works, In English comedy it takes a very high place, for iv is essentially of the toil, holding the mirror to society with a steady hand, and yet with half-smile at pretty foibles which it satirises. It is cheery, bright, with just that occasional twang which adds life.
For the acting, it was admirable. Mrs. Brough as Lady Jessica was winsome, tantalising, always at the tre pich of comedy—a difficult part charmingly played. {ady Rosamond Tatton was the companion picture, wherein Mies Temple played with cheerful distinction, Miss Bessie Thompson as Mrs. Crespin, Miss Noble and Miss Martheze were all much above the average in the portrayal of effective parts, The brunt of the work, of course, falls on Br. Brough, as Christopher Deering. He has ease of style and certainty of touch, a restraint which is in its place, highly effective, and which throws up in stron; relief the occasional finely dramatic passages which fall to his share, and which are delivered with strength and clearness, Mr. W. 'T. Lovell is the Falkuor of the cast, a part needing very high dramatic qualities to ensure its success, These he possesses in such a degree as to fall in line naturally with Mr. Brough in the frequent scenes between them. These two gentlemen dominate the play, and very finely they do it, Mr. Reginald Dartrey as Archibald Coke gave us an excellent study, Mr, Macmxhon was an amusing French waiter, and Mr. Majeroni and Mr. Percy Brough as Gilbert and George Nepean did good work.
'The mounting of the piece, as we have learnt to expect' of the Brough Company, was excellent.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.