First-nighters have had quite a busy time during the past fortnight owing to the productiga of three new plays, each by a noted playwright. Two out of the number scored Instant successes; the third I am afraid must be voted a failure though its author, Captain Basil Hood, has scored so many triumphs connection with his name.
Shat one edly likes to write the word in "Joseph Entangled," which was produced at the Haymarket last week, is the work of Mr. Henry Arthur Jones. It is comedy pure and simple and described by the hero just before the final curtain as "an Amusing little episode with a happy ending," though at the same time one must add that until a few minutes before we final dénowement the air was very thundery. ihe plot presenta no novelty. the first nct takes place in the month of August. Mr. Hurdolph Mayne is away shooting in Scot-lund, his wie Lady Verona is staying in Oxfordshire, but, in order to suva her sister Lady Joyce Faumere from an indiscretion, comes up with her to town where she decides to stay the night, the sister going to her own home. Sir Joseph Lacy (an old admirer of Lady Verona's) in passing through town on his way to Switzerland loses his luggage, finds his club in the hands of the cleaners and does not know where to go. Seeing the Mayne's butler at the window he decides to go in, and Knapman offers to put him up. He was' out when Lady Verona arrived so imagines that the only occupants of the to bed), Next morning Sir Joseph and Lady house are himself and his wife (who has gon Verona. are mutually astonished when they meet at, breakfast, and, knowing the jealous disposition of her husband, he urges her to Jose no time in telling him of the strange ing; before breakfast is over some people called Lavender call to see Mr. Mayne wi has wired them to meet him on business. Of course they suspect the worst and being great gossips the episode is soon talked of. Jady Verona does not tell ber husband but hho hears of it a few weeks later in his club, taxes his wife with infidelity and threatens exposure. In vain both she and Sir Joseph declare their innocence, and he is only con-Vinced eventually by the somewhat. thread~ Tare device of eavesdropping Had the pisco been placed in less skilful bands I fear Xs fate might have been different but, its success was assured by its brilliant rendering. Mr. Cyril Maude's Sir Joseph was one of the most finished studies he has ever given and the Lady Verona of Miss Ellis Jeffreys was perfectly charming. The cast iso included Mr. Herbert Waring, as the offended husband, Mr. Sam Sothern, Mr. Kenneth Douglas, Mr. Obarles Sugden, Mr. the it, Miss Winifred Arthur Jones, Miss Bestrice Ferrar, and Mrs. Charles "Calvert. Every one seemed just exactly fitted to their part and the piece from first to last went so perfectly that one forgot it was acting, which is the highest praise possible in my estimation, "The Duke of Killicrankie," 'a farcical romance by Captain Marshall, the new Criterion piece, is success number two. I was asked yesterday which I would prefer to see sao, and poavel both. Perhaps it was not grammar but it was truth. Captain Marshall, like Mr. Jones, has written many plays but he has never done anything better or brighter or fresher than this [litre romance which may also be described as "an [amusing little episode with a happy ending." As a matter of fact it does not possess one dull moment. The young Duke of Killiecrankle is in love with, and has pray five times to, Lady Henrietta Addison, who likes him in a sisterly kind of way but does nob feel like devoting her life to him exclusively on account of his lack of backbone—that is to say the quality of resolution. He determines that he will show her what-fever he lacks he is not minus that quality and he therewith (by means of a bogus telegram) abducts her and carries her off to his Scotch fortress where he informs ber she must remain until she promises to marry him. He gets his friend Pitt Welby, M.P., to help him and it so chances that he is likewise in love with a lady (@ rich widow) who won't listen to his advances, so she is chances that these women know and hate each other but it is astonishing how soon past grievances vanish in te ce of a common grievance. The visit lasts a week fat the end of which time both men see signs of relenting on the part of their fair ones so they mutually decide to tell them that their eyes have been opened and that as they find the ladies are not what they expected they are free to go. Of course then Reither wishes to go. The widow tells Welby that having compromised ber in the eyes of their frien she insists on his marry- 4 ing her—which is just what he hoped for. Lady Henrietta has discovered the Duke has resolution in abundance so she is content and all ends happily. The piece yust bubbles over with fun and smart sayings and the four principals Mr. Graham Browne (the Duke), Miss Eva Moore (Lady Henrietta), Miss Marie Iington (the rich widow) and Me. Weedon Grossmith (the impecunious M.P.), were excellent.
Of "Love in a Cottage," by Captain Basil Hood, I ain afraid I cannot say many nice things. The best work in it falls to the share of Miss Dorothy Drake who, as Norah Creagh, an Irish peasant girl, had a pretty little part which she very nicely. The song "On the sot to music by Hamish McCunn at the Road" writen, by. Captain Hood and invitation of the military authorities, for inclusion in the Soldiers' Song-book, was sung in the third act and well received but {am afraid even it will not save the piece from speedy dismissal. One is always sorry for the unfortunate artists on these occasions, but of course they like other people must take their chance. aK
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.