NEW ENGLISH COMEDY CO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 7

NEW ENGLISH COMEDY CO.

"LUCKY DURHAM." "Lucky Durham," a drama m four acts, by Wilson Barrett. Castr— John Durham ■~_ - Harcourt Dcatty Lord Mountfallon Gaston Morvale Jamo3 Vallorton James Lindsay Arthur Walcombe Prank Eandell lUggic Bteighton , -. John W DovereU Bon Vorstem Tom Oannam Tasltcr . -. Eutland Beckett Mintborongh J U ' Gardner Littlo > ■• . • Frank Phillips Lady Itountfallon Emily Fitzroy Mrs Durham .. JlilUa Moado I Marcarot Steigliton Edith Dworell 1 Helen Yallorton .. Glnays Har\uy I "Lucky Durham" is a good play, if not alI togethor a very pleasant ono. Through his long association with such plays as The ' Sign of tho Cross" and "Tho Silver King," J the lato Mr. Wilson Barrett is apt to be misjudged in his "Lucky Durham," which is a good deal removed from melodrama, and not a little credit is due to the late actor for tho legacy which he has loft ' the drama in this play. Indeed, Mr. BarI rott was entitled to more respect than the ' majority of those who saw him poso in a Roman toga wero sometimes deposed to accord Hβ found time to givo much thought to the serious problems of life This first boro fruit in "Man and His Maker," a play dealing with interesting phases of heredity, and now wo havo "Lucky Durham," -which deals with the sins of the father—a problem so trite that it escaped tho army of prob-lem-play writers that sprang into being after the electiical success of Mr A. W Pmero s "Second Mrs Tanqueray" of sixteen years 1 ago, delving into tho back premises of the 1 social fabric until tho whole world could see nothing in lm neighbour's bric-a-brac but the 1 skeleton that had been lifted from the cupboard and set upon tho mantelpiece in the drawing-room for e\eryono to shudder at. Mr I Barrett preaches a bold, attractive, but utI terly futilo gospel against the sins of tho father being visited on the children. In brand--1 ing the woman a sinner and tbo child DaseI born,' he argues through tho lips of John Durham that society is not protecting itself, but is rather playing a mean and unjust part m tampering with natural law, and the reBults -of natural law. Mr. Barrett has submitted a play that is worth seeing. Its construction is admirable, its jpm Uttlo story bites well, tho language is simp e and 'trenchant, and the characters well drawn. Moreover, it is played by a company (under the Meycell and Gunn management) of clever people, whose particular fitness ensured a smooth, even performance, delightful to seo As to the story, it concerns ono John Durham, an American millionaire, who returns to England with his mother, and, through friends, one of whom (Helen Vallerton) Ho falls in lovo with, meets his father Lord Mountfallon,,and becomes involved with the members of his family. Indeed, John sandwiches himself between the wealthy Vallertons and tho bankrupt Mountfallons. It was planned by James Vallerton (who wantod to seo the title in us family) and Lord Mountfallon (who is in desperate need of the Vallorton mone>) that Helen of the former should marry Rewfie of the latter. Hckn is a dear, good girlTwith clear ideals, and docs not care a straw for Reggie, an ,inane degenerate not worth that straw. Then comes Durham, a cleaji, strong, straight American, with millions behind him, who falls m lovo with Helen. Mountfallon, embarrassed but desperate, begs his illegitimate eon not to pursue tho l quest, but Durham will not back down. Driven to despair at the prospect of the family losing fcho Vallerton money, his lordship threatens to tell tho world that Durham is a nameless nothing as Mr Vallerton enters, but his courage fails at the last moment at tho scandal his oxposnro rould cause, when Durham himself declares what ho is, m timo for Helen to hear as sho enters Not at all abashed, John seeks leave of Vallorton to woo his daughter, but tho latter decides that tho union of his daughter with such a man is not to bo thought of. In a long sceno of absorbing interest they discuss the question of blood versus individuality,! ,John sajs thAt in America thoy did not ask who_ your fithor was, but what jou are, and Ihitish conservatism as represented, by Mr. Vallerton says that in, England thoy not only wanted jto know who your, father and mother were but who their father's father 'and mother's mother were. The rotort that, in spite of that 'England was going to America for hex duchesses, without asking questions, was based on a fine fabric of fact. Later, Helen Vallerton meets John's ( mother, and is chaimcd with her, and «r is Mr. Yallerton, and tho moment seems so opportune that John onco more presses Vallerton for permission to pay his addresses—indeed, ho is prepared to ask 'Helen in her father's presence if he may do so. The father, who values hi? daughter'* happiness, \ wkilst still oppo-sed to the match, consents, and Helen uncalled in. A scene, awknard, tense, unique, ensues—one m which the ohiffon \eil of sentiment and the fine laca of romsneo that one looks fer in a stage love scene are flung asido, and this fiesh young English girl is asked if sho .prefers this man as a suitor, in opposition to her fathsi's wishes and tho possible alienation of her friends, but so artlessly does she shirk tho definite in her reply, and so skilfully is tho sceno arranged, that an ante-olima\ is avoided But John has gained ground. So ho has in another direction—that of getting oven with tho father that disowned him aiid 111-ticatod his mother. Ho has bought tho mortgage over tho whole of tho Mountfallon estate, and, after a humorous scene which involves tho disclosure by his Lordship to Lady Mountfallon and Ins family of his bankrupt stito, John Durlnm steps in as the owner He is ordered off tho promises violently by tho distracted peer, who is struck dumb vith tho news that Durham is tho new owner of\Mountfal'on It seems as if penniless Mountfallon would bite the dust, whon John's mother appears, and says that her son's action is not justice, but revenge, and that he owes soiMotl.iDg to his father — all cant and tho greatest weakness in tho play John recants, his recantation wins Helen's heart completely, and the Mountfallons remain of their lands Mr. Harcourt Beatty has "acted few parts as well as that of John Durham. To the broad American burr in his speech, he allies | a fine brcezinoss of manner that exactly 1 suited 1 tllo frank, straight-speaking man to whom all subterfuge is odious. In his scenes I with Reggie, and the long one with Vallerton, Mr. Beatty acted with engaging conviction and assurance. Miss Gladye Harvey, ohanning in appearance, played Helen with a natural charm, and a freedom of theatricality that was refreshing The James Vallerton of Mr James Lindsay was another good performance to the credit of that sound actor. *Mr. John W. Deveroll revelled in tho light comedy tolo of Reggie, who though a waster all round, yet conveyed tho idea that he was a good fellow underneath. It was really a capital perfornvmce —probably as good as anything, m the play Mr Gaston Morvale made Lord Mountfallon a rather ghastly person, but there was no mistaking the strength and faithfulness of tho characterisation, Lady Mountfallon was well played by Miss Emily Fitzroy. She was amusing in urging her daughter to throw herself at Durham, and mado excellent comedy of the threatened ejection from tho castlo m the last act Mjss Hilda Mcado played Mrs Durham with quiet grace and sweetness, and Mr. Frank Randell made a-likeable Arthur ' Walcombe! Clov-er character " studies aro supplied by Mr. Tom Cannam as Ben Verstein, and Mr. R. Beckett as Tasker. Tho scendrv by Phil Goatoher is adequate, and an .orchestra, under Herr Raimund Pschotsch, played a number of selections as well as the incidental music. Tho plav was produced by Mr. Gaston Mervale. "Lucky Durham" will bo played throughout next week.