Life — December 20, 1888 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

» LF'Es: CAPTAIN SWIFT vs. JIM, THE PENMAN. HE management of the Madison Square Theatre was evidently looking for a play which should have the same elements of interest that made the great success of “Jim, the Penman.” “Jim, the Penman,” was found in London. So was “ Captain Swift.” Both had secured the approval of the English metropolis _ before being pro- a, duced here. «Jim, the Pen- man,” had for its most prominent char- F acter a mysterious male felon. So has “ Captain Swift.” Both plays intro- Z duce the mysterious and masquerading felon into aristocratic English ? society, The interest of both plots hinges more on the social consequences of exposure than on the punishment the law would meas- ure out to the offender. These are the main points of similarity, but it is in the differences that appears the value of comparing “Captain Swift” with “ Jim, the Penman.” In the former is introduced an element in one sense an addition, although in another a detraction. This is the illegitimate birth of the hero. It adds interest but takes away from the soundness of the story. In “Jim, the Penman,” the masquerading felon dies of apoplexy, an ending quite as romantic as could be desired, effectually disposing of a picturesque and necessary charac- ter, administering an almost poetic justice and yet not jarring on the harmony of the play or the sensibilities of the audience. In “Captain Swift” we have either the London version, in which the felon—who it should be remembered is the central figure—brutally commits suicide by means of a vulgar revolver, or the Madison Square version, in which the punishment and denouement takes the commonplace form of an arrest by the regular stage detective in side- whiskers and plain clothes, and patrolmen in misfit uniforms. Nor is the plot anything like as ingenious as that of the Madison Square's other successes. From the start the spectator knows that Mr. Wilding is Captain Swift, and the delightful element of conjecture is almost entirely lacking. So much for “Captain Swift” in comparison with “ Jim, the Penman.” LiFe makes the comparison because it is impossible to escape it, and every one who sees the play is bound to make it. The similarities challenge it and the differences, except in the particular of dialogue and analysis of human nature, are all in favor of the older play. Judged absolutely, “Captain Swift’ is unquestionably a strong and interesting play. Divested of the fancied improvements which have been introduced to please Ameri- can taste, it will doubtless prove attractive to the public. Without saying, it goes that the staging is well done, and that the piece is well acted. Mr. Maurice Barrymore is especially engaged for a part which is better suited to him than any he has had for a long time. The members of the Madison Square Company do their work with the usual artistic finish, but without scoring any notable triumphs. “ Captain Swift,” done even by a worse company, would be worth seeing. By the Madison Square Company it is more than interesting. Metcalfe. HOW THE MEDDLESOME MAID-SERVANT WAS SURPRISED. comicbooks.com