Taking for granted the improbabilities of Mr. Author Jones's plot—which seems to use up again the materials of Aurora Floyd, and one or two other novels, including the Danvers Jewels—and a certain maladroitness of construction, Heart of Hearts is both interesting and amusing. All the characters are distinctly outlined excepting one, and this one, strange to say, is James Robins, the hero of the piece, a part apparently written rather to suit Mr. Thomas Thorne's peculiarities, than to exhibit any marked individuality of character.
James Robins, Lady Clarissa Fitzralf's butler,—who is of course the intimate friend of Mr. and Mrs. Merivale's butler at Toole's Theatre round the corner,—has secretly married his mistress's sister, and her niece is openly to marry his mistress's son. Now, how about the character of James Robins? Is he honest? Hardly so. Is he sly? Certainly. Is he crafty? It cannot be denied. Yet the sympathy of the audience is with him. Why? Well, chiefly because he is played by Mr. Thorne, and secondarily, because he is very fond of his brother's child, whom he has brought up because his brother, having got into trouble and been compelled to "do his time," has delivered her into his care. This nice father returns, comes to see his child, and steals a ruby bracelet, this ruby being the "heart of hearts." Whereupon one Miss Latimer, a malicious schemer, fixes the theft on Lucy Robins. What more natural, considering the name? The father, Old Robins, has stolen the jewel; the daughter, Lucy Robins, has been accused of doing so. Quite a robbin's family. Of course exculpation and explanation wind up the play, though I regret to say I was compelled to leave before hearing how Mr. Authur Jones deals with that old reprobate Cock Robins, the parent bird, who, in view of the future happiness of Mary and Ralph, would be about as presentable a father-in-law to have on the premises as that old "unemployed" reprobate, Eccles, in Caste. I am sorry he wasn't somehow disposed of, having of course previously confessed his guilt to the bilious detective, March, and expired under the assumed name of Mister Masters. By the way, Authur Jones is not happy in nomenclature.
The dialogue is good throughout, even when it only indirectly developes character or helps the action, and so is the acting. Mr. Thorne as James is admirable; representing the character as a man gifted with an overpowering appreciation of the humorous side of every situation,—including his own as a butler,—in which either accident or design may place him. I do not believe that this was the author's intention, but this is the impression made upon me by Mr. Thorne's acting, and I am sure it could not be better played. Miss Kate Rorke is charmingly natural; Mr. Leonard Boyne is unequal, being better in the last Act than the first. My sensitive ear having been struck by the mellifluous accents of Lucy and the Corkasian,—I think, though, it may be Galwaisian,—tones of her lover, I could not help wondering why the author, after the first few rehearsals, did not slightly alter the dialect and lay the scene in Ireland. The play is well worth seeing, and begins at the easy hour of 8·45. There should be matinées of a new operetta, entitled The Two Butlers, characters by J. L. Torne and Thomas Thoole.
CORNET AND PIANO.
AT A JUVENILE PARTY.
Cornet. Ready? Yes, I'm ready—but I'm not going to begin before I'm asked. If they want us to strike up, let 'em come and ask us, d'ye see?
Piano. Well, but there are all the children sitting about doing nothing——
C. Let 'em sit! They'll see you and me sittin' all the evenin', strummin' and blowin' like nigger slaves, and a lot they'll care! Don't you make no mistake, young Pianner, there ain't no sense in doin' more than you're obliged—you'll get no credit for it, d'ye see? And don't keep that programme all to yourself. Ah, one Swedish, one Sir Roger, and a bloomin' Cotilliong—they'll take two hours alone! We shan't work this job off much before one, you see if we do. (To Hostess.) Commence now? By all means, Madam. Send us a little refreshment? Thank you, Madam, we shall be exceedingly obliged to you. (The refreshment arrives.) Here's stuff to put liveliness in us, Mate—Leminade!
[Puts jug under piano with intense disgust.