PUNCH,
OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
Volume 93
December 31st 1887
edited by Sir Francis Burnand
ANOTHER "BUTLER;" OR, A THORNE IN HIS SIDE.
Taking for granted the improbabilities of Mr. Author Jones'splot—which seems to use up again the materials of Aurora Floyd,and one or two other novels, includingthe Danvers Jewels—and a certainmaladroitness of construction, Heart ofHearts is both interesting and amusing.All the characters are distinctly outlinedexcepting one, and this one,strange to say, is James Robins, thehero of the piece, a part apparentlywritten rather to suit Mr. ThomasThorne's peculiarities, than to exhibitany marked individuality of character.
James Robins, Lady Clarissa Fitzralf'sbutler,—who is of course the intimate friend of Mr. and Mrs. Merivale'sbutler at Toole's Theatre round the corner,—has secretlymarried his mistress's sister, and her niece is openly to marry hismistress's son. Now, how about the character of James Robins?Is he honest? Hardly so. Is he sly? Certainly. Is he crafty? Itcannot be denied. Yet the sympathy of the audience is with him.Why? Well, chiefly because he is played by Mr. Thorne, andsecondarily, because he is very fond of his brother's child, whom hehas brought up because his brother, having got into trouble and beencompelled to "do his time," has delivered her into his care. Thisnice 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 morenatural, considering the name? The father, Old Robins, has stolenthe jewel; the daughter, Lucy Robins, has been accused of doing so.Quite a robbin's family. Of course exculpation and explanationwind up the play, though I regret to say I was compelled to leavebefore hearing how Mr. Authur Jones deals with that old reprobateCock Robins, the parent bird, who, in view of the futurehappiness of Mary and Ralph, would be about as presentable afather-in-law to have on the premises as that old "unemployed"reprobate, Eccles, in Caste. I am sorry he wasn't somehow disposedof, having of course previously confessed his guilt to the biliousdetective, March, and expired under the assumed name of MisterMasters. By the way, Authur Jones is not happy in nomenclature.
The dialogue is good throughout, even when it only indirectlydevelopes character or helps the action, and so is the acting. Mr.Thorne as James is admirable; representing the character as a mangifted with an overpowering appreciation of the humorous side ofevery situation,—including his own as a butler,—in which eitheraccident or design may place him. I do not believe that this was theauthor'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. MissKate Rorke is charmingly natural; Mr. Leonard Boyne is unequal,being better in the last Act than the first. My sensitive earhaving been struck