Mabel Love (1874-1953)

"LORD TOM NODDY"
By George Dance and F. Osmond Carr.
Produced at the Garrick Theatre - 15th, September 1896
Reveiwed in The Daily Mail (London)

LORD TOM NODDY AND MR. TICH - MABEL LOVE - GARRICK THEATRE

The full-length portrait of the Roscius of our stage still fronts you in the foyer of the theatre so lately Mr. Hare's, but as a presiding genius its presence is meaningless and null. The citadel of high comedy has fallen before the all-conquering "Mr. Tich." Jericho's fate was not more surprising, nor the surrender of Metz a betrayal more base; but there is the stubborn fact - Mr. Hare has handed over his house to the enemy, and the traditions established by the Bancrofts, the Kendals, John Hare, Forbes-Robertson, and Mrs. Patrick Campbell, the leaders of the English stage in high comedy and drama, are laughed out of memory to the accompaniment of the antics of a-stunted music-hall grotesque.

It is all very pitiful. To the Irvings, the Barretts, the Willards, the men who have the dignity of their profession at heart, it-must be very galling and disheartening. But - what avails? The public which yearns for this sort of aimless and formless futility appears illimitable. Our much-vaunted theatre is first and last and always a commercial speculation, and never anything else; and Mr. Greet, the successor to Mr. John Hare and the exploiter of "Mr. Tich" has merely revealed unusual astuteness in capturing for these childish jinks so notable a playground. "Lord Tom Noddy" is, of course, not worth detailed description. I never saw the "musical piece" that was. Crowds of self-conscious and over-dressed women and young men who would be better employed in sweeping the streets throng the stage and apprise us of something in more or less inarticulate song. This happens frequently.

In the intervals, an almost invisible thread of a story is wound about the complacent persons of cleverish people like Miss Kate James, Mr. Sidney Harcourt, and. Miss Mabel Love, and gradually, very gradually, these more conspicuous folk begin to gyrate around the bright particular star, Mr. Little Tich. He is Lord Tom Noddy, "the gentleman jock who's known to everybody as good old Tom." Peer-like, he has no money, and will sell himself to the highest - that is, tallest bidder. In this idea lies the richest vein of humour in the piece. "Mr. Tich" is some four feet in height. By introducing an actor six feet six and an actress proportionately tall, and keeping them always beside him, an audience thoroughly well posted (by Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan, be it noted) in this tasteless form of humour is kept not only amused but entranced.

Lord Tom really loves. That goes without saying. And Miss Mabel Love, as a. dainty hospital nurse, enjoys the privilege of securing his affection. When it is said that she inherits a vast property, quixotically makes it over to him, and, all unsuspected, finds him still true to her - well, all that need be told is said. There is much music - that is, melody of the jiggy, catchy order. Pretty Miss Love twirls her lissom young body about with much grace and more dexterity. For callow youth and smirking age there is a liberal display of shapely limb and costly underclothing. The gorgeously-attired chorus, in point of physical beauty and appeal, lends significance to Coppee's biting phrase about the sergalio of the theatre.

And finally, there is the diminutive "Mr. Tich." In his strange and to me unattractive performance there is genuine cleverness. He is an actor - spoiled by the music-hall. He has humour and real ability. And to his credit be it said that nothing from beginning to end is there to awaken what Macaulay termed "the bray of Exeter Hall." His joking is free from all offence. So is the whole entertainment. Indeed, for such as love this kind of after dinner fare, I suppose "Lord Tom Noddy" is a dish of beauty, luxury, and wanton fun - not unworthy to bo set before a king.

A. A . B .

The Daily Mail (London) - 16th September, 1896