The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-25
MUSICAL AND DIR FANATIC.

"'Twixt Axe and Crown" at the Walnut.
'To1iTt Are and Groom is the rather ponder
Gus and awkward title of Mr.. Tom Taylor's
latest and most ambitious dramatic effort, which
was produced at the Walnut last evening with
much success, Miss Ella Burns, a young aspi-
rant for dramatic honors, being the representa-
tive of the heroine elizabeth" daughter of
Henry VIII, and afterwards Queen of England.
Mr.. Taylor, we believe, acknowledges that the
idea of some of the incidents and some of the
characters of his play were suggested by novel
of Madame Birch-Pfeiffer, but he also claims
that there is a large amount of entirely original
matter in it, while the language and the dra-
matte effects are entirely his own. The subject
OF the play is based upon the religious and po-
litical intrigues against elizabeth" during the
reign of her sister "Queeu Mary"
and these are complicated by certain love
passages between "Elizabeth' and Edward
Courtney" Earl of Devonshire, who, having
refused the hand of "Queen Mary" is the object
of her jealous hatred, this passion of the Queen
being skilfully worked upon by 'Bishop Gar
diner and the Spanish Ambassador "Renard"
for the accomplishment of their own ends, which
are the marriage of 'Queen Mary" with "Philip
IL" of SPAIN the ultimate annexation of Eng
land to the Spanish crown, and the downfall of
Professionalism. Every reader of history knows
that elizabeth" during the lifetime of her
sister suffered many prosecutions on account of
the political as well as the religious Jealousy of
her sister. She was imprisoned, and even when
nominally at liberty she was kept under close
surveillance, and more than once her life was in
actual danger. The drama, as is proper,
takes romantic view of the historical facts
and presents them in a picturesque shape,
the Imagination of the author supplying the
details necessary to an interesting if not strictly
accurate presentation of the events of an i'm
portant period of English history. Mr.. Taylor
has brought his best abilities to bear in the pro-
duction of this play, the subject is firmly out
lined, the dramatic situations are most effective,
and the characters are skilfully contrasted.
''Elizabeth's' sturdy loyalty in the midst OF her
prosecutions, with which, however, there was
not wanting large amount of craft, or rather
foresight, is a striking feature of the character
as outlined by Mr.. Taylor, and for an expe-
rienced and skilful actress with the proper
physical endowments the part is one that offers
many opportunities for the exhibition of the
best talents. Miss Ella Burns, who sustained
the role of Elizabeth" last evening, achieved a
fattering success, and for a novice her per-
formance was most creditable Miss Burns has
undoubted talents, which, if she assiduously
cultlvates and does not aim too high at first,
will doubtless enable her to obtain a creditable
position on the stage; but she has not the physi-
cal pc Rers nor the facial expression necessary
for the proper delineation OF tragical emotions.
Last evening she appeared to be entirely self
possessed, and trod the stage with but little of
the embarrassment of a novice. Her acting in
dicated careful training, but, while often eX-
pressive, it was highly artificial, aud was fire.
quently stilted to an unpleasant degree. We
expect of course, that much of this will wear
! off with experience and comedy, for which
Miss Burns is apparently much better adapted
than tragedy will, if she essays it, enable her tC
cultivate an easy, natural style and to correct
her most pronounced faults. Miss Burns dis
played so much ability last evening that she il
entitled to a candid criticism; and while a
novice is, of course, not be judged by the same
standard as an experienced artist we are pay
ing the debutante a higher compliment by
pointing out her defects than we would have
done by weak praise.
The character of "Qneen Mary" in the pla.
is fine one from dramatic point of view. He
religious bgotry and her passionately jealeu
but truly affectionate disposition, the weaknesse
of which made her the ready tool of the priestl
counsellors by whom she was surrounded, ar
well represented, and the character ID even
more admirable artistic study than that Q
HFlizabeth." Miss Annie Graham played thi
part with an excellent appreciation OF It's n
ouirements, and her acting was in some OF tn
best scenes exceedingly forcible. Mr.. Walct
gave dashing and picturesque personation
edward Courtney, and Mr. Morrison Soin'