New-York tribune., 1885-08-09
IN NATURES THEATRE.
PASTORAL PLAY ON A PURELY REALISTIC
= STAGE

.,.;o,. but charming feature Of English social
-..,sont. this wear 10 seen in Lady Archibald
r.n,nhslrs open-air plays. Finding, ono day
racsntlv that new series of these queer represent
atoms was in progress, made my way tcthe great
Southwestern Station. and after some struggle with
the intricacics df lines and platforinsgot myseH
fairly launched for Coombc. pretty spot few
,,,le. bevond wimbledon. The house stands on a
hill ist outside the village sheltered from the ROAD
nv dense shrubbery, in the midst OF which, ata
scrt Of sylvan box-ofice, civil yodng man TOOK
INV half sovereign and ushered me into the gronnds
In the interest of sacred charity the promoters OF
the entertainment had put that privacy 30 "cal W
tho Englishmaus heart temporarily aside' an" tno
rests were shown through tho conservatory to the
lawn. where pathway marked by piush-coveren
roncs gled them further on to grove OF oeech ahu
manle n fcw rods ofi-the scene OF the expected
drama. At the top Of flight OF steps ie"d'hg up
a. an inclosure marvelously like the circus tent OF
orr bovhood. was ushered into the auditorium,
rsctan yular space fenced in and draped with gray
canvass. omen to the SKY and shaded by fine old
trees Its capacity might be about 500 seats. and
tbe steep pitch allowed perfect sight from all the
beuchcs. The stage was shut in by curtain which
was lowered from supports at either SIDE OF the
rustic prosccnium, for the elementary reason that
YOU can't raise a curtain unless 1t mas somewhere
70 10. During five minutes interval for the con
venience of photographer it was so lowered, ana
we the carly comers, had chance to contemplate
the sylvan stage. matter concerning which had
entertained no little curiosity. The stage then'
was simply glade or nook in the grove taken up
nv three or four noble elms much taller and more
slender than tho American variety) two near
tocether in the centre and the Others grouping in
nrettiIv toward the WINGS The background was
formed by more distant trees and shrubbcry, while
n rustic pathway with fence and gate led out into
the open. For side scenes piles OF faggots were
thrown up on either baud just as they might easily
he scen in the farmyard Of rural cottage For the
play was to be rural play-Fletchers "faithfuil
Shephcrdesse and true local color OF course was
essential Against the centre elm was built rustic
altar topped by lofty Hermes statue of Pan
bowers of flowers and vines were stretched between
the centre trees and garlands of hothouse flowers
swung to the branches of the moro distant ones.
The stage itself was thicky strewn with new
mown bay, and broken up by banks (real banks
not pasteboard). old gnared treeroots and moss
grown well. While the curtain was still down Tor
In urban phrase up) sundry OF the actors came
strollng down from the house, and hnding them
selves unexpectedly in full view popped shyly
behind their faggot-bullt green-room. phrase
rarely SO applicable as here Presently the curtain
was crawn up and wait OF some twenty minutes
occurred. while 200 auditors, all told grad
u0iiV drtODieQ IN lot d J""Aho!'
a twomile walk mp hill and tenshilling admission
tend to sift an audience into extreme selectness.
Then the prompters whistle was heard, and from
beh,nd the curtain as It slowly dropped came the
sounds of the sHymn to PAM which the adapter
has introduced in translation from Greek choral
strophe in Euripides If I remember rightly When
the stage was fully displayed the scene was thor
oughly beautiful. At the central altar reverend
priest Of Pan was engaged in sacrifice to tho deity
and casting incsnse on the fire. which sent Its
smoke curling whitley through tho foliage. Around
him werc grouped the shepherds and shepherdesses
with hands raised in invocation, the men IN rough
and sober-coored garb of serge and furs the women
in beautifully assorted dresses of cugng Grape ana
Indian silks. all in the delicately graded tiuts. the
browns and warm umbcrs and saffron and olive
green and Pompeiian red, and violet OF modern
esthetcism. The sacrifice ended, the priest
sprinkled them with lustral water from bunch OF
green twgs Then the youths and maidcns. taking
hands danced fantastic round, twining in aud out
among the trees, singing they went. till. break
ing NJ into roups of two three they went lifting
OF down the forest pathways. tho sun giintng
down onthe bright tints and floral crowns and white
arms of the girls, and casting checkers OF lights and
emerald darks on the sward, till it was easy to
fancy onc's-self transferred. bodily, to tie real
Arcadia of old The music throughout was merely
q aageolet. which stood perfectly for the "oatcn
pipe" of tradition. Some unexpected hindrance
prevented the attendance of the orchestra, which
was on hand the day before. and believe, the day
after; but | am not sure that the whole effect was
not the better for its absence.
The chorus done. Chloe. passionate shcpberdess,
in the person of Miss Lucy Roche, tripped out from
behind the faggots. and the real business OF the
play began. Fletcher's" Faithfull Shepherdcssc is
conceived aud carried out in the spirit of pseudo
al of hum Rre1
more years ago. With good deal that is fresh and
graceful in the language it is weary work TO listen
to. but it has the advantage of rapidly shifting
event and action and an absolute unity Of scene
and time rs must needs be under the circumstances
The action turns on the love of hsh-Ininded and
oyer-straDed young swain, Pe1got. for um,d
maiden. Amoref Their loves are traversed by the
Jealous fury Of Amargllis aided by Sulten Shepherd.
and great disaster results even to driving pooi
sensitive P1tgt to temporary insanity ana attempts
fatal spell. and the action ends in general peace and
recoacIliati3n except for the oh unucky .ssncS a,
rs the tool Of wOman's wiles. is fttiDgly driven
into outer darkness.
rather masculine voice and personality fitted her
we'll for the role of Peigot Her action was on the
whole intelligent and appropriate. with q
noticeable leaning. to be snre, to pos,uring and
STAINED glass attitudes" Her reading like that OF
most of the performers was more than trifie
stited and amateursh. but she made very stately
and impressive figure. and was particularly good in
the mad scene of tho last act which carefully
studied. The little Princess Helen of Kappurthala
made very naive and girlish Amoret in flowing
chestnut wig and saffron robes, and Mrs. Belden,
the beauty of the occasion. showed some really good
natural dramatic traits as the Jealous and willy
1naTgIiis As is not unusual in amateur work, one
or two subordinate roles were perceptiby best
filed. Miss Roche in her coguetry as Chloe was
arch, mischievous and natural. bedes being very
fair and comey TO look npon. and the loutisi
stupidity of the clown dpknis. who has not wit to
take advantage OF a fair womans evident good
will was really humorous and artistic. The read
ing as l have sad was in general unframed and
stted. hut the text stilted enough to make it