New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-15

had to depict At the very opening she mas spent
sixteen sleepless hours of jealous doubt ana misery
She hears her worst fears confirmed. "ithih
brief interval she has to pass from the despair whch
looks suicide in the face to the heroic w0maniihess
of mood which leads her to forgive and 10 pehe'o
again in her husband: a belief which one instant
reflection on his story converts into fresh DOUBT
Mrs. Langtry played this first act, VIVID all us
alterations. in style which carried the ho"se
with her There was one general expression Oh
astonlsbment aud admiration Mt the advance sue
bal made since London last saw her. II she never
tonched the deeper notes of the terrible emotions
through which she had to pass, she showed u Ten
derncss of which she hal scarcely been thought
capable In the reconciliation with her husband Size
was simply charming. with winning a'iectionate-
ness of manner and ielicacy of delineation that
deserved and earned an enthusiastic recall. ier
manner. her movement. her distinction, won her as
many encomiums from that critical company as tiio
beauty of face and figure which the throng Oh oiu
friends and acquaintance seemed half surprised 10
find as perfect ever. Her sudden apparitloh !"
the second act in wonderful ball gown ia'r'S
dazzlcd the house which broke ont into applause
that was to be sure a homage TO the wohlah AS
much as TO the artist.
But the second act disappointed some of the hopes
the first had raised The adapter of the last TWO
acts has cut out of the wickedness OF the orig
nal and great deal of the goodness. The scene vi
expulsion has been weakened in the text. ana was
not well done No woman coud deliver with dignity
such words put into StrcyiRes mouth by TIE
English adapter Nor has the prudery of the censor
left enough Of the original to Justify explain the
act or to keep the full sympathes of the house with
the outraged wife. At the end it is no better. When
the CONT demands from the Princess the name OF MS
wife's lover her answer is Cherche. In the
English comes instead OF this sneer, Your friend
of course" Desclce herself could have made noth-
ing of this, nor of many another sentence III wnch
the gcm-like brilliancy of Dumass French looks
dim through the paste of this English imitation
The English dialogue, il must be said, is Hat, COM
monpace and only too often vulgar. Can you
conceive Of Princess saying to her guest. " turn
you out Z Many of the phrases she is made u
utter seem to have been borrowed from High Lie
Below Stairs" The long scene with her husband IN
the third act was played unequally. Here, too MIS-
Langtry had less help than elsewhere from Mt
Coghlan, who as the Prince acted thanklcss char
acter with, for the most part authority. concentra-
ton and finish. Her strength was too heavily
taxed but there were tones and gestures so
expressive and sympathetic that nothing but the
hopeless weakness and mystery OF the close pre-
vented full acknowledgment of her merits. MIS-.
Langtry and Mr. Coghlan were recalled and
applauded, bnt the indictments of the gallery
continued to cry out against the piece.
II is seldom. If ever. that audience like that of
last HI ght has been seen in a London theatre The
world of rank and fashion which Mrs. Langtry
quilted for the stage there in great numbers.
Lord Harrington sat in stage box opposite the one
viii Ell the American Minister occupied. The Lega-
ton was further represented i'll thu stalls by Mr..
and Mrs. Henry White not far from whom sat
NJ IT, ~. Il
of Plays, Mr.. Pigott. looked on from above
Wherever Won turned you some OF the prcttest
and most famous women in London society; list
of whom would read like All extract from the
pcerage. The best known men in London were
therc in not less force. Not the least curious
evidence of the pressure for places may he found IN
the fact that when on Monday there some
question OF securing a place for Mr.. Gladstone, 1t
was found 10 be impossible. u. W. 5.