New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-28
THE URAMA.
GENEvIEvE WARD IN THE QUEENS FAv
ORITE.


Playgoers. fortunately, are of many minds
IA to the STAGE therefore actor has an audi
ence but there are many votares OF the theatre 10
whom the OF intellectual character In the art OF
acting OF paramount Significance and beauty 10 Inis
class Of play the performance that given oy MISS
Geneyieye Ward and Mr.. W. H Vernon In "Tbe queens
Favore -presented last night at the Star Theatre
must ary prove delightful seeing that this pulls
sant attribute Of intellectual character Is the predom-
nant trait oft The comedy OF "Ihe queens faVor'
ite" translated, adapted and rewritten Dy Mr.. quincy
Grumpy from the French original OF SCRIBE tue image
of a semi-poccl, semsOcal duel OF intrigue ana Oh
sarcastic raillery betwixt two persons, man and
woman each brilliant mind, ready and ample resources
of INSCRIPTIONS duplicity. Both these combatants
are historic celebrities One is Henry St. John 'scouhs
Bolingbroke, the great statesman, the consummate
orator. the superb literary artist the atectonate al"
beloved friend OF Pope, the inspiring cause 9f "Ihe
Essay on Man." The other is Sarah Jennings, Duchess
of Marlborough wife and sister OF the great wise ana
wicked Duke and friend to the princess who
became Queen Ammo. Historical accuracy Is not much
respected the construction OF the piece put hese
rivals for royal favor and political supremacy are
aunty confronted, IN series OF boldly devised si'ua-
tons. are made to goad and sting each other with
sprightly and words are name vred very much
in the spr OF the player aud thus are drawn ana
contrasted as typical human emblems OF sparkling au-
dacity cool and irritating hsolence, and treess ana
fathomless craft
The OF their contention IS tho aDOue VI queen
Anne whose favore residence was the palace OF Ken
sington-and the ultimate purpose OF 1t Is the personal
control OF that sovereigns conduct of public affairs
The strife is sustained diversified, and pro2eled Dy
means of many slight but Ingenious ana teiing ihei-
dents through four acts OF steadily exciting pay ana
n the story which 10 incidentally told u pooa a"o
social intrigue at the court OF Queen Anne does ho'
harmonize with records at least Is CONSIST
ent and piauant in ITSELF and 1t serves VOL tor tue
development illustration Of famous and formidable
historic persons OF a political entanglement WHICH
once did really exist, and OF the rare and brilliant
ability for comedy acting which is possessed ny Miss
Geneyeye Ward and by the accomplished aud remark
able actor, Mr. W. III. Vernon, with whom sne Is now
profess onay associated.
It's OF course, this latter point with which an au-
dence is moro particularly concerned Spectators who
have been readers not now to learn that Boiling
broke was no friend to the Protestant SUCCESSFUL out
was yishful to bring the Pretender that the asute
Duke Marlborough, the betrayer and cajoer or King
James, the friend Of King William was tue dictar
tor of England, perhaps of Europe by reason or his
wiie's ascendancy over Queen Anne; and that the
famous peace OF Utrecht 7l3 resulted from the spill
| ing OF a glass OF water on Mrs. Masham's gown. Nor
would these truths, yct unknown be fully or ac-
| curatey gathered from "The Queens Favorite" Boz
hngbroke, at the opening OF this piece, Is as
yet merely Mr.. st. John, and he cannot obtain
even an audience Of Queen Anne because OF the watch
full enmy OF the Duchess Of Marlborough. To circum-
vent this adversary and to open the way for pacific
com municaton between the Queen OF England ana the
King OF France Is to be this staesmans desgn-he
fuihnent OF which will restore the peace OF Europe,
make hi % Prime Minister, and drive MARLBOROUGH and
wife from po His opening attack on the redouotabe
Duchess Is baled, but IN the end ne accomplshes his
desgn-and this piece Is the portrayal OF his machna-
| tons.
He wishes that Abigail Hill, cousin to the Duchess and
daughter London jeweler. shall DO appointed maid
of honor to the Queen He that the Duchess has
| ar
has advanced the fortunes OF Lieutenant Masham' 70
whom Abigail Hill is betrohed. aud lie presently wins
the appointment OF the girl by threatening to disclose
and misrepresent the secret munihcence OF the
Duchess toward this handsome young man. HIS
titled cousin Is killed by Masbam IN ducl apd thus nc
brcomes Viscount Bolin gbrOke. He wishes that the
French Ambassador shall be- invited TO the queens re-
ceptiou aud he invitation from she duchess
by playing upon her fear Of being compromised In the
Queens eyes, and by revealing to her certain slgna
request for glass or water-that great lady intends
Masham and Abigail. lie finally win: complete VIC.
tori by making Queen believe that the Duchess loves
Masham, and at about the same time making the
that the Queen Sves s ann snuf ed
the agressor from the outset ana ne Is only moro ad
sure. than IN his ready fertility of expedont and his
bland ana ludiorous fmpudeDce. rohoarsa Vi
all the s s a. al
ence between Engsh play and the French original
amatory motive IN the conduct Duchess OF MARI
borough, and freed the topic from all passion ana al
iect AMI nwbiton Il is play OF tho mind and not tho
heart, and the atmosphere OF 1t Is glitter anu not
viewed as stage characters Bolinsbroke and the
Duchess almost evenly matched YET the loraer
seems 10 be a little better part OF tho two. ho
ultimately conquers-and human sympathy usually goes
with victor He Is good-natnred and humorous, anu
his kindly temperament and pleasant manner dina's
certain fascination. He sympnathizes, In ms
and way" ,se "ss sss and
fayors union and human nature, or course, wiz
esnond kindly TO power that used with bencvoioncc
He can accept reverses with u smile aud shrug ana
everybody Is ehrered by the philosophy lnht iausuo
The ambition which sways Nun, fortnermore sn.
IN the statesman than u does IN the arresah WY,
inplacablo woman by whom no Is opposeu- 10" S
despotic meaniy vndiove MS rcau ueccl' a an,
snaous udirection are exasperatihs 10 MS 100 "u'
| there n In his pugnacity.
The Duchess tho other hand. is depicted as XII
Az the outset she is possession of the eld and
perceived that sole object the selfish one
OF keeping what she possosses she Tor hersol anu
md sne prevails through false and spoeious humility.
Toward other persODe she openly hostile OF trisuy
tolerant-aud In either case onehsNe. INC p, NJ,
ness or OF humon eho can tauhl put sno cahnos
Jest There IL vinegar IN het smile ana oruely e'on ~
banter Nor the author given toner as Drgnt
TO say or many OF them. AS he has given 10 bsu"y
broke. rhe Churonis never draw the sworuI'nol
gr.m,nato satiristi Women are always suspicious
sex he F% Ssunas A ssy NOT Sss
needless OF St Johns literary reputation; e. Un int
read Bolingbroke," Gays Lord Cnes.srnsd' IN ono .
those cd and excellent stters TO hs son, dia no
know the extspt and power OF the Enksh anaussN
Perhap, the only moment IN wnen tns potent pasnos
IA owed To awaken impulse Of kindness isa momen
iu which she asserts her honor asA VIE anu nsr
TO tina absent Marlborough human n isah s.s r an
90 not think your grace posscsse. enc ON yS,
have heart enc answers ana iseH maj ,on ). lei
thank you" Tho stcalIhy mananty ef th'e touen
10 DO justified by Shs severity OF the rsA'men' AA"'
!. which sho Quaiis .,o,a.an
= IN human OF experience love and death Nenns,,
Of them spoken Ia this play and yst sno ,s sf mi