The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-19
THE THEATER.
ManteII In .TangIsa Lives"

"BIA PlAl
goers present last night to greet
him and bis company in the
new society drama of Tangled Lipgs.
From the first act to the last the audi
ence was in sympathy with the play.
ers and followed with keen and in
creasing interest the development OF
the pot, which affords abundant oo.
casion for the talents of one OF the
best comedy companies we have over
had in Memphis. The plot briefly re-.
counted is as foil lws: Raymond
Garth" a young New York gentleman,
meets with aud falls in love with o0e
"Heleu RathbournC," a woman of OBJ.
scure parentage, whose husband, un.
kuown TO "Garth," is still sliye.
"Garth's" iniatuation for "Helen"
leads him to resign his social position
and live a Bohemian life with the
object of his love. His infatua-
ton is, however, of short duration,
though "Helen's" passion steadily
deepsns and strengthens. "Garth"
lad absented himself from his former
circ'e of aCquaintances for come years,
when the play opens upon the birth
day party of Edith Ainsley," whose
life Garth" had saved by rescuing
her from drowning a short time previ-
Gus, "Garth," urged by "Josephus
Howson," a warm friend, has re-
solved TO give up his g. clu,iOn, and At
tends the party, to be overwhelmed
with "Edith's" Rirl-like protestations
OF gratitude for his service to her.
Garth" charmed with "Edith's" in
n~ocence, returns to his apartments in
an unhappy frame of mind, and de-
termines upon q formal marriage
with "Helen," in order that he
may again enter society. "Helen"
refuses and charges "Gavth" with
a new love. A quarrel ensues,
and they separate. At this time
Helen" also discovers that her
husband is searching for her. To
elude him, and fee Garth from any
further knowledge of her, she goes to
Cuba, and, in the fever season, sue
ceeds in having her name put upon
the records OF the dead. "Garth," dis
covering the record and supposing
himself free, returns TO Edith" and
wins her love, confessing all his life's
history before accepting this gift.
"Helen," meanwhile, returns to New
York, and finding all other openings
closed to her, succeeds under an az
sumed name In entering the services
OF the Ainsley family. Here her
presence ia made known to "Garth,"
Just as. he has gained the promise of
edith" to become his wife. "Helen"
succeeds in compelling "Garth" to
acknowledge her as bis wife, and
"Gartb" agrees TO fulfill his legal
duties az to her support, but
decides TO leave the country.
He returns to the Ainaley family to
exonerate himself, and while there,
Helen again implores him to return
to the old relations In the mean
time, however, he learns from his
rood friend, "Howson," the fact that
he has been deceived by "Hel6n" from
the first; that her husband is liv.
ing, and he casts her off and il accept
ed by Edith" The drama th"0 o.
complex is essentially American ana
deals with American life and American
law and custom, but it is French In
spirit without, however, other faint oil
suggestiveness than that which is con,
seived in the life OF Helen Garth,
The dialogue is bright, witty, satlrical
and serious, the situations r
charming, laughable and intense
" dramatic, and the unfolding
Of the intricate plot holds the aud.
fence in sympathy with the moods OF
the lovers, "Garth" and Edith" the
bright and sparkling comedy that cen.
ters in "Howson" and "Aunt Eliza"
and the absurdities OF DAINTY" and
"Bronze." The grave and gay,the lively
and severe, we're admirably mixed and
laughter and tears chased each other
rapidly. Mr.. Mantell in presenting
this play gives fresh evidence Of the
studIous care with which be regards
his art aud the high respect he has for
his audiences. This was evidenced not
only in what he himself did al a
very finished actor, but in the nicely
as to stage setting and arrangement
with which the play was presented
and the comforting ease with which II
was performed. II was we'll done. Mr.
Mantell as "Gsrlh," We need hardly
say, sustains his we'll earned reputa
ton. OF intense emotion, the emo
ton that is only half expressed, he
ia a master. There ia nothing
maudlin about it; it is the strong
overmastering feeling that only q
manly, an almost regal nature, car
hold in check, until bursting bends
the will almost to breaking Second,
ing him, with admirable delicacy and
restraint, Miss Carey shared with him
the applause of the audience in the
more dramatic scenes. 1t IL
seldom that a woman 10 pre-
sented in go unlovely a guist
az that Of 'IIelen Garth" III Is not 9
part 10 win an audience, but Miss
Carey, by the pathos OF her aching In
the Bohemian scene in the second act
wins her audience and holds il
Y 9 at the last, where she avoV'
the depths Of her despair
and her fail. She was very clevel
and was a finely drawn contrast to she
righteousness, the utter simplicity
and sweet girlishntss OF Miss Shannon
as Edith" Here there was nature
mourning ONcIuOuO VI ONOih'oVh 49,
sweet simplicity itself. Even in thu
outburst Of her strong avowal OF h.
love for "GAth," she did no
overstep the modesty Of nature but 10
her grief we'll up and find expression
as it would we're She situation othe
than the counterfeit Of real life. Sh
went in and out OF the comedy like
thread OF gold. OF Mr.. Wheatcroft'
"Howson" it would bo difficult I
say anything too much. Fo
ease and finch of manner he coul
not we'll bO surpassed. About hir
all the characters revolve, and fc
each in turn he has the fitting wore
whether pungent, sarcastic, witty, {
OF approval or rsproof, He fits to III
part as the glove to the hand. {
hAunt Eliza" we can only say that
will be an eternal regret thu
VIC could not Q more OF he
She beamed upon the aud
euce in one sct and then goes out Il
i,a... "