New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-08
THE DRAMA-MUSTC.
THE KENDALS AT THE FIFTH AVENUE

| The KENDALS AT THE FIFTH AVENUE
| Mrs. Kendall and her husband had the warmest .,
welcomes at the Fifth Avenue Theatre last night
Applause and recalls earnest add resoIut~
as TO denote genuine enthusiasm IN the audience
which was composed Of the we-known first nlghters
OF me capitsl-that is all Of them who back
IN toWn IRON Newport, Lenox and other places Of
is'e lingering The sounds grateful 10 the player
which gWe the strongest p-pOf Of satisfaction.
neaiu 80 oiten and were so prolonged that not the
least doubt can remain OF the sincerity and
zeal Oh me greeting with which the well known orpa-
men's OF me English stage received in the chisf
city OF the Americas After the final fan of the cur
tain In answer to strenuous demands for a speech.
Mr.. Kendall said few well-chosen words OF schnoyl
edgmcut and gratitude
"A Scrap Of Paper Is familiar play TO the theatre
frequcners Of the town. The Paigraye s,mnson
adaptation Of Sardou's comedy. Les Pattes de-
Mouche' which is used by the Kendals follows
closely the main outlines Of the original although In
the transfer 10 another tongue some Of the rspler
strokes OF safdous keen and polished fencing are
blunted and dued But the dialogue never halts
falters. IT with the swift precision Of which
Ssou at his best is master 10 his apily devised ends
So many times has the piece been in the merop
oils that there Is no need OF dwelling upon its char
scterfstics, Of considering it, incidents and
It's development. The question OF interest 10
playgoeg Is 10 the in which It was made
life like and OF interest by the Kendals and their com.
pany.
Although Mr. and Mrs Kendall appeared for the
first time before NewYork audience, stn Americans
are not without knowledge Of their methods and their
uiumphs. They have been long honored and
valued part OF what IS most esteemed and admired
upon the British stage. that they held before their
coming no small place In the hearts Of American sd-
mirers of English comedy. There was nothing start
ling or surprising then in their acting in "A Scrap
of Paper So many Americans had them 10
their own theatrical home in London. many letters
had been printed in the journals of the New World
concerning their successes. that they could handy
be looked upon strangers in the United states.
They certainly did not fall below expectation, did
they exceed IT, No dispute the evident truth
that Mrs Kendall was born for the stage, trained fof
the stage, and knows the stage thoroughly. She Is
a most matured and finished actress, but
with all her diligence Of study her
asstiuous devotion to her art, her familiarity with
It's resources she has lost the delicate and dainty
slIurements Of her youth. In her by-play, In her
gestures, in the exquisite little touches which make
a Meissoner miniature Of lacework painting IN
comedy. she is much to be commended. After seeing
her Susan Hartley in this Angicized version OF
sardou's play I'm which Palgrave simpson has trans
fer red the scene England and made the characters
Anglican without material changes In the motives or
the dialogue OF the French author, the mind OF the
spectator reverts with calm and qualification
TO the many graceful and artistic devices by which
she has surrounded the character with point-lace
setting And point-lace is exquisite and wonderful
and worthy Of all praise for IFS proper uses whether
the Susan Hartley OF Mrs. Kendall is throbbing with
rich humanity, whether this is woman OF so rare SO
exuberant and superb a nature, that the exigenI
worldweaT Colonel Blake must fall in love with her
in spite Of himself may be problem not yet clearly
settled.
Mrs Kendall has stately and ample presence
and is robed in fashion OF English bounty and
breadth the last act, in black gown of sumptuous
material and admirable outline. she was worthy the
brush Of Cansborough Reynolds. The ladies'
in the house were pleased with her frocks as well as
with her acting and surely they are the
hest iudces of attire. The men. TOO. found
plenty to praise and little TO find fault WITH vi
course no one could say that here is really great
actress But all could cordially unite In declaring
that here is a pleasing aud delightful COINCIDENCE
The raillery. the mischief, the achness OF susan
Hartley were sustained with unasSyDg animation
But. while she was satisfactory in many ways her
voice was a lamentable disappointment IL
has not that fitness and richness VI
melody which give to the really me Vo.eeT
of English women their inimitabe ana irresisuOie
charm. Nor does Mrs. Kendall always manage
we'll In the rising infections which sne uses "
abundantly II becomes at times. when she WISHES "
express SURPRISE protest. inquiry or alarm, thin
wall a combination Of shrek and scream which IS
anything but agreeable
or the performance. as a whole. IL may De sd"
that Il was suave smooth, easily flowing and repo'e
full but It lacked thu glitter the sparkle and the
dash with which the walack company with
Lester Wallsck the head. played
" 4 scrap Of Paper Mr.. Kendall Colonel Blake
was an English gentleman OF the finest type; Bur
he was not distinctive figure lie gave no bnt OF
the strong, deep nature, full of experience satatea
with knowledge Of the world, knowing men ana
women in all countries and all clmes so well tat no
one could hope 10 know moro OF them, but VennB
his knowledge under the icy indifference, the mock
surance with which Mr.. Wallack invested this charac'
ter. He pleasant good nat,red, amiaole Eng
lish officer. That all. But he was so entirely
natural, so unaffected sufficient IN his radically
false embodiment OF the character, that he made
charming impression. Tho trouble with him was tnat
he was too altogether too good. Sardou
never intended To put on the stage man SO sou,u
and wholesome to the core. so kind hearted Ct the
beginning and 10 the end so beaming and so
His Prosper Couramont." (the Colonel
Blake of the present vorsion) warns, meuows anu
suzanne susan Hartley, but surely he Is not at
the outset benevolent, compassionate ana iInu
gent person the " Colonel Blake" Of Mr.. Kendall,
OF the supporting company it may be said tina,
effective; that Nj. DOdson aS DR.. Penguin was
so odd, quaint ard eccentric 10 be highly divert
ing; that seymour Hicks Archie Hamilton was
Pleasantly boyish in his part aud did we'll and that
comelness that all eyes followed with admiration
her movements upon the stage.
praise in Ak scrap Of Paper" as played by Mr. and
Mrs. Kendall and their company. Neyertheless tho
Judgment upon t all must be that New York
has rounder, richer and better representations Of
this play.
A GERMAN SONG FESTIVAL.
The first of two concerts which together will con
tnnlr MIA at