New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-28
THE DRAMA--MUSIC.
THE QUEENS SHILLING'-MR AND MRS.
kendall

The play which produced last night at the
Fifth Avenue Theatre under the name OF "Tho
Oueen's shilling has long been known TO the local
stage under the name OF The Laicers.' Lester
Wallack acted in ii long ago. and 20 dd Charles
Wvndham II is cheerful and breezy piece OF
light comedy neatly and prettily Illustrative OF
the amatory experience Of a. arstocratic youth who
having uuarrellcd with his father. has enlisted as
common soldier, and who glides briskly along TIDE
OF mirthf though rather incredible. incidents to tho
happy haven OF betrotha TO beautiful woman.
Whr however. the story Is OF dubious probability Tor
the purpose Of comedy, its current OF movement Is
steadily brisk and amusing and no doubt stranger
thing. have happcned in the course OF true love than
ANYTHING that Is supposed TO happen in this piece.
The version presented by Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall lfor
the pe.c comes from the French was made Nv u. W.
Godfrey and IL has been made well-for its language
IL fluent and It's action ince>sant. 1t was received
with deep interest and often with enthusiastic ap-
plau-e by crowded house.
Mr. Kendal shows himself more and more TO be an
ACCOMPLISHED comedian. lie possesses the great charm
q simplicity, and 81 a simplicity which Is uhahected
and which never grows tame. lie Is lIkcwi>; an
actor Of surprising versatility. lie Identifies himself
with character. and allows 1t 20 express itself from
within. The part is not shown a. veneer but rs
an individual identity. And with reference to both
Mr. and Mrs Kendall II may bc said that they posses
distinction. Manners may be acquired, but manner
Is this exquisite attribute appears through
the acting nf Mr. aud Mrs Kendall. no matter what
they do. In imaginative aud poetic parts. 1t Is not
unlikely that they woud be convcnt"n' TINT they
would lack the str,iiseness apd the thrill OF genius
hut in domestic and romantic part they are uprcncly
fine. The characters 81 Kate Gievlc and Frank Mat
land In The Queens shilling make no strong dra'tfht
upon the passions. They are young people luS'
strong int" the novcry and fragrant morning twi-
light OF youthful love. Mr. and Mrs.. Kendall easily
enough respond to every artistic requirement OF THIS
scheme.
There Is one s,enc-it occurs intact e-in which
Maitland makes his avowal To the lady, and which
may be regarded Is eptOme Of that dream which
has long been acknoW lodged twice aS sweet as any
thing In life. Nothing could more easily be
made ridiculous. Nothing could exceed the
beauty right feehns-the revercnt ten,
derccss on the one side, the shrinking yet
happy tremor on the other. the perfect purity and
delicscy on boih-wtth which this passage was In
terpreed by Mr. and Mrs. Kendall and the subsequent
slow exit Of Kate. If In an ecstasy Of wondering
happiness, made all bchOldeIs forget that they were
In a theau,. In the first act, when Kate Grevile
is pretending to he bsrmad at the inn Mrs. Kendall
loo,d her frocsome spirit and elected the hearticst
laughter by her assumed rusticty and puneent tone
~ accidental sarcasm. The demuro tone and the
buxom bcartiness OF this assumption were in the high
est degree illustrative OF that fine dramatic faculty
which Is Mrs. Keadals authentic attribute. But Of
course diversion OF that kind is tribe TO al actress
~ this calibrc Mrs Kendall requires situations that
ue instinct with emotion To evoke her full powers
The piece was set in a careful manner-tle opening
scene bit Of rural England being specially true IN
color and sentiment. The cholerc and formidabe
Colonel Daunt was embodied with accuracy and vg0r
by Mr.. 4. VI. Denison; the tipsy sergeant saore-
tache was made excceplngly humorous by Mr.. Wen
man, aud the mNtinct Mrs.. Jronsdes found suitable
msHiu r aa reyya ot he Qnesns Shilling is one
q INC most esrenIsy piPusr hit that Mr. o ana 10 Nj
doubted. This Is the cast Of parts