New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-28
THE DRAMA--MUSIC.

<rAyDARD THEATRE-RECKLESS TEMPLE
~. S,.,n.rA Theatre last night, in the presence
q, . numerous and kindly crowd, new play caiieu
ap.rk,ess Temple" had its first representation, ana
Mr. Maurice Barrymore ensc'ea inc cmoi ps'. :" ~
This pieee was written for Mr.. BARRYMORE py Nr
.nous,us Thomas and the making OF 1t appears TO
nav. hren prompted BY en- sdmring sense OF Mr. Bar
rymores lud achievement In the character OF Capain
sr,t The intention was to delineste noble creature
made wsyward and semi prohigste through excess on
resentful impulse. This. In . subtle way seems oe
noted BY the title Mr. Augustus Thomas Is, probably
in IN. Pelham and Paul Clifford period Of his intel
leet.l development-a period beyond which certainly
Mr. BARRYMORE has not advanced. Author and actor.
therefore are harmony and the result OF their COM
bned efforts is manifestation OF crude and ooiseefous
nature such a. is calculated to please and PROBABLY
viii please those persons who believe thst eccenriciv
Is originality that delirium is power, and that recG
lessness Is charm 1t may be assumed that sucn per
sons are sufficiently numerous TO reward these worHer
with some measure Of substantial prosperity Thear
belief indeed, radically wrong but IL Is hafmiesS'
and they usually outgrow II In the course Oh ume'
While it Issts they admirers Of snch men Is hecA-
less Temple-who dash through life as Alneri dsshed
through Europe behind the swifest post e1taht
Mr. Maurice barrymore with his stalwart person,
handsome face, buoyant and negligent manner-com-
mingling nonchaance and efrontery-and MS ooVl-
ousy beadlong will and volatile. careless temperament
amply fills this IDEAL Much Of this matter II would
be tedious to relate. Mr.. Barrymore Is well known
% be man Of talent and experience IN
his profession He has acted many parts we'll
and his utility is not 10 be doubted. But the
spirit that shines through his acting Is not
noble a thoughtful gentle spirit. Although
usually apparent man of the world ne inVariaoS
gives the impression of tuvenilitv-of an unoeVeopea
and unsettled character The great poet WORDSWORTH
long ago sagacously observed that the man who thinks
Of nothing but himself has faculties that he has never
used such q man.-if actOr.-would not develop
the attribute of authority and therefore would not be-
come impressive. Mr.. Barrymore may one daS learn
that egotsm is a very shallow thing He has great
need to learn IT,
In the play presented on this nisht.-which Is In
four acts and which contains fourteen persons VINO
ore implicated in . trite lovoseory and several i'm
nossible drawing room scenes-Ar Barrymore I'M
pcrsonates a hero who ID young enough 10 nory III
being unconventional. Reckless Temple IS mem
her OF both bars and he has divided the time ABOUT
equally between the two. His hair hos been turned
gray by the liberal consumption Of gik, but his COM
nlexion is lovely He is eloquent before juries He
las secured the acquttaI Of a murderer. and for TINS
reason lie is introduced into society. In the com
pany Of ladies he weakly cynical because eamiess
words Of misanthropy, and he avouches settleo
contempt for social opinion. He falls In love win
Dana Hamn and he wins her heart He learns that
her brother George. has seduced betrayed ana aosh
doned young woman, whose relative. srrayed In blue
overals is in quest Of him. with hostile
Intentions. He proposes to shield this Hieho
lr pretending to be himself he guilty man
ye win assume the paternity OF George HAM
Inns natural child and he will mOllify the wrath
OF the avenger That avenger is the murderer whose
Life his eloquence has saved-in the face OF tcsumonS
that would defeat the eloQuence Of Webster.
His colossal herosm delights Mrs BliDgsley-tne
tr giltest person Of his acquaintance and the sun
beam of the stage last night in the person OF MISS
Caroline Hi-and that sprightly lady fondles his rSnt
ear IN a ballroom. He rs accepted by Dana Hamhn
and betrothed TO her amid irrelevant ooservs@ons
by an obstetrica physician, who enters nearly every
sccne and talks like . midwife. His assumed guilt
however mysterously becomes known TO newspaper
reporter and thus Is IL thereupon communicated 70
the dancers All the ladies indignant and AL the
men are 30 shocked that they ask for their hats ana
insist ON going home. He is thus outa~ed by inc
society that he has denOuncng for Its hypocrisy
He goes to his lodging and drinks brandy. and there
lie has terrific verbal encounter with the broner Oh
the girl whom his friend has wronged The Drother
r.,s the worst Of this and terminates hs unnecessary
existence Mrs. Billingsley, who knows the truth I'll
along them makes matters right by telling it's she
naturally would and should have sSns In the nrst
place. 49,
There is not particle Of nature or sense IN THIS
s,orv and the social incidents Of the play are suy
and hdicrous The dialogue is that of heavy writer
who tries to be piauant and Lands IA oaobie stshs
Is mt into the lnoath OF persons who are offered as
ps Of social state and rennement and these people
srr made 20 wrsngle, In . parcf, about pI1Vs,e and
hdelcate matters, in q manner test woaia asersSe
has been graduated II 10 seldom that one encounters
such a forced aud unnecessary Play hecAiess
Temple Mr.. Barry more wss loudly ana nequenSy
sppanded and often called before the curtain THIS