New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-13
THE DRAMA.
SHERIDAN'S GREAT COMEDY AT DArys
THEATRE

OF The School for Scandal has made prodigious
hit. No such crowds have been continuously seen
at any theatre this season those that have tronged
to Days Theatre since January 90, when this re.
vival was accomplished The house has been crowded
at every performance and the appreciation OF the public
has been expressed with coplOus and emphatic ap-
plause For this decisive and auspicious success
there several Everybody who knows
anything about the theatre is acquainted with The
School for Scandal II is pet play. II has held
the public fancy for more than hundred years and
it has been read, acted, and discussed in every
quarter of the world. Accordingly, whenever this
famous piece Is produced at theatre Of the first
class everybody wishes TO IT, In this instance,
furthermore, it has been produced with an opulence
of scenic nvestiture and beauty of attire that
are exceptional. The sets that are made for Lady
rneerwers drawing room, Lady Teazles boudos,
Charles's parlor, and Joseph's library are richer,
more elaborate, more costly and beautiful than any
scenes that before placed for this comedy
In America. The brightest presentations Of The School
for scandal that made In the old times at Wal
lacks Theatre were colorless, to furniture,
bellishmcnts and dresses, in contrast with this pre-
sentiment The innovations that Mr. DAILY has
wrought In the stage-busness of the comedy have
also augmented its attractive quality, because they
have impaired TO it the piquant charm OF freshness.
The stately, graceful minuet, which is introduced at
Lady Sneerwelrs house. and which concludes act FIRST
Is of these innovations, and the effect of it
whether, Of social incident, the sword dance be prob
able Otherwise-is exceedingly felcitous The
shifting of the action in the house of Charles Surface
from dining room to magnificent parlor is
other Of these fortunate changes. An earlier
practice he usage has not been unform) TO present
Charles and his friends at the dinner table, TO intro
duce Moses and Mr.. Premium" into their presence,
and then to change to the picture room. In Mr.
Dalys version Charles and his guests enter the paror
after dinner TO smoke and drink and to listen 10 the
singing OF Sir Harry Bunker and to the portraits Of
Chares's ancestors are hanging upon the walls Of
this room the auction can occur here and no further
change OF scene is required In his disposition OF the
characters during this Of dissipation and revel
the manager has created o picture worthy OF tho
pencil oil Hogarth Its fidelity TO life is remarkable,
and It's fidelity to what is known Of the manners Of
a p-ofgate class of people in the time Of Sheridan
cannot be questioned. CrabIee and Sir Benjamin
Backbite introduced into this picture, and Sir
Benjamin is made comcaly effective by being depicted
almost helplessly tpsy-Mr Herbert being remark.
ably clever and drol in this scene. The old song,
" Here's the Maiden Of Bashful Fifteen" is sung
with exhilaratng animation and not too much pro.
fessional SKILL by Mr.. j. T. Macauley, and all tho
unite in the chorus. Certain transpositions OF
text that have been made in the first and second acts OF
the piece affect the actors more than they do tho
audience. They are not material The omission OF
the coarse lineS-such the allusion TO Miss Leia
Piper-is positive gain. And best OF ALL the comedy
receives, at the hands Of the actors an Interpretation
that is invariably competent and, in some particulars
is Of unprecedented brilliancy
Ada Rehan Lady Tcazle, is naturally the con.
spicuous feature OF this production. 1t cannot be
said indeed, that her impersonation of Lady Teaza
reveals essentially view Of her sensitive
temperament and her dramatic faculties; for long
ago she acted the more difficult old comedy parts Of
Hypota lin "She Would and she Wouldn't") and
Oriana lin "The Inconstant') and her present
ment of those characters proved her posses
sion Of the buOyancy and sparkle, the piquant
animation. the vigOr, the dash, and the elegant
artfce essential for an effective embodiment OF old.
comedy ladies' For actress thus equipped there
could be no formidable difficulty In porraying Lady
Teazle. But this perfOrmance-entir right in ideal
and necessarily vital and brilliant in execution
confirms popular acceptance Of her great
in comedy: and therefore her success in IL
is OF the most important victories Of her pro-
fessonal society, with all its Wanted ad.
vanccment, remains conventional in IT'S habits Of
judgment; and until comedy actress has made hit
as Lady Teaze, she is like the tragedian who has
conquered in Hamlet, like the poet who has
written epic-she stands with the one essen
tal test aggressive and cXpectant before her. As
point Of fact. the part Of Lady Teazle is not SO
exacting as that of Angelica in Love for Love- or
that Of Donna Niolante in Tile Wonder" and IL 10
not for an instant comparable with either Rosalnd
or Beatrice. Ada Rehan has played greater parts
and played them perfectly well; but her excellence
in Lady reazle will probably go further than any.
thing else that she has done to establish the con-
yentlona public conviction Of her leadership Of tho
comedy stage Of America-a leadership that thought
fu observers of such matters long since perceived
II is a beautiful pcrformance-woma true, de-
lehtiully yvaci0us treated with subtle perception,
and made symmetrical and distinctive with unerrns
Skill No previous representative Of the part has
dressed 1t SO sumptuousy as II IS dressed by AGA
Rchan. and with the single exception OF Adelaide
Nelson, actress OF the last tairty years has aciel
Lady TeaIle with such spirit and such feeling as
are infused into the embodiment by Ada Rehan-witn
levity IN the lighter scenes, or win so much OF aD
simple dignity OF grief and the gentle patio, Of snt
Of the comedy. In Ada Rehan's ideal the country yri
is merged. but not lost. in the artificial fine lady Tet
silver rlll in the spring sunshine. All neeul EN-
phasis is laid upon the vanity Of This blooming young
beauty. eidly with success and social applause ana
half blinded with the of conquest yet the m
stiGct Of right remains in heT n'
she breaks the web of JoscphS specious sophisry you
aware of Il simple. atectonate girl, from whose
fetal manners and false and foolish life will now 30
completely washed away The emotion WIN W19'a
warm heart deeply touched. and a SelfpSpectne nina
suddenly aroused and sharply wounded with >enss
of misconduct and OF shame: and nothing could DO
bcttc than the >ubdued yet intense and distinct man
ncr. the natnraness and perfect simplicity win "hCn
other victorious element of this mpersonaton Is mo
rich physical charm Of il. Lady TeaZle Ought 10 be
very handsome. and Ada Rehan makes her what she
the course Of The wetysix PerformanGes of The The
Nchcol Tor Scahudl Which nave thiis iuF pe',h
the acting has acquired hrmneSS and precision has
grown sharp in outline and has cryStallzed into q
definite shape. Mr.. Whcatleien could not be moro
correct than he in Sir Peter Teaze, ut the outset
bur he Is somewhat softer and more quaint now. VIZ:
Drew Is entirely delightful I'm Charles and no one could
wish the part better PLAYED The embodimcns
has manly vgor. careless grace imp tuo>ity, refne.
mcnt good breeding. Glee, and a charming vein OK
satrical PLAY fulnes,. Mr. DIew's habitUal manner-
neceSSitated by the spirit Of those aCa comedies In
which he has commonly appeared-s that OF the banter
ng arccur. In Charles surface he Is the comedian
a." truthful representative Of actual type ~ u
many for Charles surface though exaggerated In ing
element Of brilliant frivolity, Is absolutely true. and
his personality could only be filed by man OF fine
mind OF generous soul. and of large manner. 10
meansprtcd. button making pc'tifoggcr can ever play
Charles surface II requires accomplished actor who
Is also gentleman. and IFS requirement is filed IN
this instance. Mr. Clarke Joseph. j. more speciOus
and plausible then h ut first. and at the same time
he shows of the evil purpose 81 this sentimental
Svbarite. With Mrs. Gilbert Mrs. CandOT. Mr.