The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-23
THINGS AT THE THEATRES.
MRS. BERNARD BEERE IN "ARIANE"
AT THE NEW MANHATTAN.


Tho London Aetres.'s seeo.A Essay Z. New
York More Agreeable than the First
The Progress OF the Season ut the City
Theatres-A New Quartet OF Dancers.
Mrs. Bernard Beere. the London actress.
was better favored by circumstances last
evening at the Manhattan Opera House than
she had been on the occasion OF her American
debut The play. "Ariane." although morally
clouded. had a slightly less murky atm osphore
than " Lena Despard." Tho lady had gained
composure OF nerves. and her foreign COM
panions aided her a little moro. A weeks use
OF the new stage had nut 1t into smoother
working order. Under those improved condi-
lions she was able to demon strate her pos
session OF fair abilities. She 10 not Q
great actress. nor nearly SO. but she
Is competent player. "Ariane" was
dramatization OF story By Mrs
Campbell Praed. writer OF popular English
fiction. In II the daughter Of aknavish ad-
venturer and wife Of drunkard is pressed BY
them to wheedle money out Of wealthy ad-
mirer and when she refuses to do their bid.
ding the father plots with the rich lover to
give her to him BY means OF a divorce. &c.
being deserted by the husband. abe marries
the other. only to lenrn OF the conspiracy. and
to be killed By the bullet which her former
spouse meant for her present one That
reads like the plot OF a feverishly active drama
but Ariane" Is no such thing. for 1t is COM
posed OF words from the novel-words. words
and words-with very little action, and
only several brief rousng moments to break
the monotony OF dulness. In these generally
uneventful scenes Mrs. Bernard Deere fig
ured without much distinction. yet with a SUI
fcient command OF talent to make herself re-
spected by critical observers. although sho
failed to interest the whole audience deeply.
There was nothing in her acting that touched
tho heart or engrossed tho mind. 1t had no
eectrifying quality. 1t was simply the re-
spectacle work OF q woman with strong voice,
and the skill to speak intelligently with 1t.
More attractiveness than that It was hard
to discover In her. for she was neither
young nor beautiful. and she had
no gifts Of genius to make her deserve the APP
pellation OF the English Bernhardt." The
company had good players in Maurice Barry.
more and George d. Marius. but the parts for
them We're not pleasurable. The Fringe Of
society, version OF Dumas's The Demi-
Tsrhsn. Is in Scb at tho
London. will serve to place Mrs. Bernard
Bsere and some Of her present stage compan-
Extra performances are advertised at many
81 IL me t,heatfes for Thanksgiving afternoon.
to the Assembling Of good-szed matinee audi
ences THANKSGIVING family parties are nu-
the holiday is not such as to forbid fulsome
entertainment. the counter attractions OF
cover tho afternoon. and so the theatres that
are open next Thursday will be exceedingly
popular resorts
=, Most ign ortant in Mondays output Of new
pny mater s In other tites was work By Az;
the s T as in sSmSnS o. Tss
{; I, the rebel eommandunt Of Libby Prison to
!lberate their Northern lovers, While every
Ioam fharactsr is soldier Hnt wears Hni-
none OF the agoni es OF war: yet the scenes are |
so Blended together and so powerfully shown
auditor fances himself on tho tented field sur |
rounded ri by all the pomp and glory of war"
and Louis Aldrich and Rose Ey,inge were
~ TN inc large COMPANY reqniTed Another
the DAsv Opera co on
Itself ,s to ;, tnHrIles1ue; and appeared in Mr..
!P PoIIs Il tGdh!saGo which is A. { Gunters
version. The newest piece OF realism Is :: Tie
Tornado in which there is n represent ation Of
while forest trees bend and break roofs, tim. |
bers. branches. and fences are blown pell -mell
thr2uEh the air: and large building is de-
inonsheu. Another thing in the same play is !
a scene in which six sailors cling to the yards |
Q. ct Swaylng mast APPARENTLY forty feet from
the deck OF ship. While an apparent hurri- |
cane is blowing.
not devoid of novelty At the one house in |
this line that may he rated as legitimate. |
Cha;tel. an expert in rapid art. for she paints |
a 'oerably graphic marine view in tve min |
uses, That beats The lest time Of any IN
hours and n half ut Pastors is filled with a
constant succession Of specialt!es. no time |
n good. clean. clever variety show. The party |
at the Park IS Of the female minstrel order. |
fore. anil ali the shoWipess commonl 1s r .ne
tanning 20 such exhibitions OF women. Tho |.
imle,ta. Ansic Hal! is E r.iCned oyer by Fou;;
attitudtnizer but there is full coteris |
OF performers besides. new achievement |
Si1cie. by French women named Ser r to-
Clair de Lunc. Toilette. and Kiseite. The |
dancers are nttired in pink and yellow skirts. |
little fellow the knees. and black stockings. |
Their immodest Performance begins with q |
Ing a climax in IN Did and long succession OF |
high kicks. which make the dancers appear |
which Hash black, 7,ockinsed legs. Alter a
minute or so Of such exercise there comes an |
int-rya! of milder steps. which gives the wo- |
Then follow Individual Efforts in indecorum.
which include frequent and arduous strad- |
anI a .sonersnult by another; In all the 50.
called dancing there Is not u whit OF novelty Of |
s'en mr. n. any OF
common to almost all the French performers. |
Although their efforts may involve. and fire. !
uucntly do. as in this case. the most intense |
phy steal or vocal strain they never for a mo-
ment lose the appearance OF enjoying their |
own work. With only this small relieving |
merit to offset entire lack OF grace and skill. |
It would seem that complete failure for this
latest importation Of Paris audacity is as
sured: yet the women are applauded very
heartily. for the SPECTATORS are pleased by the
OF themselves and their apparel. These
French w1mcpp, are not statistical to permit an
occasional glimpse O. white rutf:es and
elevate their feet. hut lift their skirts driber-
Ately. The sight OF the heaviest mem her OF
the quartet turning somersault from the
centre o. the stage directly toward the leader
OF III. orchestra is rstinenie emit itself com pared
with the absolutely Ia torious indeccncy which
pervaC.es this dance.
This week will brns to 90ss the terms
limit ut llarriGans Will 10
reached on SATURDAY. and on the same even
tla Inst IHrf form In syiy |