The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-10
THREE PLAYS NEW TN TOWN.
THE LATEST WORK OF PINERO,
HxRRIGAN, AND RIDDER.
Nasee Robertson Kendall In "rhe seeont

| Mrs Tn,aueray," Edward uarrig,n 8,
| "The woaien Stockinr." and Russell u
"Pescetui Vaiisy"-An Interesting.
Few persons in the audience at the Sta
Theatre last evening were unaware OF tn,
qualities Of \. W. Pinero's play. The Secont
Mrs. Tandueray." before they sat down to see
the first performance OF it In America. Thel
hal real descriptions and opinions OF tn,
| piece and 1t was hardly possible for them
TO be astonished or disappointed by 1t in
| any way. But thoy had q curiosity tc
| crafty in the assumption by Mrs. MadgC
| Robertson Kendall Of tho character o! a wan
| tonly wicked woman. in contrast with tho
| highly respectable heroines whom she had
| customarily represented. Therefore the in
tertst OF the production lay quite as much
in the Performance Of the principal role
as ia the widely discussed play itself.
Tho story OF Ms. 1anqurnv in SEN
tenoo is that she led a publicly indecent
lie until n respectable gentleman married her.
whereupon she found that good conduct made
her unhappy and so she committed suicide.
Only the possession Of fascinating refinement
could so balance the deviltry in such n crca-
ture as to render her else than repul-
stvo until her tardy repentance set In.
Mrs. Kendall did not try to do any
such thing with the role; or. IL she did,
the result OF her effort was not aprrecIahle
In the portrayal. Harshness OF voice and
rudeness Of manners. ameliorated by moth
ing at all that was In the least charming.
were the audible and visible expressions
OF the woman's bad nature. rs repre-
sented by Mrs. Kendall She was vrsgo
and not an enchantress. The absence OF
youthful charm was a further detriment.
Who're volatile lightness was needed there was
soSgy heaviness The ardor OF this favorite
pNf nd mi nj m
in view OF what cannot be regarded as else
than an unfortunate exhibition. Moreover.
those who Judge the performance critically
must set it down as an artistic iiasco. All ac-
counts agree that a London actress, Mrs.
Campbell. lifted herself from obscurity to
celebrity in the same part In this city. last
winter. We had an instance OF the sdroit and
successful impersonation OF n somewhat SINH
lar heroine by Carrie Turner IN Tho
Deml-Monde" But such tasks can be accom-
plished only by the incest subtlety. Mrs.
Kendelis blunt and solid. and SO her Mrs. Tan
Que'ay is scarcely less than brutaly repellent
In the very scenes in which an artistic OF delicate
personality and ndroit skill would be alluring.
Mrs. Kendall seems to have been led astray in
her Judgment by desire to give novelty to
which she las hitherto provided to her Ameri
can friends: but the outcome of the expert.
mentis exceedingly disngree1ble and she will
may be by return to congenial conditions on
our stage. 1t is true that. In the depletion OF
late in the play to eiiace the Impression
already made. she was somewhat forceful
sa II but Wills h or hsr angn
herself an undertaking quite beyond her
proper province. The character is a great one
eepias cead deSeop All al there IS IN IT, only
Is an neesn drama
a arpNfO
ass one chooses to excuse or condemn the bold
abs Of ,6at M the of This
rose. Of enforcing a valuable lesson upon
motive than to make an ,engrossine play.
leaving the crednlonts to believe his protesta:
eleSerest Of living dramatic writer's. not always
theatre enough to be popularly successful.
ters say Just what they ought to, Of developing
his bject logically and clearly. and Of produce
he does not ideaize at all While
he Is no such realist as Ibsen. he ia quite |
as far from being Dumas to il!usionize fem |
10nQueraV with perfect candor. She has been |
owned by number OF men in succession. and
marry her. she tenders him, an envelope con-
tanning list Of them. He burns the roll OF
his respect BY uurs sood
deceased wife havi ng been as austerey vr-
tuous as the second one Is shameless sinful
His only daughter comes home from a con.
vent school. and in disposition is a counter
part OF what her mother used to be. which fact
stepmother. The second Ms Tan
lue,dV is ostracized by the neighbors. bored
natron. and at length becomes 40 miser-
lhle that she dies by her own hand. Mr.;
powerful drama from the unorGinal plot thus
oaldly stated The characters are tyres. tile
'cenes are natural. aud the effects are dra-
matte without any betrayal OF effort to make
hem so. The work must therefore be set
Town MS mastery composition. Is It praise
worthy ?-or blameworthy?