New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-18
THE ORA Nd.
ARMS AND THE MAN"

The opening OF theatre and the reappear-.
ance OF Richard Mansfield the local stage, after
long absence. were the pleasant incidents that
occurred together last evening. The Herald Square
Theatre is not absolutely new. b,r II Is for all
practical purposes 1t has been refurnshed and
redecorated Handsomely and tastefully The plans
Tor It's management have been improved as much
as the house itself and II is TO be hoped most SIN
cerely that these changes will be the beginning OF
a more worthy and prosperous career than the
theatre has hitherto enjoyed.
Mr.. Mansfield chose the opening attraction
Of his engagement play by Bernard Shaw, en-
tilted Arms and the Man" II Is not a preten-
tous composition and the actor has brought 1t
forward with due modesty. 1t is light and by no
means uninterestng, and he believed that II would
ill week two in this early part Of the
son, while there still likelihood OF much
warm weather. more acceptably than play of
more weighty import. Tomorrow. in the after
noon. Mr. Mansfield will play prince Karl" one
Of his lighter pieces. which has always been de-
servedly favorite Arms and the Man will be
continued for few evenings. and then some other
OF the plays which Mr. Mansfield has In
store will be presented
The spectator Of Arms and the Man is likely
TO be puzzled for little while TO It's meaning
and purpose. Just what the author intended TO
imply II would be far from safe to pronounce. but
ii Is altogether likely that the sooner the spectator
gives up trying to discover any meaning or pur-
pose In II at all, the better he will enjoy 1t. This
admontion is given to those who to the
play hereafter: character in II is to be taken
seriously: If any is taken seriously mistake will
be made which Will have to be corrected after
ward. OF the five people whose fortunes form the
story, four frauds and the fifth pretends 10 be
a fraud 1t is possible that the author intended
this state of things to represent actual life. If
he did intend II so, and If IT does represent life
truly, then life itself should not be taken seri-
nd
taken So the play that seeks to- reproduce II need
not be. Such view Of real life would be sad and
hopeless to any thoughtful mind, but the writer
has not chosen TO make his reproduction of 1t
melancholy.
The fifth person. just mentioned. who pretends
to be fraud. is the one played by Mr.. Mansfield.
He is a professional soldier Swiss. the son OF
a man who owns six big hotels and he chooses TO
pose coward. His own account of himself
would indicate that he one and would inspire
nothing but contempt for him. but his acts are not
those of coward. and he knows how to conduct
himself a gentleman. an art In which the other
men OF the play densely ignorant. There is
a kind of mock modesty. which is the worst sort
of conceit. The modesty Of the Swiss is not of this
sort. 1t Is rather the modesty of utter indiner-
S tne Ts or Of Te Of
he had 1t. tired of nonsense and of sense too:
When a man Of this kind is humorously drawn
by writer and skfully PLAYED. he Is sure 10 Ne
she chars U 'nf is S' ~e EXPRESSED and Mr. Mans
fields wonderful mastery of detail perfection OF
method and elegance Of manner make the part
most entertaining 1t is particularly so In the iast
act. where ne has a far better opportunity than
In either of the previous ones.
The arch fraud OF the play Is one Major Sergius
Saranoff who all through the first act 10 De
the hero OF the story. That is because he Is not on
he is not long in disclosing himself as humbug
of the deepest dye He seems 10 have some
physical courage and he has fought battle. put
he and his older fellow soldier. Major Petkoli 40
hot
regiments when there is forest In the way, ana
ne does not think II at all beneath him TO pretend
romantic attachment for q reputable young woman
and TO make love 20 her maid unner ner VII -
almost as great fraud in her way ana cares no
more for him than he does for her, so 'hAt 10
harm IL done. except TO the maid VINO hha"!
has the misfortune to be married TO hlin
The sweetheart OF the Major is the least repre-
hensible impostop OF the play. She merely pre-
tends 10 be a good deal more romantic IMAM she
really Is and surely any girl Is enutel 10 1 80
privilege Rama however. is tweniy-three year,
with much delicacy and grace by Miss Beatrice
Cameron She is ecstatic as need De az t'ie
onlv acting she awakes from her dreams and
shows the promise of becoming thoroughty sens,
BE Young woman. The maid is one OF the mos,
interesting persons in the play she boasts va h
seems to have rather that OF panther MIss s All;
Busby makes the part most attractive, sspee,ia n
in person She 10 a little too much given 10 posiIs
but the poses arc pretty. par u, Nicola whose
somi is every grain that OF n servant. II Is payei
with scrupulous care and excellent enec' Ny, ~ "
den Ramsay 1t remains to be said .hH e., nj ~ The
Kee Rankin and II. NJ. Pitt add their snare W III
we'll directed efforts OF the company ne Paw
which they play, however are hot 'hoSe WIN
which the story Is chiefly concerned.