New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-01

DE waiting. There were positive assertions that
MT Henry Arthur Jones had seen the lady and
,'eo recognized her as worthy to represent to an
Impatient world the true conception, his own
'"0cP"oh' OF the barmad who does duty
"e.o''ie 10 this remarkable play Then came in
fu'oh succession reports from the provinces
WHERE the play was being nightly acted with the
"e" oarmald. FINALLY. the st. Jamess Theatre
reopened on Saturday, md London. thus care
luiiy PINNED, was allowed to see Miss Willard
ana 10 form, as some people supposed, an indie
pehoeht judgment on The merits of the actress
ana new judgment on the piece in these new
and more favorable circumstances
AS II happened. I could not be present on
this interesting occasion but regretted II the
less because l had had an earlier opportunity
OF seeing Miss Willard. l was in Liverpool a
month ago Mr.. Alexander was there with his
company, and with his new prma donna, Iiv
erpooi was In state Of much enthusiasm Mr..
Alexander is favorite there and most de-
servedly so. The fame of the piece the Lon
don fame. had preceded him. and the theatre
was crowded with an audience eager to ratfy
and perhaps to improve upon the verdict of
London. was lucky enough to go in company
with American friends Of approved Judgment
much more than that. of very delicate and
sure perceptions in matters of dramatic art and
acted in London with Mrs. Campbell as Dulce.
so that we were all in favorable position for
judging Of the Liverpool performance with Dull
Gle in the hands of Miss Evelyn Willard
We agreed all of u.s. that excluding the part
of the barmaid the piece had never been better
acted. Mr.. Alexander. on whom the burden of
IT falls was at his best. and played with that
sincerity and fire. with that penetrating elocu
ton and that authority and certainty of effect
which make him one OF the most admirable
actors of the time in his own line He had not
varied his rendering; perhaps there was no rea-
son TO vary it; and If his manner lack variety
the public at least is satisfied with it it is.
The time for variety will come. and ought to
come. in some other part. We agreed. never
theless. that the faults OF the piece remained
what they were. and that to no appreciate de-
gree was its action purpose or character
improved in Liverpool. over what it had been
in London. The new Dulcie. whatever her
merits had not been able to make the part
more coherent or conceivable. nor to redeem its
vulgarity. nor to fuse into one the three Dull
cies who in three out Of the four acts are not
merely different but rreconciable one with the
other
on Miss Evelyn Millard's merits also
agreed. She has youth and good looks She
has fair knowledge OF her business, and
very considerable aptitude for comedy. She has
still n great deal TO learn. She had learned a
great deal from Mrs. Patrick Campbell, many
OF whose gestures. accents. intonations. and
movements she. consciously or unconsc'ously.
initiated. She could make nothing Of the bar
room scene There was the harmaid. If you
liked. but OF the lady out OF whom the barmaid
had sprung. there no very pcrceptblc
indications. Later Lady Skene, there was
the same want of distinction. and later stu In
the last act when she has To- depict n woman
whose nature is that Of the fish. she suggested
little or none OF the moral elevation which we
are asked To suppose The author intended ms
e,oping wife 10 possess In the ridiculous but
effective gambling scene. there was no passion
1t was not wholly Miss Millards fault for the
author gives nc opportunity FOR A. Where there
is opportunity or where he actress makes one
Miss Willard showed feeling II not passion. In
the more tender parts she pathetic. She
acted at moments extremely well. and had In
her. we thought the making Of an actress.
At present she is deficient in authority. In
conviction. in method She Is often charming
often appeals to her audience-ioo often indeed
for she makes II too evident that she IL APP
pealing Something Of the lsington manner
still hung about her. and the gallery or the
Grand Theatre. or perhaps OF the Shakespeare
Theatre at Liverpool was pretty steadily IN her
eye. Altogether, the effect OF Miss Miiiard &
performance was pleasing. and she herself IS
pleasing both in looks and In manner. But she
cannot work miracles. She cannot make a good
play out OF a bad. She cannot make DuIcie
Larondie live the stage, for the author mas
never breathed into that eccentric inquire Il
breath OF real life. After some years Win dlh-
gence and good training. Miss Evelyn Miilard
may play adequately part worthy OF good
actress But Ducie Larondie can only he wen
played by playing something else u. W. .