The morning call., 1894-01-09
THE DANCING GIRL
A Remarkable Drama at
the Baldwin.
The Auditorium Thronged-The Au-
dience Impressed With the
Oddly Named Play.

The principal feature In our local theatrical
world last evening was the production of Henry
Arthur Jones' 1.-The Dancing Girl" at the Bald
win. General mention had been made of this
oddly named playin advance, and as a conse.
quence the auditorium of the theater had not a
seat to spare, and but little slanding-roOm in
the rear for the crop of wall flowers that
usually bloom on exciting occasions.
The play, or melodrama, as IL may be more
properly classed, is a good one and pietur-
esquely strong in all its situations. In The
character of the Duke of Guisebury (Mr. Wilton
Lackaye) the author gives A vivid and by no
me ans oVerdrawn picture of some 4 the disso
Lutte ana spendthrlfI scions Of the British aris-
tocracy-moTe thOughtlesS and careless, per-
haps, than unprincipled. In DruSilla Ives, the
dancing girl Miss Julia Arthur, contradiction
Is seen of repeated apnOrism regarding the
rearing OF children. just as the twig's bent
the trees inclined"
DruSillG is the eldest daughter Of David Ives
q. ii. StOddarD, very religious Quaker living
at St. EndellioD. He Is tenant OF Lord Guise-
bury. His second daughter, Faith Ives (hliss
Staunton- Heronl is pattern little QudkeresS in
her quaintness, but Drueilla tirrs of the for
mality and mODotOny of the FTieCds' theology,
goes TO London, enters a gay life, becomes a
pubic dancer and The mistress of GulsebuIy,
woodworking her Old father by an occasional
visit TO ST. EndeIlion and a temporary resump-
ton of the Quaker habit of life. She is cold,
heartess, devoted 10 1.-The world, the flesh and
the devil" A companion character 10 DruSilla
may be found In Alice Dare, the Derby shire
girl, as described by Ouida I'D PUCK"
David Ives, the father OF DruSllla, the rigid
old Quaker, IS drawn by a mastery hand, and
as played by Mr.. Stoddart, is a remark able
piece of histrIonic work. Ii is quite III that
eminent actors vein, and as he Is. gen
orally, Ia such line OF character acting, but he
rose IN this particular part To higher plane
than he has attained heretofore.
IL was eXempllted In the third act I'm what
may be called The stairway Scene" which Oe-
ours in nisebury's tOwnhOuse, ST. James Park,
London. when the Duke having lost evr Tything,
ana even been Thrown over" by Drusllla, gives
a last feast, on the eve OF carrying out his pur-
pose TO commit suicide.
The rooms are IhTonged by fashionable peo-
pie, Drusllla has jus, entertained the company
by one OF her peculiar dances and is coming
GOWN Tie stairway on GuI>ebury's arm, when
she is brought face 10 face with her father, who
has forced his way into the house despite the
servants resistance. 1t Is an awful moment,
when David finds IN the dancing girl his loved
daughter DTuStlla. His anger and language
something terrible, but more terrible Still is
the reply OF the girl when sue tells him with
callouS dell0eTatlOn that she has lot nor
part either In his religion or his life, and re-
fuses 10 accompany him Ou' OF the house. He
quits her with fearful Remuneration that has
IN 1t something of the scathlDg force of the
curse of old Lear.
This is certainly the great scene OF the
drama, although there are many dramatic eX-
celencies In all the acts. lie tenants inter-
view with the Duke al ST EndelliOn, and that In
Drusilla's bOudOiT al Richmond, where she
poses as Diana VarOse, her professional name,
and throws the Duke "Over," are both remark
able for dramatic effect.
Sybil Crake, the Dukes guardian angel, and
called Dy him Familiarity "Midge," was nicely
handled by Miss ida Conquest. E. NJ. Holland
as Sllngsby, Edward Bell as John ChristisOn
zone OF DTusila's capIiYesl and George Faw-
cetrs Mr.. Crake were all fine specimens of
finished acting