New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-13
MIR. AND MRS. TREE.
T.; MI. SYDNEY GRUNDY'S NEW PLAY. =
"a BUNCH OF VIOLETS," AT THE
UAYMAEKET THEATRE.
London. April &c.

oro he adapted from Octave Feuillets "Montjoye,
under the title 'Mammon." He now calls II
"a Bunch of v!olets." II "Mammon' was not
a very good title the present is less good and is
in no sense descriptive or indicative the eX-
crs for it comes from the bunch OF Vioiets
which the daughter Of the chief figure In the
play. Sir Philip Marchant brings each morning
to her father as a token Of filial love- But the
play does not turn upon this incident, nor upon
the relations of father and daughter, nor is the
course Of events much affected by the girl. In
these days title is thought TO have an influence
upon the fortunes Of play. 1t must be one
which catches the public eye, one which is
striking and easily remembered On the whole,
Mr. Crundv chose ILL., Possibly he chose in a
hurry. The piece may have been finished be-
times but the title Is often the last point on
which an author makes up his mind. At any
rate the play has been rehearsed and put on
the stage within fortnight; no slight. achieve
ment.
Much Of It is new and up to date. Sir Philip
Marchant is a version Of Mr.. Jabez Bafour. and
we hear Of the Marchant group or companies
Just as the Balfour or Liberator group used 10
be named. There is the same mixing of philan-
thropy and piety with speculation ana sheer
rascality Socialism and Labor also have their
turn and the Sors of Toll appear in deputa-
ton to Sir Philip, candidate for East Munster,
under the lead Of one Jacob Schwartz recently
out of prison. Mr.. Grundy's satire Is often sharp.
but he makes the mistake OF turning TINS part
of his play into burlesque. Here and elsewhere
there is much need Of the pruning knife or the
blue pencil.
Not much Of Feuet's work IS left;-more's
the pity Octave Feuillet, both as writer and as
dramatist. had a position of his own and
u in vic
breadth he no doubt was. For these deficiencies
he atoned by delicacy Of perception by fine
literary sense, by power of observation which
was acute within his limits. by symmetry. and
by luminous treatment Of character and in
cidcnt Mr.. Grundys hand is considerably
heavier and his methods are. naturally, British,
not French. Montjoye was a far finer piece OF
misunderstanding than Sir Philip Marchant He
was of his time, and his time is past. but that
is no reason for turning the cool, strong,
courageous villain Of an earlier generation into
the thick-witted scamp who is the dupe Of his
own clerk.
Sir Philip cheats and is cheated. He is sue
cessful on the surface. lives in big house. has
a handsome, good wife, has daughter who be-
comes engaged to the son and heir OF LORD
Mount Sorrel, owns bank is parsonage in
the city. and has such credit with his jewellers
that by Sendlng MS cnech at y y CloCh III lac
evening he is supplied with two diamond brooches
in succession at $4,000 apiece. Nemesis dogs him
in the person of first wife. bgamously re-
married when the play opens TO Mr.. Mark Muir
gatroyd a stage Yorkshireman, broadly played
by Mr. Lionel Brough, TO whom Sir Philip plots
TO sell for a cool half-mion diamond mine Of
which he has the refusal at $500 To make
sure of Murga troyd he asks him TO stay a. his
house and 10 bring his wife, whom Sir Philip
has not seen. Upon this hinges the catastrophe,
Of course. The two wives come into collision.
Mrs. Mark is the ex-Elen Thompson OF sir
Philips youth. Lady Marchant quarrels with
her guest and. spite Of all Sir Philip can say and
do sends for her to turn her out of doors; The
diamond brooch business having opened her
eyes, Mrs Murgatroyd declines 10 go. announces
herself as the real Lady Marchant. and there
is a smash both at home and in the city at the
same time; which Sir Philip meets by suicide.
There are two or three strong situations in this
gloomy play, notably the meeting Of the TWO
wives when the truth comes out But the acting
was far more than the piece which was smoothly
and evenly played throughout. with that per-
lection In detail which three or four London
managers beside Mr. Tree have now taught the
public to expect. Mr.. Lionel Brough l have
already mentioned Mr.. Holman Clark as Har-
kerr the confidential clerk, was excellent In mis-
smooth servility. with the suggestion every now
and then Of a dangerous individuality beneath 1t.
Miss Lily Hamburg. the good wife, was perhaps
q trine too good. But this young actress Is still
extremely young and within the last year or two
has begun TO justify the general admiration of
her great beauty and fine presence by a very
remarkable advance in her art. Her faults are
those Of immaturity and inexperience. and they
are disappearing, while her positive merits and
qualities are many.
The two actors who made last evening memoir
able were Mr. and Mrs. Beerbohm Tree. Mr..
Tree was the true creator Of the Sir Philip whom
we saw That is TO say out Of the rather color
less and for the most part contemplate scoun-
drel whom Mr.. Grundy was content to draw Mr.
Tree evolved a figure singularly picturesque and
at moments almost sympathetic In his villany
and seifshness. An exploit Of that sort is pos
sible only 10 an actor Of extraordinary resources.
Mr. Tree has played in his time many parts, all
OF which would seldom be attempted by single
actor His range is very great. and also his
courage Hamlet. Falstaff. Gringoire and the
Duke OF Gusebery-these are four which demand
qualities essentially different and no one Of the
four can fairly be called one Of those character
parts IN which Mr. Beerbohm Tree is admitted
to excel as, for example. in the Red Lamp. But
they have all found admirers: there is a public
for each. though whether 1t be always the same
public may be a question
Nothing IS more difficult to gauge or to analyze
than the pablic-any public;-nothing more curious
as a study than the secret OF its likes and dis
likes 1t IS not inquiry to enter upon now.
The individual spectator may perhaps be content
II he can make up his own mind on the problems
OF art which the stage is constantly presenting
to him. 1t is for the manager-and Mr. Beer
bohm Tree is as you know manager OF the
Haymarlet Theatre. we'll as It's leading actor
to study the public. He must solve the mystery
of the public mind; his success manager
depends on 1t. and no doubt also. to some extent
his success as actor.
Perhaps nobody has made experiments