New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-31

MR.. AND MRS. TREE.

Under the pleasing but not particularly apposite
title OF "A Bunch OF violets" play relative 10 inc
effect OF worldly ambition upon human charac'e.
and upon domestic circumstances was presen'eo
last night at Abbey's Theatre. and Mr.. Tree IN 's
nrincIpal character, gave a vigorous and priiians
performance OF an unmitigated rascal. Inc piece -
Mr. sydney Grundys English adaptation IN four
acts OF the French play OF "Montjoye.' by octavs
Feuilet, and either 1t Is not so good pay as ~
seemed to be- In memory OF IL reaching oaen -
other years or IL has been considerably marreo "
recent alterations OF It, The chief part, Sir Phiip
Marchant, as now presented, Is compiete'y n
rational. and nothing that he is or says. or doeH
can command sympathy for even one single Instant
He is indeed accredited with profound anection
FOR his daughter. but In the whole course OF tns
play he Is not shown for more than nve mihuoes'
altogether In her society and not one OF his ACTIONS
Is indicative Of the paternal love by which ne Is
supnosed 10 be inspired. He has been n mean rascal
from the first, and he only becomes more and more
contemplate. the more he Is seen. me author mas
proyded no ground for him on which he can WIN
the sympathy Of anybody: and furthermore ne -
depicted as such fool that he can be outwtted de-
ceiyed and ruined by the one man In the worso
whom clever scoundrel would first OF all nave
susnected namely his confidential clerk. The con-
sequence is that the actor must carry MS aude'e'
h, his variety of demeanor or his airy nonchaance'
or his EXPERT transitions-in short BY theatrica1
mechanism that is scarcely more than trckery.
II IL useless 10 talk OF nature "hcie ""N'~
no existence Mr. Tree was very remarkable IN MI
artace There are. in the part some OF the AZ
,r,hntes of Carker with some Of those or Sir 'onh
Vesey combined with trait or two OF Jim 'he
Penman In all the scenes OF business NE IN
IN oIerv and I'm the assumption of easy assurance
the comedian was indeed brilliant, while his icy
bitterness and his mordant touches OF satire had
even n pungent effect. In the scenes win tns
women-the wife and daughter OF the swindler-
he was alternately lead steel. Ii has been
discovered OF late that at Crisis OF emouon tho
isss dead The old IA shioned way was TO express
somethng-and od-fashioned people are likely 20
prefer the old-fashoned way. The strong scene ~
this drama-in act tnird-shows Sir Philip exposes
as a bgamist He had. In youth, married gu
and parted from her. and, thinking her deaa, ne
purrng adventures turns up, married 10 ,o.h-
shire person whom Sir Philip wishes TO imphcd.e
In pecuniary adventures. The two wives are Sol.
fronted; there is tempest and the daugheI 49,
with her mother At the last Sir Phliip urihns
poison and dies in his office chair. The tatai eose
would suffice indicate that II Is needless sacri-
fee The character might well have been so nlal-
aged to suggest Its rebuke or worldlhess' WIN
out involving a tragic close. ia.
Mr.. Trees performance gave evidence OF sreasess
force than has been shown in its predecessors put
II gave no wider revelation OF his quailty lne
comedy part admirable. Mrs. Tree. acting III
vein kindred that of Sarah Bernhardt, ueepensu
the first impression of her grace ana net vaS
plishments and surprised the house by her msen.es
ment of "A mood OF most eXasperatng wlckeunlsess
The house again crowded. ana MIR anu a ~
Tree recalled with eager plaudits after eaS"
act The full cast OF the play Is here given