New-York tribune., 1896-10-06

NEW COMEDY AT PALMER'S THEATRH
MISS GEORGIA CAYvAN. .,.,

NEW SOMcDI ~ T<AbSAcT|C . h0
MISS GEORGIA cAYvAN. -s,.,
Miss Georgia Cayvan, returning to the New-York
stage after a long absence. reappeared last night
a. Palmer's Theatre and. In association with her
newly organized dramatic company. presented a
comedy Of English origin. called Mary Pennns.
ton Spinster." Miss Cayvan's career has been one
Of earnest purpose and honorable achievement In
the dramatic profession, and the announcement
Of her re-entrance sufIiced to attract large a..
semblase Of sympathet hearers the combina-
tion of a good actress and a bright play ought to
succeed and as that combination has been made
in this instance, there is every reason to antici'
pate prosperity for Miss Cayvan In her present en-
terprise. Hitherto in her acting she has been con-
ten to follow: she now assumes the lead TEis IL
the natural tendency Of development In every art
the "star system" having. in certain sense. been
ordained by nature ard not devised by man.
The qualifications OF Miss Cayvan as an actress
have long been appreciated In this community She
Is possessed Of resolute character. hrm WILL ciear
insight, a sensitive temperament, commanding
presence, the capacity OF strong emotion comoined
with the po,se of tudcious self-restraint. an ex.
pressive countenance a graceful demeanor. Q
method that defty combines hexibility with repose
n voice OF unusual compass and an exceptional
purity OF articulation aside from a slight burr In
her level spceci. Most Of the dramatic persons
that Miss Cayvan has represented have been
women OF an impossible kind, exhibited under
fantastic conditions. impeled by artificial motives.
and constrained to preposterous conduct; and for
this reason her abilities have seldom had free play.
BY nature and by training she is adapted for heavy
parts IN the rational legitimate drama.-by which
Ia meant the dr. INA Cf Shakespeare and his fol-
lowers In that drama the persons are human
beings developed I'm pursuance Of natural tenden.
cies and the actor who undertakes to interpret and
represent those persons finds himself liberated from
every shackle of artifce Now that Miss Cayvan
may choose for herself. II is pleasant to observe
that she has turned away from the ultra a-sentimen.
tai and problematcal drama. ana has selected q
play which, while fantastic with irony, and not
essentially brilliant. is at least in i's drift Thar.
monious with the truths Of human nature az ex.
perence the principles Of artistic construction. and
the dictates of common-sense.
In the comedy Of MARY Pennington, '-comprsed
In four acts and written in smooth prose. by Mr.
W. r. Wakes OF London,-the trend Of thought 10
against the pretensions of "the New Woman"
Most OF those pretcrsions are founded In folly and
since folly always dissipates itself at last the seri
Gus consideration Of 1t is seldom profitable The
moral lesson and the kindly satire, In this case.
however may not be wasted. The dramatist has
treated his theme gently and deity, though with
broad satire. and his comedy is no; less charming
with refinement than It Is impressive with moral
force. Woman he seems TO say.-and therein ne
says truly.-is already the greatest power in the
social world. and no person. whether man or
woman, successfully contrayene the tendencies
ana the purpose CT nature. Sl"'l WolI'H 6ie
human, not superhuman, and therein they are
dominated, whether TO their. happiness or their
misery by a power which Is beyond their sway.
This lesson IL not novelty. anywhere. Shake
speare taught II. in Loves I.aoors Lost" Tenny.
son taught II. in The Princess" Alesories With
ont number have portrayed the sweet constraln.
ing dependence Of woman. and the universal and
invincibe sovereignty CT love. Though she bends
him. yet she follows" And the lesson is as OBJ
vous as 1t is tri,e. In this comedy the felicity OF
its presentment Is the attribute Of suggestive inn
plcation moral truth. In actual life. IL not in
culcated by precept. but by the inexorable opera.
ton OF fact. and that method, Of course, ought 10
be followed in dramatic arr. The play OF MARI
Pennng ton" does no; preach but only tei,s story.
and IL Is cOmmond3ble play because II tells KS
colioquy than in narrative The heroine. taking
independent stand as woman, has endeayored To-
women and in that endeavor she has .ai.ed. She
takes male partner in her business and presently
she finds herself enamoured OF him. Another
woman. who bad Tilted him. interposes TO disturb
the course Of true love-" and ndsG si"ao1 Is thus
passionate resentment and somewhat dramatic per-
Pexity There is storm and after IT clears % ,soa away
Gus love and natural happiness.
Miss Cayyan's exposition ot the woman-l!xe temper:
ament and mentality. al first IN a strenuous ye,
fragile self-suicency. ard afterward In tul moi oi
passion eo1c; and susrns e. cxe%pea S aSiI
OF the M was s roMgs wn m
than in feeling, responsive to the executlve IN
pulse than to gus, OF passion. and more M 10 10
than 70 suffer This. however Is only con)ectufe-
for Miss Cayvan's performance OF Mary Pennington.
at one or two points. Is touching as al all pom
IL Is proficient and those persons who love 10 study
the complex nature Of wornanknd twhicl prooaoy
never yet was thorough. Anatomical II. indeed. L
ever vet was understood) may find IN II an arr -
enjoy and an image 10 remember. The element o'
mirth I'm this piece provided by the efforts OF an
ardent girl under Miss Pennngtons tutelage. TO reg
ulae her affairs in accordance WIN the s.ern
dictates OF that lady's stalwar; philosophy. Ths
comedy requires but two scenes. and thcse,-repre.
senting Interiors in London houses. OF the presant
day-have been we'll devised and painted by MI
Homer F. Emens. A little shifting OF the furniture
in the course Of the first three acts might usefuy
diversity the picture. The production was accom-.
plished under the stage management OF Mr. NAPIER
Lothian jr. The cast Of characters comprises Mr
George Woodward Mr. Frank Atherey. Mr.. Orrin
Miss Anne Sutherland Miss Mary Jerrod. Miss kat.
Ten Eyck Miss Louise Palmer and Miss Wtnifred
McCaull =, -.
A remarkably clever performance. of a girl vho
Is struggling between love and eruditon. was given
hv Miss Mary Jerrold a. Prudence Dering and
kindly sensible. sympathetc. rosy. blunt old gem
tleman was perfectly we'll presented by Mr.. Wood
ward as Or Hale. The chief defect OF the piece IL
that II takes little no accoun; OF worran's In
tuitye perception. The situation at the close OF ac
third would. IN actual life. he impossible. The
character OF Lady Maitland is exceedingly raw and
grotesqucly extravagant. and Miss Anne Suther-
land made II entirely detestable, by her use ot
strident voice and violent uncouth demeanor
Miss Cayvan warmly welcomed. ard frequently
was cheered with liberal and earnest plaudits