The sun., 1897-11-04
AFFAIRS OF THE THEATRE

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AFFAIRS OF THE THEATRE
"hat HAppens to the Purnuing villain in "A
Lady OF ouAlityo-Notes.
What Shall do finally with my vIllaini That
Ia the problem which the author has to deal
with In nine plays out Of ten. 1t is generally
conceded that there must be punishment COM
mensurate with his crime. Frances HodRson
burnett makes the heroine kill him in "a Lady
OF Quality and In q manner which, under our
law, would render her guilty OF murder in q
minor degree. That is to say, she strikes the
fatal blow without deliberate intention to take
his life. II Julia Arthur, tho actress in the
case, were not both clever and authoritative
the decd as done on the stage at Wallack's
would hardly impress the spectators very deep
~, because 1t Is not in itself contrived adroity
for theatrio effect How thrilling similar cpl.
sode was represented to us through the com.
bined talents Of sardou and Bernhardt may be
recalled by many. A virile and cruel scoun-
drel sssailed seemingly defenceless woman.
She turned on him like tigress at bay. and
stabbed him to the heart. He fell close to o
table. Tho noise of persons at tho door warned
her that she must conceal him or be Immediate
ly exposed. She rolled him under the table,
pulled the draperies down. and then faced those
Bs Mrs
ment Of the affair, copied literally from her
novel, is less appealing to the eye. A sofa in
furniture in Queen Anne's day, and equally un
reasonable Sea, fringe hangs from the edge Of the
SDd so hs has rssd e SSy
the thing is built that way; When Miss Ar.
thur fells Mr.. Arden with the loaded whip he
drops with careful precision alongside the front
of that sofa, and then, when a knock is heard
at the door. she rolls the strange piece Of fur.
niture over him. The mechanical preparation
has been N ObviOuR and the ODeratiOn Ia
cise that tho danger of q ludicrous miscarriage
is imminent. But Miss Arthur has by this time
gained q firm hold on her audience, and, with
out loudness Of voice or violence Of action she
triumphs over the difficulties which the author
max in spite of the undramatic conditions.
II the Improvement in Julia Arthur's acting
since she went away from New York two years
ago 10 due to her experience in Henry Irving 3
company, then Mr.. Irving is an efficient theatri-
cal teacher and Miss Arthur is an apt pupil.
She has come back proficient In elocution and
facile in movement. The training has not
made her versatile. She is no mimic. In the
first act Of "a Lady Of Quality" she hardly
suggests in speech or action the loaferish tom
boy whom Mrs. Burnett described in tho novel.
and who, II We arc to believe the words Of the
play, was meant to be shown on the stage. But
tho deficiency in this performance Is all physi.
teliectualiy. Whether it is by intention % or that
she cannot help 1t, Miss Arthur leaves out the
coarseness and viciousness Of the creature who
curses. drinks and fights with lot of cots
In either case. It is fortunate for the play al
Wallacks that tho girl. who progresses from
misrepresented BY Miss Arthur as inateiy a lady
all the time and SO gets into the good will Of q
Egss1 Nas Mss 4ba dtn is
| lips is both audible and expressive. She is moi
rarely beautiful, but her face is soulful her eyes
| utterance without distortion, and she is otter
knowingly eloquent with silent pose or gesture
Her methods are nearly flawess, and still no,
| There may be no fire OF genius in this actress
but surely there is enough of exceptional talent
directed by Keen artictic sense, to constitute
| her one Of the very best Of our players.
| This has not been good year for tho dolls
"La Poupee" has had her troubles. and now
"The Paris Doll" which was written for Ver
| ona Jarbeau. has ceased TO appear.
James O'Neil has this year revived Watts
| Phillips's old drama, ''The Dead Heart" and Il
Is said to have correspondcd successfully tt
the present taste for romantic drama. Tn,
| play has not been seen here since William
Harris acted 1t years ago at the theatre known
| now as the Herald Square. Henry Irving gav
! tho piece q Enthusiastically sumptuous pro
duction about eight years ago. and Henr.
Miller at one time thought of selecting 1t for hi
repertoire. A curious instance of the vltalit.
| OF plays of q wholly different class can b
found in the case Of Sardou's "Divorcons'
which is in use throughout the country in
form which the author would have some diff
Guilty in recognizing.
Brandon Thomas, who has produced no play
sns. Marrage" has written h4.;a comedy Gale
much has been said about the work, its triu
was from time to time postponed. Now an un
expected failure in a London theatre make
Arthur Boutchier, who was here with his wifi
last season and concluded his tour prematurely
4 will nnf af n q a tar
n Marriage q eSssS 3Re
All the Comforts q Home" is published nov
and is described as "a comedy In four acts b
ToIle + % Einfai from Which the ef piece is 81 takeI M
is not anywhere mentioned, nor, is there tn
slightest reference to the original German pla
thing. assS credits Cd Nshs ' and ssveS sSTs
words From the German Of Schoenthan.''
Eaeement with Beerbohm Tree, who wanteu ht
, Tanning of the Shrew."
One recent night the sign standing Rool
veil Weiikn@oWs @ 4 actor. a The house opin was. indee I
crowded and, as the performance was merit
Tious, there seemed to be reason for satisfaction
sons who knew that upward of 200 free ticke
had been distributed that afternoon to the on
, ployees Of q large mercantile company.
. There will soon be new dramatic versions
Henry Esmond,,' on the stage il Richard Man
field adheres to his intention of giving the pla
made from that novel by Edgar Pemberto
, Compton and is said to follow Tiackeray
novel more closely than the one made for NJ
, Sothern. In that version there is such a d
| parture as the marriage of Esntond to Bentri
Mime. Modjeska has made her reappearan
, | in the West, and the role she selected after b
: | long absence from the stage was the heroine
Sudermann's "Magda." She contemplated
revival of this play In her last New York sc
son several years ago. but decided that our tas
| was too frivolous.
. MANY MERCHANTS SWINDL ED.