New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-02
THE DRAMA:
JULIA ARTHUR AT WALLAcK'S THEATRE
"a LADY OF QUALITY"

for the first time in New-York. and Miss Julia
Arthur embodied its heroine. The house was fuii.
and Miss Arthur, who is admired for her beauty
and esteemed for her talent, was warmly wei
coined by a friendly assembage. The return or
Miss Arthur is welcome incident. for that actress
possesses vivacity and charm, and. while not re-
markable for power she is sympathetic by Jason
Of sweet, engaging personality. The production
of Mrs Burnetts new play. however. can scarcely
be regarded as boon, for the piece tells coarse
and feeble story, intrudes unweloome topic.
and Is either pointless or faacious to meaning,
while It's dramatic structure rests mainly upon an
effect which has long been familiar and has grown
wearisome through repetition In observing TINS
play the behoder follows the fortunes OF badly
trained and seemingly. not perceptive or over
delicate girl, who was seduced by transparent
rascal and who, subsequently, when insulted oy
him. accidentally smashed his skull with the outt
end OF a riding. whip. and after that felt so we"
satisfied with her achievement that she was Wiling
TO marry an honest lover to whom neither temper
nor homicide seemed. In any sense. an obstacle to
matrimonial bliss. The spectacle thus presented
NAV perhaps commend itself to persons who like
a rancid flavor in dramatic composition, but II
will not do them any good. and. certainly, 1t will
not bear serious thought
The dramatist has laid the scene In England IN
the eighteenth century. and has aimed to present
a picture Of od-tme manners. to devise startling
situations TO intimate that chaotic nature may
contain good elements, and, by implication 10 ne
clare that a woman who has been wronged oy
man may justifably sweep him out of her path.
and quite commercially make fresh start in those
amatory industries which ~ contemporary novels
and plays NAV be trusted II is the main business
of the human race 70 promote. The fable signihes
that Clorinda Wildairs, the LADY or quanty was
reared In an English country house by her rather
a drunken and dssolute squire; that, al nrst. she
wore the rsiment and lived the life OF boy that
she assumed feminine apparel upon the stimuli
Of adolescence a
sutton; that she promptly fell a prey 10 the
mach ina tons Of that vulgar and obvious hoertine;
that then she married gentleman, who presently
died; that in her condition OF widow she was
sought by a true lover. whom In return she loved
that she was In danger OF injury at the hands OF
her sedmcer; that. In passionate resentment OF his
insoence she suddenly struck the ruftan and ac-
cidentaIly killed him: that she concealed his body
under her sofa. and ultimately buried 1t In her
cellar; that her expeditions proceedings both as
SLAYER and undertaken. we're furtively seen by her
enectionate sister: and that finally upon a dis
closure OF these facts and philosophical review
Of the situation. her betrotha 10 her true lover
was duly ratified with her beatihc and moriound
sis,sr's approvaL The principal dramatic effect
that has been evolved out of this posture OF incl
dents Is that Of the accidental homicide, with tho
seouent concea ment OF the dead body beneath
couch. in a gay drawing room which presently IS
TO be filed with fashionable guests. That erect
allowing for variation Of treatment Is the central
noint of
Tosca" and "Izeyl." and IFS sensational strength
and theatrical utility obvious. The associated
effects I'm the drama comparatively tame,-and
oven this one strong "a II Is, Is almost drowned IN
needless words.
II Is not easy 10 understand why the story or n
Lady OF Quality should have been told IN any
form least Of all In the form OF play. In Its de-
tails II Is so wildly improbable 10 he ludicrous
In Ire Characters II Is tissue Of distortion and ex-
aggeration. the good people having wings ana 'he
bad people having hoofs; In its meaning. IL not ao'
solutcy vague Is Historically silly and It's les
son, II taken seriously. would be sophisticai II NOT
mischevous. In actual life the sacrifice or chas'y
supplemented with the dishonest commission or
marimony and then with homicide would, IL seems
reasonable to suppose. have serious. not To say
solemn. effect upon any woman's moral and spirit.
ual condition Such an experience mshs prompt 20
religious and pentential retirement.-scarcey 10 the
ouest OF fresh matrimonial adventure and connubial
felicity Such experience furthermore. being thss
OF a freak Is not representative. ana therefore u
not admissible for dramatic exposition. either with
didactc purpose without 1t: the portrayal OF II.
at the best, could amount 10 nothing more than an
example OF morbid anatomy The tale has no ap'
pr.cable drift no applicability, and therefore It can.
not awaken sympathetic interest The chief thin0
that its shallow bizarre. hot-headed. and cranky
heroine represents is passionate esousm ana taaS
was never yet an important or agreeable theme
These stories Of inordlnate appetite. amorous mis-"
chance earna delirium slaughter and sudden DEATH
whether In novels or In plays. are cheap ana nasty
and persons who possess good health ana good
their exposition upon the stage is repu!sive
bore. The purpose Of art should be beauty, not de-
formity-the exhibition Of an ideal 20 be SIMULATED.
not horror TO be shunned-the excitement OF noble
emotion not OF disgust The artistic purpose in "A
Lady OF Quality Is not altogether clear; PROBABLY,
in ethics the play meant 20 assert sinful
woman's right 10 be as freely bad as snful man.
and socially as little ostraczed for II; but. mainly,
1ot. rp@ffl Ar IAN
make a sensational pother a, any sacrifice OF taste
and sense. There IL an old Queen Anne yarn about
a young country woman who, coming home from
London clad in all the co,ors 81 the rainbow pro-
claimed with cheerful complacency that she had
been ruined" in o-der 20 account for her amazing
apparel. Mrs. Burnett. II IL understood. has been
assisted In her stage work by Mr.. stephen Towne-
send a practised actor. This piece was 10 have been
produced In England by Miss Eleanor Calhoun and
al one time there was probability ot IFS presenta-
ton the Lyceum Theatre In this city with either
Miss Calhoun or Miss Olga Nethersole in the prin-
cipa character Miss Calhoun's actinS Is as hne for
IL as Miss Nethersoles Is coarse. IL receives ample
Justice from the company into whose hanis II has
fallen. but seldom have Jealous actors been ham
pered ms these were. with play so thin In sub
stance so sluggish In movement and so tumd AMI
tedious in style
Miss Julia Arthur who being a clever woman. In
fused more meaning into the part of Clornda than
she could possibly have found In H. was particularly
pleasing In her boy dress and also in her free and
easy manner Juvenile rake. but she was best
in her womans raiment and in her expression OF
diversified moods of impulse. pride scorn and sor-
row. Her change from masculine 10 feminine gear
and from madcap swagger to naughty decorum was
accomplished with exceptional briiancy of pictorial
effect That is the most piquant incident o. the
performance For the rest. the representative Of
Clornda must be sef-assertive, resoue In emer-
gencies and prompt in action, and specially she
he O
thinking too precisely the event" No strong
draught Is made on the resources Of the actress
until the arrival OF the crisis of homicidal fury.
Miss Arthur, who seems 70 be gentle person. did