New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-12
THE DRAMA.
vp sorHERN AS CLAUDE MELNoTTE

vR SOTHERN AS CLAUDE MEL.>ol f.
..r,. Lady OF Lyons Is one Of those plays TO
x,.h the actor who chooses plays Of the kind Is
,n,oe, aire TO come or later. AS the young
IT,, who feels that immortal fire has descended
-, her vearns toward Juliet. and the young
~ similarly afflicted grasps at Hamlet. so the
ro,,ic actor OF either sex sees THE Lady OF
ns" like writing on the wall T. H. Sothern
~, that his own turn had come and he presented
~, old NAV at the Lyceum Theatre last night.
=, uas clear that the members of the gathering
,,o,ca we're amused at themselves for being
-. and when they had gathered and the play
w ooipp On II was clear that they were enjoying
s,od-hu,rored recognition of things admired long
- and a distinct chucalc was heard now and
nm os the cue was given for some well-romem-
cd good old grandiloquent speech. And 1t was
'o,,,lv certain that the play was enjoyed honest
y, ard genuinely for what was In 1t. More than
~, there were undoubtedly many present who
"a never seen II before at all. For The Lady
:, LYONS" has come of late years to be regarded
~ play for tho company to do on the star
81 fights for benefits. for special matinees. and
Vs. Tho ambitious first trials of aspiring girls
"a 60 II was something unusual to see TINS
o.. which has had to clothe itself so long In the
nrAry that the theatre keeps In stock. pioo"
...,h in all the richness and scenic beauty OF
..,sf,l and costly Lyceum production. 1t Is an
sr nlay 10 do from stage managers point OF
49,. but MIR. Sothern not content TO do II
suv He put 1t on the stage as II IL had never
60 there before and thereby 1t gained again the
" - serious effort. instead OF a makcshift.
AID with all It's grandiloQucnce OF language ana
~. situations that seem conventional. the play
,roved 10 have freshness and life about H. IL
Soysa too IN Mr.. Sotherns hands. TO be ca
p.hs OF another Interpretation than that Wh.ch
"a. been accustomed to range at will from the
uner8owery to the heroically boisterous Mr.
so,hern lost nothing of earnestness ny speaking
as a man of strength and balance. rather IMAM
os 4 schoolboy on defamation day. and In the
s,ssches that are the most hackneyed, as the one
about the palace by the Lake OF Como. and that
basinn,ng Pauline, by pride angels have fallen
.,e thv time" he made his best effects ana proved
most conclusivey that the play might nave It's
uses yet His impersonation OF Claude Melnotte
was. indeed a mos; gratifying and agreeable one,
and he made the conduct of that hero seem as
nearly justfable as ii is possible 10 do
Miss Virginia Harmed picture in Fer Drec-
to,re gowns and she acted the part OF pauline
Deschapelles feelingly and carefully But she
ceased TO be a pleasing picture when she came 10
tie sorrowfu and impassioned passages. II Is only
when her face IS happy that Il is beautiful Coione
Damas lost nothing OF his fire or his far-iamed
bluntress at tho hands OF Rowland Blackstone VINO
was one ct the best spots In the cast, ana SELF
consciousness and strut that are natural 10 Ar
thur r. Lawrence fitted the part Of Beauseant pet
ter than they do most parts. Miss Edith Barker
save n pleasar; touch TO the little part OF janet
The following was the full! cast:
Lands, Mall y.