New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-28
LONDON DRAMA.
s,Rs CAMPBELL AS NELSON'S ENCHANT-
RESS-ROMNEY'S PORTRAITS-NEW
METHOD OF BIOGRAPHY.


METHOD OF BIOGRAPHY.
London. February L.
M Pinero's plea for the problem play Is that
n II be nothing else II is at least earnest Drama
NELSON'S Enchantress." produced last night at
the Avenue Theatre. is neither one thlhs nor TIC
other It's author who is said TO DE oaush'ei
of Admiral Hornby, mdshipman under Zap
tain Hardy does not appear to have had any
definite purpose The only questions which the
audience was called upon to solve were trivial
tiles Did Mrs. Patrick Campbell. In any OF her
many Gowns. look like Romney's famous por-
traits Of Lady Hamilton? Was II possible Tor
Mr. Forbes Robertson with an empty sleeve ana
a naval uniform Of the Trafalgar date, or with
choice assortment of moral and patriotic piati-
tudes and a bit of stilted love- making, TO per-
senate the greatest Of English naval heroes
These were minor matters which concerned the
actors and mildly interested the spectators Inc
author of this vapid play had no proplems 10
suggest and not a single dramatic passage 10
present. Her work as empty as LORD Nell
sons sleeve.
indeed the hero OF Aboukir and Trafalgar was
only a minor figure in this play. 1t was the stuo9
OF a siren disinfected and whitewashed ana
masquerading patriot. She Is hrst oiscoV-
cred in Romney's studio. communng anecuoh-
atelv with Charles Grevile. and bewilderins MS
cold and practical mind with vagaries and &C.
centrjcities which he cannot understand. Inc
mast Is a sealed book, of which not hint IS OF
fered and her relations with this sardonic CAL
cuIating admirer are CLOSED over as easily do
possible When he cynically tells her that she Is
in his way and advises her TO fascinate Or VIII
lam Hamilton she declares In paroxysm OIL ca
element that she will either be that worth!
eentleman's wife or adopted niece. This Is risht
and proper and Romney is ready to hght IN oe-
fence Of her honor and virtue. .
The second act introduces her as Lady Hamii-
ton and hostess of the British Embassy at
Naples where Lord Nelson is welcomed Win
snlendid social revel after his victory at Apoukr'
II "a a proud English woman's patriotism that
ulumines her face when she sees him; but almost
81 onca he nours out his love with blind infatua-
t,on into willing ears. The intrigue is continued
In the third act but Lord Nelson preaches a
s,ooa deal about patriotic duty and moral obllga-
ton and when Sir William Hamilton is oead MS
widow cautiously expresses a pious nope 'ha'
abe and Lord Nelson may be married as sooh as
circumstances will allow. There Is d teaiiu'
rarting at Merton Abbey when Lord Neisoi ee''
ont TO fight his countrys greatest pattie a' Ira
faIgar: and the curtain falls after taoieau VI
the death scene in the cockpit or the Victory
and the awakening of the enchantress from her
dream to hear the newsboys shouting extras
q, tho streets and to receive with dignity ana
resignation tidings from Collingwood OF her OWN
ioss and England's impershaDle glory
NEITHER HISTORY NOR GOOD ART
This is not history. but that Is OF little conse-
onence. Some Of Shakespeare's plays notably
"y,,chard Ill" are utterly untrustwortny as MS
tory hut they are dramatic and artlsuc "oihS'
.r,,a,son.s Encbantress" is neither good history
adv
. dreamy. afrectionate and intensely patrouc
woman who was sinned against by CharieS
c,evil,e in her days Of innocence and whose
,,orst indiscretion was listening to Lord Nell
80, ardent love speeches before he got MS
second breath and was in good preaching forn'
t1,s,orical accuracy is sacrificed in order that
a., interests of public morality may be pro-
,,o+od and the choice of dangerous SUBJECT
IN. termination and weakness of a lion hearted
ha-o-mav he justified This might be endured
- a nlay of real dramatic force were produced
As II is there Is neither truth nor drama Loro
Nelson's marriage is suppressed ana the huiiiei
GUS intrigues of Amy Lyon. alias Emma HART
are passed over in silence, and the enchah'resS
and the most famous among her infatuated
admirers are represented an innocent pair OF
stage lovers animated by platon'c aHectioh ike
Romney's and by lofty spirit OF patriotism
and when history has been wantonly mlsrepre-
scented. there is naught in reserve except
series Of stage tableaus without inherent con-
uection artistic motive or dramatic spirit
Since there Is nothing in the play writers
worry 70 merit critical attention. the production
of this piece must be attributed TO woman
caprice. Mrs Campbell has been experiment
ing with many parts since her triumph IN Inc
Second Mrs Tanqueray" and having the charm
% a uninue personality she has never wholly
failed TO please a large number Of admirers.
Inlet Lady Teazle, Magda and the Rat
yVjfe in Little Eyolf" she has tried In rapid
succession and apparently she has an elastic
faith In the resources Of her art and In her
ability to invest any part with intense dramatic
interest Nelson's Enchantress' seems TO nave
been written expressly for her. and possibly
II was done because she had whimsical aesre
to wear some of the picturesque costumes III
which Romney has painted Lazy Hanii'oi'
There IS a models graceful dress or white mus
lin when she is sitting In the STUDIO at the
sr,nninp-wbeel: there is an Empire gown OF
,vh,+a satin ablaze with diamonds for the pali-
room and a wonderful train OF yellow 'eiVe'
lined with blue and caught UP with PINK roses'
there is a costume of blue silk and white tarie-
tan for the parting with her lover anu 'here
:. a lace gown of wondrous beauty for her
dream of Nelson's death. All these costumes are
becoming, and Mrs. Campbell easily succeeds
in reproducing some Of the characteristic ell
fects Of the Romney portraits. She also de-
nvers her lines we'll. in a voice which Is clear
and melodious In Tone while 1t Is, perhaps SO
deliberately measured as to be monotonous'
II artistic dressing and musical elocution could
save a bad play, "Nelson's Enchantress" would
be entitled 10 a successful run at the Avenue
Theatre Mrs Campbell has the support OF Mr.
Forbes Robertson the best elocutionist now on
the English stage. and also Of an efficient COM
pany. The play is also well staged and every
thing has been done since Il left the play
wrisht's hands to make 1t successful 1t met
however, with a hostile reception on the hrst