Evening star., 1897-02-16
MCSEMENTS.

Columbia Theater. Margaret Mather's
production Of Cymbeline is a revelation to
the senses and delight to the intelligence
Each scene IL a marvel of richness, and yet
the proprieties CT time and locality are
carefully observed and the line between
conscientious liberality and mere idle dis
play Is not crossed. The company is one
o; remarkable ability. Miss Mather herself
acts with grace and ardor. "Cymbeline" is
one of tie least satisfactory examples of
the Shakespearean drama. But it has the
advantage of being comparatively unfa-
mliar, and in this particular case of fitting
Miss Mather with a character in which she
shines with true artistic luster. She is one
of the actresses who were born and not
made: the mechanics of her profession are
always tributary to its inspirations. She
parades none of the acquired, laborious
grace which Is necessary to the less gifted
in her calling, but seems to move and speak
Only as she feels, confident in her ability
to make up in power what she may mo-
nentarily lack in polish Mr.. Hendley's
impersOnation Of 1achimo was studied and
deliberate. His conception of the character
takes account only of the villainy In the
mans nature. and from this point of view
he plays II consistently and with excellent
effect. He Is wholly saturnine. The role
considered in this respect. is less difficult
to play than II would be II "Iachimo" were
regarded as possessing more of the ouali-
ties Of an "Iago." 1t is difficult to under
stand how a man of the wholly acetic tenn
perament that Mr.. Hendley depicts would
eEgage in the registering mad-cap wager
which constitutes the theme of the piece
One of the heaviest responsibilities Of the
production rests with Mr. William Court
leigh, who assumes the role of Posthumus
and he meets the artistic obligations with
which he is confronted surprisingly well
A young man of pleasing personality Wig
orous. yet self-contained in defamation
ard, above all, earnest and intelligent in
whatever he does, he contributes much to
the enjoyment of the play. Mr. BrunipR
introduces some very modern mannerisms
in his performance of Cloten with question
able results. 1t is impossible to give credit
wherever 1t is due. The scenery was
well handled. 1t is extremely fortu-
nate that the illness which almost
Frustrated Miss Mather later in the
evening did not overtake her at the begin
ming OF the play. Her performance of the
fifth act was little less than martyrdom
ard her speeches were necessarily abridged.
But it was. luckily. too late for the i'm
preston OF the performance as a splendid
ence departed wen pleased with the expert
ment OF presenting a classical play with
artistic enthusiasm, but without pedantry.
and with all the advantages which the
modern stage can afford.
lafayette Square Opera House-''The
Sporting Duchess" presented at the
Lafayette Square Opera House last night.
might properly be called q dress suit melo-
drama, with incidental comedy features
In many respects the performance was
unique and the great audience which pack
ed the house thoroughly enjoyed its novel
ties There were three acts in the play
with thirteen scores, and their quick shift
| ing performed with all the lights In the
theater TUNED out while the audience sal
| in darkness, made possible the introduc-
| tion of SO many varied scenes. The cast
was strong one, also long one, the plot
devious ard villainous, but coming to a
happy and surprising end in the last scene
when 1t seemed impossible to so quickly
disentangle the numberless hard knots
| into which the villain had tied the many
| threads of the play. The Sporting Duchess
herself. while furnishing the title for the
play, was not altogether the central figure
Of the plot. The villain, the wronged hus.