New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-13
LONDON NOTES.
A COMEDY WITH SMART TALK AND n
WHOLESOME MORAI~A COLONIAL
GOVERNOR UNDER FIRE.
London, June 4.

bassador" at the st. Janes's Theatre where Il
was received with merriment, delight and every
sign Of public favor on the opef ing night, Is q
proof that the West End enjoys having hearty
laugh its expense Lord and LADY
Algy" at the Comedy Theatre Is a magnet
which draws fashion and wealth nightly for the
same reason. With its horse-talk and cigarette.
smoking and with its costume ball. where the
rich hostess is neglected and despised by guests
who nave come at the bidding of leader Of q
smart set. it is an amusing satire upon what
Is going on in Begravia. THE Ambassador is
a comedy of manners and character, without a
similar undertone Of cynicism. The romance OF
a diplomatist who has written $50 sonnets to
$50 women, and OF well-born but penniless
girl who does not know what love is has been
substituted for the trivial squabbles OF husband
and wife over Jockeys tips and favorlte brands
OF cigarettes. 1t is not the romance that charms
the audience. but the mirror which is held up
to the gay world to enable 1t to laugh lightly
at its own insincerity and evanescent sparkle.
Old time critics puzzled by the success OF
such plays In providing satisfactory enteran-
ment for fashionable audiences. They find them
overloaded with brilliant repartee and paradox
and deficient In plot dramatic Interest and
creative instinct This is true. but these plays
are also illuminated by the comic spirit. which
serves a useful purpose In gently ridiculing the
caprices, afrectations and aimlessness OF a so
ciety possessed OF leisure and too ample re-
sources for amusing itself. The men and women
who crowd these theatres and are delighted by
plays neither dramatic In form nor farcical In
movement but merely mildly satirical. are be-
yond the range Of heavy moralizng. They are
responsive to the light touch OF pleasantly which
has the power Of homely common sense behind
It. They are the better. not the worse. for
good opportunity to laugh at themselves.
current OF fresh air comes from the comic stage
and invigorates their lives.
The Ambassador is not play which con.
fuses an audience with mysteries Of underpot
It Is a love story which tells itself in advance
the moment that it is started The heroine, en-
gagged to prig whom she does not love, is evil
IDENTIFY reserved for the middle-ased Ambassa-
dor who has exhausted all the resources OF
social and diplomatic experience, and desires to
renew his youth in an idyllic romance. The OPP
position OF q stepmother to the first match. the
innuendoes OF a chorus Of scandal-mongers. and
the presence Of languishng maiden eager to
throw herself into the arms Of the bored and
fitted Baronet. facilitate this change OF part
ners Even the bit Of intrigue by which tho
process Is FASTENED is transparent from the out
set The heroine goes from the drawing-room.
where a ball is on, to a rowdy party across the
garden. where a gambler is entertaining MIS-
friends Her object is to obtain a check with
forged Endorsement. which young scapegraee,
Lady Beauvedere's son. has paid in settlement
OF a gambling debt She meets the Ambassador
and is closely followed by the indignant step
mother who Is anxious to break off the first
match. 1t IS thin web in which she Is caught
and momentarily compromised. and with the
Acknowledgement OF 1t the play ends with
suitable Encouragement Of partners. There Is
little ingenuity Of dramatic construction 1t ID
a comedy OF smart talk and brilliant epgram.
CHARACTERS WELL INTERPRETED.
While the play Is literary rather than .
dramatic work, 1t Is produced with fine artistic
effect by Mr. Aexander's company. Mrs
Craigie must have had Miss Fay Davis In mind,
for the part OF the heroine suits her perfectly.
1t is a refined study OF righteousness and WIN
some grace, illumined with bright humor and
girllsh impulse. Miss Davis has been favorite
with London playgoers ever since she came to
London. three years ago. for she has charm
Of personality which passes over the footlights
and commands interest with magnetic force
She has had no other part good as this. and
she imparts a touch of vitality to the charac-
ter with all its gossamer lines of delicacy and
caprice
Mr. Alexander has his favorite work of repre-
sent!ng the middle aged man OF the world who
has sounded the depths OF human experience In
his relations with men and women. As the AM
bassador he Is alert In mind and polished In
manner and has the easygoing cyncism OF the
well-lnformed critic OF events and society who
has nothing to learn about the resources and
vagares OF human nature.
Mr.. H. B. Irving who is steadily improving
in his stage work. gives admirable imper-
sonation OF bored and lstless prig. MIR. Es-
mond plays the part OF the youthful scapegrace
with fire and earnestness. and Mr.. Terry is
most amiable and chivalrous roue. with more
virtues than vices. Miss Violet vanbrugh acts
with distinction and grace the difficult part OF
Lady Beauvedere. and is strongly supported by
a large circle OF gossips and scandal-mongers.
The staging is excellent. as 1t always is at this
well-managed playhouse.
What Mrs Craigie has contrived 10 do in this
impressionist picture of the artificial life OF cur
rent society Is to strike true balance OF values
between insincerity and sincerity. The heroine,
who rashly promises 10 marry without love ana
justihes her recklessness by her desire to wear
a black velvet gown with a long diamond chalh'
Is In accord with her social environment; ana
the heartlessness. spitefuness and cynicism OK
the men and women. who misunderstood ana
wrongfully condemn her. explain her apparent
lack of seriousness. She comes to herself ana
repents at leisure when she thinks OF the deeper
things in life which cannot be bought WIN
money or station-when she is weary OF the
large parties. the smart friends. the brutal
Jokes, the aimless living and the hateful scram-
BILE to go one better and be at any cost
amused" The Ambassador who fills out tho
calendar year with "a little hunting. HUE
shooting. a little dancing. a little dining, nt'e
racing, a little losing little cursng, a htt's
repenting," Is thrilled at last with new eA'
perience. which restores to him his Ideals, mo
enthusiasm and his sincerity. Mrs Galss