New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-28
THE DRAMA.
MRS FIsKE AS BECKY SHARP.

MRS FISKE AS BECKY SHAhF'
The dramatic year 1s9s-lgO will begin next Sep
tember The words OF promise respecting II are
numerous and in some cases they can be trusted
One Of the most suspicious limitations OF the houl
has been made by Mrs Flske, who announces that
early in the autumn she will present new play,
based on Thackerays novel OF vanity rair' ara
will impersonate Becky Sharp In the rare ana
admirable quality OF intellectual character deep
and patient sincerity, personal force, versatihty
which ranges from sparkling humor to spontaneous
pathos and easy command of ample professional
eouipment Mrs Ffske is one Of the few authentic
leaders Of our stage and. II her strength endures
and her resolution be not shaken she VIII new
taby exercise a potent influence upon its tuturs.
In choosing for dramatic exposition the mover OIL
Vanity Fair" she selects one OF the greatest "orKs
In English literature and her production OF a new
nIav on this subject must necessarily command at
terton as a theatrical event Of the first Importance
The new play. written by Mr.. Langdon MITCHELL
son OF that strong and original novelist ana poet
DR. S Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia. olends the
elements of drama and high comedy. and. in a
fabric OF Ave acts portrays the character OF Becky
Sharp and presents a theatrical epitome OF her
proceedings and adventures, as the wife OF Rawdon
Crawley and as the coquette who entices and De-
fools George Osborne and compromises ana en-
dangers herself with the dissoute and Ubiquitous
Lord Steyne
Mr. Mitchell has not attempted to use all the
material of the novel; but has wisely selected its
salient points The scene in which Rawdon Craw-
lev having lust been released from prison, sur
prises Becky Sharp and Lord Steyne at the mousse
IN Curzon-st.. has been made tributary to strong
dramatic effect. and the opportunity PROVIDED oy
the scene OF the ball at Brussels, given by the
Duchess Of Richmond on the night before the
battle OF Waterloo, has been judiciousy utilized
The play contains thirty-two speaking parts. Inc
principal characters Becky Sharp, Rawdon
Crawley, Lord steyne, George Osborne. captain
Dobbin Sir Pitt Crawley. Joseph Sedley' MISS
Crawlev the younger Pitt Crawley, and Amelia
Among the minor characters Lord Bareacres.
Raggles Major Loder. Miss Briggs. Lady Jane
Crawley and the Warehouses Of Steyne. The
action begins at Miss Crawleys residence IN
Park Lane London, and ends in the German town
OF "Pumperncke SO that Becky Sharp Is SHOWN
as the social comet Of season" and as an I'M
pecunious Bohemian. In some particulars Mr..
Mitchell has necessarily. devated from the novel:
he could not otherwise have made a play upon H.
but he seems TO have treated the original IN
reverent spirit Thackeray's novels contain ORA
matte suggestion, but they not. in themselves,
dramatic and as is we'll known, his own efforts at
plav-vriting completely failed. Vanity Fair Is
not new upon the stage-Dion Boucicault having
mazda n plav upon the subject in which Laura
Keene acted Becky Sharp, about forty years ago.
but It never was particularly successful there.
Mrs Fiske is we'll fitted to reproduce the physical
nersona.ity of Becky Sharp, seeing that Thackeray
dAscr,bes that heroine as small and slight in per-
SON having large and attractive eyes, and being
! pale and spiritual In appearance. Her task OF
course must be TO invest the temperament OF III
carnate selfshness with piquant interest lhls mas
often been done by women in actual nte' ana there
seems TO be no reason why II should not De
| achieved in the realm OF dramatic art. The new
nlav Of Becky Sharp is TO be produced at the
Fifth Avenue Theatre and, If 1t proves successful
II will hold that stage for several months Inc
presentment OF II Is to be made with unusual care
! Mr. Percy Anderson, Of London has designed more
! than a hundred dresses for It. which are accurate
| IN ayerv detail and the scene Of the ball at
Trusses will be utilized for remarkable display
If various and beautiful raiment as well as Tor
! the disclosure Of strong dramatic Incidents Inc
! part Of Rawdon Crawley has been assigned 10 MI
| Maurice Barrymore. Mrs. Fishes dramatlc coin-
! many includes Mr.. Tyrone Power. MI Charles
| pIunkett Mr. BENJAMIN Howard, Mr.. Robert '.
Ferguson. Mr. Wllfrd North. Mr.. W. L. Brans-
| connie Mr. Henry f. Walton. Mr.. Frank Reicher'
! Zenaide v Williams. Olive HoR. Leonora Stonehill,
| Ethelwyn Hoyt, and others. In the course OF the
| season Mrs Fiske will visit Brooklyn, Boston
| Baltimore Washington Providence. Montreal TO-
| ronto Buffalo, Chicago Cincinnati, ana other great
! cities OF the continent.
1t IL notable that Mrs. Fiske Will act only IN the
independent theatres that is TO say, the theatres
| which are not controlled by the Theatrical Trust
| or Syndicate an organization which, having Its
| headouarters In New York now imposes Its mis-
! cbiavous authority upon almost every stage In the
| limited States The progress OF this actress, ac-
| cordingy will be followed with peculiar sympathy
and interest 1t is a comfort TO know that there Is,
at least one member of the dramatic profession
who with self-respect and digni0ed courage. re-
iects the control and repudiates the ignobe and
mercenary policy of those vulgar and sordid specu-
Iators in the business Of public amusement whose
actions have clearly shown that their sole purpose
| I'm dealing with the theatre is to turn 1t into
| shop and TO grub for peculiarly profit by minister
! inc IN the lower tastes OF the multitude w w.