New-York tribune., 1899-11-21
MIR. AND MRS. KENDAL.

Mr. and Mrs Kendall. returning TO this capital
after a long absence. appeared in the Kn.cker-
booker Theatre last night. and presented for the
first time here exceptionally fine comedy, entitled
THE Elder Miss Blossom" The house was
crowded, and the performance,-even. adequate
thoroughly well sustained and at some moments
sharply effectiye-gave unusual pleasure. The play
is beauty and its success could not be doubted
A little less OF the rudy old country squire who
periodically explodes with the exclamation Hat
ha !" could be endured with composure but even he
became tolerable at .ast. Built upon a basis which
is slightly defective because OF a few elements Of
improbabty the play OF The Elder Miss Blos-
son." by Messrs Ernest Hendre and Metcal,e
Wood Is pure comedy, OF a high order. and in the
element OF equivoke. always the most sprlghtly
characteristic and the most puissant charm Of
comedy It is remarkable The story is slight. but
the management OF the story is adroit and full ot
surprises and the neatness and point Of the dia-
logue are delightful. In act first Andrew Quick.
frpulsive scientist and traveller who has. by let
ter made a prosperous offer OF marriage to Doro-
thy Blossom. meaning to make 1t to Sophia, her
niece returns to London after absence OF three
years TO find himself in a painful dilemma,-since
Dorothy considers herself aflanced TO him. and
Sophia ignorant Of his pretensions IS plighted to
somebody else; and II is with this dilemma that
the action deals Tie complication is augmented
by the stupidity of a vulgar interviewer" who
mistakes Major Twentyman for Andrew Quick,
and making the latter the hero OF one OF the tales
OF the former represents him, in print as having
been married to dusky savage woman, In one OF
the South Sea islands.
The first half of the play IS a series OF colloquies
IN which the speakers are all at cross purposes,
and the effect is that OF continuous merriment.
The cleverness OF all this will be felt by every
listener and 1t ought especially to be en-
phasized as the great merit Of the piece The
current of equivoke however leads naturally 10
exclamation between Andrew Quick and the elder
Miss Blossom and this makes scene or great
decacy sweetness and tenderness. The acting ot
Mrs Kendall showing the transition from happl-
ness to misery.-from the JOY OF happy and conf
dent love to the sorrow and shame OF dlsappolnt-
ment and a false position such as seemingly
nothing can set right,-was at once eloquent with
deep knowledge Of woman's heart and lovely with
afluent grace Of expression. AT the last he
misunderstanding is rectifed and the uidde-aged
lovers htly mated. made happy Things 90
NOT 50 fall out in actual life. Such tarSle WoId
never be unravelled Such WOUND Woum '~HA'
forever But plays must end happily' II thel "''
long to plcase-and this one Is sure OF PUBIC SYN,
pathy and admiration, as MI. ana MIS- henua1
nresent II. The acting in the auxiliar parts "S'
efficient and commendable. and the play was set
in two of the prettiest interiors that cond DC
imagined.
CAST OF THE ELDER MISS BLOSSOM"
Andrew Quick F. r. s,t Fa-Ss
Christopher Blossom rarE Ecntoa
The Rev Arthur Leacroft ,kuasT is,naIs
Tyrell Jones. ........''''' r Ames
Withers p p1ison
Wells r c,rr,rbsI
Soobia Blossom Nsie si,s.S
MIS- TnnSrs