The times., 1899-07-18
AT THE THEATRES.
CoIumbia-.Lady CIancnr,v.,

tinneGrty.'
There was "a parting at the cross roads"
last night within the portals of the CO.
lumbia Theatre. and the separation was
occasioned by Eugenie Blair's performance
of Lady Clancarty." To be more explicit.
Miss Biair's support deserted the slough
of mediocrity, in which all had been en-
quilted alike during the run OF 'Diyor-
cons, for two distinct ways, the one lead
ing to future honors and reputation, while
the termination of the other may be either
in long-eontinued lat liberty" advertise
ments or mob violence, according to the
routes booked for the organization con-
trolling the respective travellers. Three
fourths of the company showed real and
marked ability-the remainder evincsd de-
| cided lack of it.
carriage pulled by horses of unequal
swiftness leans to one side and the pre-
sentation OF yester-eyening was not bene-
fitted by the variations OF talent mentioned
Later in the week. when the members OF
the combination have become so certain OF
their lines that they will be certain of their
readings and so sure OF themselves that an
audience may feel sure of them the rem
dering given Lady Ciancarty' may be
called smooth and creditable one, marred
| only by individual unpleasantness. Just
now the ensemble loses strength by these
same errors
And. despite the fact that Tom Taylor's
romantic and highly -flavored drama has
always been considered OF the sort to be in
teresting however played, the existing de-
fections are fearfully injurious 10 its fair
| ness. The piece has not been done here
for considerable time. Mr.. and Mrs Ken
dal having been the last to offer it in this
city, and unfamiliarity with the text robs
an assemblage of much of the charm which
the vehicle has to supply. independent of
! It's interpreters. Still Lady Clancarty''
has several perfections that are easily
seen. and the performance of last night
enhanced many of the remainder. For the
| rendering was not bad one, il liable to
| the soloistic mistakes named above.
| 1t may not be remembered in Washing
ton that Lady Clancarty" tells the story
! oil man and woman wed when still
boy and girl and separated by the kingly
| quarrelS so frequent in the days of the
Stuarts IN England. The husband, exiled
and declared traitor. takes to further
! plots. and in one of them meets and falls
in love with his wife. Ignorant of his iden-
| tity, the spouse, Lady Clancarty, returns
| his Affection and when in an attempt to
win her for all time the eonspirator is ar
rested. she obtains his pardon. The theme
custom of romantic writers. but its in
! terest is that of the heart and its oppor-
| tunities in the way of dialogue and situa-
tion are such as might put to shame the
contemporary swashbuckler of the pen.
| Undoubtedly the honors Of last nights
! production fell where they should have
/ fsllen-to Miss Blair, whose assumption of
the title role had but one perceptible fault.
| and that one its GOODNESS. Miss Blair's
| stage experience cannot but show to good
| advantage among recruits such as are
! many of her associates, while her intelli-
gence and appearance fit her well for parts
| like that of Lady Clancarty. Despite his
| recent Illness, Godfrey Stein may be ac-
counted next in point of excellence. his
makeup and manner in tho character of
| the traitor Cardell Goodman, deserving
moro than ordinary praise. Mr. Stein made
| two lapses during the evening, one in
| cheering his enemy in the first act. and one
in utterly losing his proverbial sangfroid
| in the second, but, taken as a whole, his
! work was thoughtful and viTiie- John
Sutherland, Charles ". Sutton. and Albert
Sackett wereaa graceful. self-confdent trio.
while Nora O.Bren proved remarkably
pleasing as Lady Betty Noel. When Miss
/ O'Brien does not whine-and she only does
when she attempts scubrettishness-she
I is quite a delightful little actress.
The fashion in which William Bram-
well played Earl Clancarty, a character
istic E. H. Sothern role was enough to
cause appreciation of Mr.. Sothern never
| admitted before 1t would be difficult to
| find one merit in the impersonation. Mr.
BramwelIs prodigality of his points was
that of gambler with his illgotten gains;
| he seemed effeminate and incangruous and
dull. Though evidently an earnest effort,
his Lord Clancarty cannot be commended
in any way W. B. Downing's King VIII
| liam was worse than bad-it was laugha-
Bile. The rest of the cast did fairly we'll.
the roster of names including Mrs. Ella
Wren, Virginia Carter. John Robertson.
and Felix Mahoney. local boy whose pro-
fessional debut was closely watched by bis
friends
Lady Clancarty'' was passably set and
beautifully costumed.