The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-24

49, LAYS and players far above the
ordinary were seen at the local
q - theaters during the week just
y - past. Taken all In all, the
lovers of the drama were given a
much wider choice OF attractions than of
late has fallen to their lot A feature OF
the week was the first appear
,ance IN this city of Miss Eugene Blair,
admittedly one of the leading emotional
actresses on the American stage, in IA
Lady Of Quality" at the Seattle theater.
Her engagement began Thursday and
will end tonight At the Third Avenue
theater the clever comedy drama Browns
in Town. was presented by company Of
extraordinary merit
To criticise Miss Blairs presentation of
Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnetts intense
ly dramatic play is not an easy task. To
criticise Miss Blair herself, or to criticise
the play, would be far easier With Miss
Blair, considered individually, little fault
can be found. Likewise with the play
But Miss Blair and the play in combina-
tion, 1t IL not unjust to either to say, hard
ly merit the same praise.
That Miss Blair Ia an actress Of great
deal OF ability cannot be Questioned but
had she appeared In any other play than
"A Lady OF Quality she would have left
q better impression on Seattle theater-
goers. Not that her acting was not all
that had been claimed for 1t, but simply
because the role which she attempts is
one which she is not adapted to play sue
cessfully.
Tho heroine of Mrs. Burnetts play is
Clorinda Wildairs. bold, young English
beauty OF a strong masculine type. Youth
and ravishing beauty are the very founda-
tion Of the character, and to successfully
assume 1t. the actress must possess both
these attributes. Miss Blair is not OLD:
neither is she uncomely: but these mega
tive qualifications do not fit her for the
part Of Clorinda Wildairs.
4 \ 4
IN the first act, in which the fair Cior-
linda appears In boys costume. Miss
Blair's shortcomings are particularly APP
parent. The truth is that for the portrayal
Of a slender girl Of IS Miss Blair has a
figure entirely too matronly, and the fact
Is sharply accumulated by her male attire.
To act the part she is perfectly compe-
tent, but to look 1t she Is not. And APP
pearances count for great deal on the
stage as well as off.
After the first act Miss Blair Is seen to
better advantage, and when In the fourth
and fifth acts che appears as Lady Dun
stanwolde she very nearly realizes the
expectations of the beholders In both
these acts she Is given full scope for the
display of her ability as an actress and
scene where she strikes dead at her feet
the villain. Sir John Oxon, who betrayed
her in her gfrlhood and has returned to
taunt her with her weakness.
"A Lady of Quality Is play that
strikes one as having been written with
the sole object OF displaying the star.
Clorinda Is the central figure, and almost
the only figure. of the drama She DOM
mates the action and. with the exception
of the viilainous Sir John. all other char
actars do little but furnish a background
for her. Yet, In spite Of this fact, Miss
Blalr's company is one of the best ball
anced to visit the Seattle theater In many
months.
Especially has she been fortunate in the
choice OF the feminine members of the
company As gay Lady Betty Tantlllion
pretty virginia Carter could not be excell-
ed, and as Anne Wildairs. Clorinda's
gentie-hearted sister, Ida May Park does
work that Is above criticism OF the men
in the cast William BramwelI, as Sir John
Oxon has the only speaking part. prac-
ticaliy In some respects his acting is
quite clever, but on the whole he makes
less out Of It than there Is in the part.
At times his delivery Is stilted In the ex-
IRENE and his actions ungraceful. Pos
stbly however. this IL his conception OF
the part Of seventeenth century rake.
THE cleverest farce-conedy seen at the
Third Avenue in many months is
browns in Town." which closed week 5
engagement there last night. In 1t Mark
swan. himself young actor Of more than