The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-26

II II stin One - The Most Dees-
katAryn ksaaer - Lady Teasle.
ssrTsHE comedy Is finished" said Rseh-
I ard Rrinsiey Sheridan. speaking Of
The School for Scandal which will be
presented in Seattle for the srst time
next Sunday evening by the James,
W2rde-kidder combination. Il have
nothing to do now but to write IT. Here
systematically is contained the testimony
Of the nineteen years which the famous
author Of The Rivals The Critic.
and --Pixarro devoted To his master
piece IL s said he devoted nineteen years
TO "fnishsnxS the play. yet he wrote
in rehearsal and handed the manuscript
dry.
This comedy Is now over one hundred
and twenty-five years old. 1t bears the
stamp of the picturesque period Of which
IL WAS the most remarkable product in
its del.cacy and its dress. the xiiken
breaches and hrocaded pettsccats. the
powder and patches the wigs and mon
oc,es- but in theme and interest. witty
speeches and originality of situation, il
is ss modern as IL IL were made yesterday.
The School for Scandal Is seldom
seen because OF the extravagant demands
which the comedy makes In every detail
of presentation.
Only the most accomplished Of eonesi-
ennes dare assume tho graces Nnd rage
Of Lady Teaxle. only the most finished OF
actors venture to tempt criticism In the
delicaeies OF Charles and Joseph Surface.
Without the best actors. appropriately
delicate last-ceniury scenery. and the
vast quantities of iaces and silk. THE
School for Scandal seems desecrated.
Partly because of the demands OF the In
tricacies of the Characterization and part
~ because the performance OF Charles
Jcseph and Lady TeaSle AZ once suggest
comparison with the greatest actors of
the past century and a quarter. il the IA
nous comedy too rarely given
The school for Scandal was first pro-
duced the sth of May. ls7.. at the Drury
Lane tneater. London. The comedy was
an instant success. unlike Sheridan's
The Rivals" which was at first a fall
ure. and had to fight free of the preiu-
dtces OF its beginnings. Chroniciers point
with wonder To the fact that the school
for Scandal was played during its first
season twenty times, But that was q
century before this era OF long runs. In
IT. second year il was acted sixty-five
times and. says Sanders. for several
years II continued to be acted three
times a week. and brought in nearly twice
as much as any other play. Even after
the piece was three years old the treas
urer Of Drury Lane said: THE School
for Scandal damped the otAs5. pieces
1t has retained its popularity throughout
the present century in England and
America and Is revived with profit to the
promoters and with infinite pleasure to
lovers OF comedy whenever a cast OF suffi-
cient strength and an environment OF
sufficient elegance can be afforded TO give
the masterpiece its due. 1t has been
translated In every European language
and even into Hindustani.
Haxlett says of the School for Scan
dal': This Is the merit of Sheridan's
comedies. that everything in them tells:
there Is no labor in vain His comic muse
does not go prying about into obscure COR
ners. or collecting idle curiosities. but
shows her laughing face. and points to
her treasurc-the foll.es Of mankind. She
is garlanded and crowned with roses and
vine leaves Her eyes sparkle with de-
light. and her heart runs over with good
natured malice. Her step II Arm and
light. and her ornaments consummate.
The School for Scandal In, IL not the
most original. perhaps the most faultiees
and finished comedy we have. When II
is acted you hear people around you ex-
claiming: Surely II Ia Impossible for any,
thing TO be cleverer.' The scene In which
Charles sells all the old family pictures
but his uncle's. who is the purchaser In
disguise. and that Of the discovery OF
Lady Teaxie when the screen falls are
among the happiest and most highly
wrought that comedy in its wide and
brilliant range can boast
In the original cast. one Smith. soot,
succeeded by John Kemble was seen az
Charles Surface now played by Louis
James. John Palmer made of Joseph Sur
face. now played by Frederick warde,
the hero of the piece. with his gay bold
ness, the graceful piausibility. the meas
ured step. the iDsinuating voice--to ex-
press Il In word-the downright acted
villany of the part and at first Mrs.
Arlington and. Immediately after. Miss
Farren. were the first condolences to
play Lady Teaxle, as Kathryn kidder is
the latest. Like set Of rare jewels
which are worn seldom and thereby make
an event OF an occasion they grace the
school for Scandal has always been
reserved for epochral players. Few ether
performances OF the Sheridan comedy In
American are recalled than those given
at intervals by the DAILY company. Ada
Rehan was the only Engiish-speaking
actress Of her generation TO make sue
CONSUL Sbftt Win Lazy iedxie. Tnere
has not been In quarter of a century
an adequate Charles or Joseph Surface
and the last OF a line of great Sir. Peter
TeSxles passed with old John Gilbert All
OF which centers the more interest In the
new presentation by new coterie of
stars. The School for Scandal is not
rightfully comedy of the closet rather
than OF the stage. The Rivals is only
library play during the intermittent
periods when there is no jefferson on the
stage 10 compass Bob Acres. Hut on the
stage or in the library the School for
Scandal asserts its preeminence as q
great work Of comic art so CONSPICUOUS
in the history OF letters and the drama
as 10 make incumbent on all intelligent
people the duty of acquainsing themselves
with It's fund of hnmor and satire when
the opportunity offers.
In the sernseular Of the sheaier there
is scarcely a focu;ion. 81 the frequency
Of Its usage as "a fat part" What II a '.fa I
rartr' II is the role in which every t.ne
counts, 10 which the lines Of all or nearly
all the others are mere feeders" for
nothing contributes TO fat Hike feed. a
par; which focuses the interest. but IN the
eyes Of the reputable artist. 4 is, further
more role which gives latitude to gem
ius. opportunity for art. and makes de-
mands on versatility which have a retro
active effect In establishing the PLAYER as
master OF his craft. Such n testy role
ss Hamlet for a trsgedlan. Lady Macbeth
for the fragsd.enne. Bob Acres for 4
comedian, Lady Teazle for a eousssij. mn.
They stand as sort NJ final .xamins ton
between the aspirant and the degree es
master Of art. That ia why the mark Of
artist and the stamp ef absolute great
ne-s IL withheld from a woman who az.
f@cts position as a cosmefienns until she
has successfully scaled the heights III
Lady T.@xie in sheridaas "schaoI for
Sos rAst =
II is indeed fat part Not line