New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-26

provided for this modernized fairy tale. but
there is a prg in place OF the Prince. Mr.. Frank
Gilmore. who enacts the part Of Lord Beaufoy,
allows the love-makng to drag. and is too seri-
Gus and deliberate in the delivery OF his social
homllies. The sentimental rhspsodies are apt
10 cloy unless they rapidly repeated, and
the romantic passages require sincerity OF pur
pose and distinction Of manner. Mr. Montague.
Mr.. Coghlan and other actors. who have been
identified with this part played 1t with less for
mality and with lighter touch. and carried out
the real motive Of the Prince in the Cinderella
romance This is the only blemish in an artistic
presentation OF this idyl. and doubtless ii will
disappear when Mr.. Gilmore makes closer
study OF the part.
Miss Mabei Terry Lewis. the daughter OF the
once famous actress. Miss Kate Terry, plays
the part OF the drudge, BELLA, with sensibility,
charm, sweetness and grace. and Miss May Har
vey is delightful as the hoydenish but winsome
schoolgirl, Naomi Tighe, reading her love letter
with such sentimental ardor and naturalness
that veteran playgoers forget that Lady Ban
croft once exerted her Vaccinations and charms
in the same task. Mr.. Kerr is the genial cynic,
Jack Poyntz. and he plays in his best comedy
style Mr.. Gilbert Hare as the sinister usher.
Krux. has contrived with subtle skill to over
come all the technical difficulties OF an almost
impossible part Always painstaking actor.
he gives in this play brilliant display OF the
atrical art. The two SATELLITES. in charge Of the
well-trained chorus OF schoolgirls are adequate
ly represented. Mr.. John Hare is a stage mana
ger whose judgment is rarely at fault, and the
setting OF School, is excellent in every respect.
He has new comedy by Mr.. Pinero in reserve,
but expects 70 produce both ours" and Caste
during the present dramatic season. and is con-
hdent that Robertson drama has not yet lost It's
charm for faded and cynical London audiences.
SATIRE WITH CINDERELLA MOTIVE.
BY a singular coincidence Robertsons modern
Cinderella appears almost simultaneously with
the triumphant return Of Mrs. Craigies poor
orphan Juliet Gainsborough. 10 the stage Of
the St Jamess Theatre. The Ambassador.
which was the best comedy Of manners pro-
duced in London last year. IS again played be-
fore crowded houses. and apparently will hold
the stage Of that popular West End house well
through the season. II is brilliant satire on
the Alterations cynicism and insincerty Of
fashionable society. and enables the West End
TO laugh merrily over It's own follies and the
emptiness of its life Within the satire, with
it's sparkle and glitter. is an idyl sweet and
wholesome as Robertson's adaptation of g fairy
tale The Ambassador who has touched HE
on every side. and exhausted the resources o.
social experience, is irresistibly drawn toward
the gentle and pure heroine, who has neither
a fortune. nor influence, nor single great reia-
tive. 1t is the Cinderella motive that binds to-
gether like a golden thread the scenes Of this
satirical comedy Of manners. Mr.. George Alex
ander. while starting from another point OF
view and looking in a different direction seems
to agree with Mr.. John Hares conclusion, that
what the London stage needs is sentiment
There are sensitive Americans, carrying their
hearts on their sleeves. for every twittering
bird 10 peck az. who grieved because the
Taylorson family, representing, according 10 the
author Of the play, candid vulgarity as OPP
posed 70 vicious or merely fashionable Vul-
garty." talk through their noses with strong
twang and indicate their transatlantic origin.
This sensitiveness is superfuous when the satire
o. the play is almost wholly directed against
the follies 81 English society. II the West End
d.sports itself night after night at this theatre
where the mirror is held UP to nature AHeri-
cans ought 70 be sufficiently thick-skinned to
enjoy laughing at passing skit at their own
expense Instead Of finding fault with harm
less caricature OF candid vulgarity. they should
be pleased with the reflection that it has been
reserved for an American woman II genius 70
write the most sparkling comedy OF English
manners enacted in London for long period,
and also for a young American actress 10 pre-
sent a most charming embodiment Of an Eng
lsh girl. bewitching in beauty and grace and
modest true-hearted and lovable. Miss Fay
Davis is seen al her best in part which was
evidently written for her, and the play has
gained steadily in fascination and charm from
the refinement Of Interpretation which Mr..
Alexanders company has acquired from con-
tinuous practice. The playgoer who sees The
Ambassador" at this theatre is almost per
suaded that Mrs. Craigie, with a little more
experience in dramatic construction. will yet
succeed in writing a comedy OF manners Of the
same rank as The School for Scandal
l. y F.