Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-21
THE SCHOOL
FOR SCANDAL
Observation-Disclosures AT THE
GRAND LAST NIGHT.

The Great Star Triumyirate," Louis
James, Kathryn Kidder and Frederick
Warde opened a weeks engagement at
the Grand Opera house last night in the
rare old comedy, The School for Scan
dali While the comedy is over one hun
bred and twenty-five years old it is as
applicable today as it was when first
written. True this is not the same pic
turesque period; society has DOTTED the
brocadel petticOatS, powder and patches,
silken breaches and wigs; 9th monocle
we have with US stilD. But in the theme,
the Worldliness, the Witty speeches, play
upon words. and originality of construc-
ton the comedy is as modern as if written
by Pinero. All the foibles of our weak
human nature are seen as in a looking
glass. 1t would be oftener played if it
did not require such elaborate costuming
and SO much special scenery.
Probably this generation Will never see
the play presented by a more capable
company. The whole thing went with a
smoothness seldom seen. Lady Teazle as
presented by Miss Nidder, is a far differ
ent creature from the one conceived by
Ada Rehan. Instead of a Haunting, rath-
er braZen woman, she was a country girl.
! little acquainted With dignity, fresh
enough to enjoy fashionable life with all
the ardor of a novice. She makes her a
bright butterfly, all lightness and airi-
ness. SO in love with fashion she is
ready to follow its behest ever to the
point of deceiving her husband, all to be
in the fashion. She was girlishly sweet
and gay in her famous scene with Sir
Peter. Later she gathered strength and
! dignity by degrees that marked her work
with artistic finish. Of her beauty there
is no question. Ard how she has iinprov-
ed since she appeared as Dearest" n the
first cast of Little Lord Fauntleroy."
But without doubt Loui James as
Charles Surface carried off the honors of
the evening. In fact he carried the house
by storm. He has shorter time to make
an impression for he is not on the boards
until the third act, While the others are
on from the first. He was even recalled
in the middle of the fourth act, after his
exit. a rare compliment. Mr.. James is a
perfect representation of the registering
rollicking blade Of III; he gives it the
true comedy touch; he is light-hearted,
careless, yet kindhearted; in the scene
where his disguised uncle buys the fam
lily portraits, Mr.. James was simply per-
lection; he deserve. the half dozen cur
tain calls. He was also at his best as the
discoverer of Lady Teazle when the
screen falls. He imparts a deftness and
agility impossible to describe. And best
of all, James forgats he Is also a TRACE
dian, the best Othello o. the stage today.
Moreover he has a fine stage presence, a
noble physique and a very good looking
| countenance. almost handsome.
Frederick Warde as Joseph Surface was
a most obvious rogue. IT must be rather
hard to so often be called upon to play
a william. 1t must be a consolation
though to be able to do it SO cleVerly, as
to "fn applause after applause. AS the
sentimental schemer, polished libertine
end all around hypocrite he was a revela-
ton. The only fault With Mr.. Ward is,
he has so long played tragedy that it is
hard to lose himself in mother role. He
gives the character quite an Iago color
ing. His s~oliloquys We're too sinister al
together. This william of SheHidan's is
intended to be transparent, really almost
frank. A lighter touch would not be
amiss. But after seeing him as Joseph
Surface one yearps TO see him as Iago, a
role in which he has no superior.
Harry Langdon, as Sir Peter Teazle fol-
lowed with agreeable fidelity the accept
ed Enblish model. There was evidence In