New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-22
LONDON NOTES.
THE ADVENTURES OF A LADY's MAID
TURNER'S AT THE GUILDHALI--
SUNDAY JOURNALISM.

Anthony Hope Hawkns's copyright Mr.
| Pirero might have named his new play at the
Globe Theatre THE Adventures OF Lady's
Maid" That is the real theme. although he has
preferred to have his work known The Gay
Lord Quex." II is not comedy OF manners
but comedy OF intrigue. and the only heroine
is sophy Fullgarney domestic servant. who
has got on In the world and exchanged the
ladys boudor for a fashionable manicurisrs
shop in New Bond-st. The curtain rises upon
the interior Of this shop, with its scents soaps
and school Of assistants in the mancurst's art
and among the patrons 10 disclosed the wicked
est rake in London. the Marques Of Quex who
Is reforming at the age OF fifty In order to marry
creamy young English girl, Muriel Eden
| Sophy Fugarney has a lover OF her own
| Valma, professional palmst. representing her
own underbred class, but she more deeply In
terested in the love affairs OF her foster sister
and financial hacker Murel Eden, than In
her own romance. The three following acts re-
veal her unsuccessful attempts to break up the
match with 1.-The gay Lord Quex" in order that
Captain Bastling. a sentimental young soldier.
may marry her friend and her final failure. af-
ter she has been convinced that the old rake
is rot bad as she supposed. and that his
rival is a weakng ready to kiss any pretty girl
within reach
The theme is not an exalted one nor are the
characters Of the play agreeable objects Of con-
temptation. The Marques Of Quex is old
libertine. with abominable past His friend.
Sir Chichester Frayne West African Gov
ernor is an old crony with similar tastes who
has no motive for reforming. Captain Bastling
is an easy going frt without redeeming trait.
and Valma is a vulgar adventurer with
mantle ideas borrowed from yeIIow-cover tera-
ture These the men OF the play and the
women. with two exceptions, are equally dis
agreeable and immoral. The Countess OF Ow-
bridge. an elderly lady who is encouraging the
gay Lord Quex" to reform and settle down.
is a reputable figure and Muriel Eden is also
a decent person, although remarkably wide
awake and more tolerant OF vice than an inno-
cent young woman ought to be. The other
women are conspicuously odious. The Duchess
Of Stroud the middle aged wife OF a sene peer.
is woman with past. guilty "reminiscences Of
which color her midnight interview with her
old admirer Lord Quex Mrs Jack Eden is a
fast and worldly dame who has arranged tho
sordd match between her sister-n-law and the
profigate Marques. AS for Sophy Fulgarney.
while she has pluck and real affection for the
woman who has befriended her. she is a naughty
employer, groveng servant. q brazen CO.
quette a vulgar liar and a despicable spy.
Mr. Pinero with a cynicsm peculiarly his own.
has produced play Of intrigue In whicn the
characters immoral and exceedingly dis
agreeable yet it made profound impression on
the opening night and promises TO be the chief
dramatic success of the season. This is because !.
II ia written and enacted with extraordinary
ability The art Of the playwright is conspicu.
GUS from the outset. and eliminates in third
act of striking theatrical power.
During the first two acts at the manicurists
shop and in the Italian garden OF Fauncey
Court the characters are allowed to reveal
themselves in dialogue with unerring accuracy
and realism When the audience has learned TO
know them and to understand their motives and
foibles the third act comes on. 1t is duel OF
keen wit between the reformed roue and the
shrewd lady's maid. Sophy Fullgarrey, after
failing to beguile Lord Quex in a seductive
Irritation has overheard a conversation in
which he agrees TO visit the Duchess at mid
night An accident enables her to resume her
functions as lady's maid and to listen at the
keyhole while these former lovers are drink
ing champagne and exchanging "reminiscences
of their former acquaintance. When she is dis
covered the Duchess is bundled OF into another
room and the spy is entrapped Then comes
the lady's maids moment of triumph when she
refuses a bride Of 5000 TO hold her tongue
Next she finds herself a prisoner and fatally
compromised with man of the world wnen
her own jealous lover is under the same roor.
She signs letter placing herself completely IN
the gay lords power. and then impusivey
rings the bell rather than betray her friend
Lord Quex admirtng her pluck returns the let'
ter. unlocks the door and the duel ends IN .
drawn battle.
I have attended mary FIRST nights In Lon
don, but never have seen an audience so COM
petely enthralled by dramatic art as on THIS
occasion. At first tho women In this duel OF
wits won the advantage; then the man OF inc
world was completely victorious; and many
there was a sudden turn. and before the au-
dience fairly knew what was going on there was
a drawn fight, each contestant throwing down
weapon and mask and admiring the puck Oh
the other Old playgoers looked on breathess
with interest, and when the curtain fell every
one In stalls galleries and pit was shouting
hoarsely II was a splendid triumph OF dra-
matte art The characters were disagreeable;
the byplay was painfully suggestive OF the I'M
morality OF the Palas Royal; but stagecraft
trlumphed over prudery champagne ana gar
tiers. and the theatre rang with acclamations
over one OF the strongest and most original
acts witnessed the London stage Tor many
a season Ant-climax there was none TOT ths
fourth act had Its own unexpected reVsia'ioh'
The manicurist returning TO her shop rene"s
her sirens strategy In order TO test the fidelity
Of Captain Bastng. and, by proving thus the
rivals unworthiness. enables the gay Loro
Quex" to carry OF Murel Eden In triumph. Inc
proprieties had been outraged at every turn
Of the evenings entertainment. and there had
been several questionable displays OF doup'e
entente; hut the play had again been shown "
be the thing. and Mr.. Pinero's prestige as 'n'
most original OF living playwrights had oeeh
greatly increased by wonderful display OF ART
The chief triumph Of the evening was Mr.
Pinero's His astonishing stagecran ana inc
briancy OF his text silenced Mrs Grumpy VINO
forgot in her keenness OF interest how broadly
az scenes. and now