The times., 1899-02-14
AT THE THEATRES.
NntionnI-"A Lady of auaIit,.-


That quality which has enabled Julia Ar
thur to emerge from the rank of a satel-
lite to the full glory of her stardom was
responsible for the performance of "A
Lady of Quality last night at the National.
Grit. good American grit was the factor
which induced Miss Arthur to demand that
the curtain be lifted. despite the fact that
less than three score of people including
snowbound professionals, constituted The
sum total of audience. Those who come
must not be punished for the discretion
of those who stay away" the artistic is
reported to have answered when her man
agement asked whether or not the meager
assembly should be dismissed So the rem
dering continued as if the theatre had con-
tained 5000 instead of 80 visitors.
"A Lady of Quality is turned out from
the literary workshop of Frances Hodgson
Burnett and Stephen Townsend, is far from
being finished piece of dramatic CON-
struction. The dialogue is at no time
| brilliant the situations are stilted and un-
natural, the intrinsic business is Limited
in the extreme, the speeches are monoto-
nous, and repetitions are many. To evolve
finished production from such material
requires the consummate genius OF a mas
ter of stagecraft. yet "A Lady of Quality"
as offered here yester-evening, deserves an
emphatic stamp of approval. 1t is difficult
to decide to whom the credit is due, but
the observer can give homage only to the
talent and ability of the star and her able
company.
The bill of the Offering is tacit regard
ing the classification of "A Lady OF Quail
ity, which is a drama of the purest
type. and should be regarded. The
work was seen in Washington a brief
twelve-month ago. and therefore will re-
ceive no more than this passing notice. 1t
is TO the organization and to Miss Arthur
that the effort owes its popularity and its
artistic success. One would find it prac-
tically impossible to add TO the garland
of fiowery-yet Observation-Disclosures that
have been so well won by this clever
woman for her impersonation of Clorinda
Wildairs. Probably no part in recent dIa-
matte composition calls into play more
varied emotions than this. From the bois-
ferrous, hoydenish girl-boy of the first act
to the naughty, aristocratic, powerful, and
intense Lady Dunstanwolde of the final
one is step of great length, yet the
dainty foot of the actress has covered the
distance with grace and dexterity. Nature
is Miss Arthur's art. and nature, after all,
is the only true guide to art.
The chief change that has been made in
the supporting company since its last visit
is in the role of Sir John Oxen, w s
Hart replacing Edwin Arden There is lit
tie that is common in the personality of
the two men, though each is successful in
his reading. Mr.. Arden is the more insin-
uating. the more despisable the more eff
Terminate; Mr.. Hart the stronger-the phys
ical counterpart of Mrs. Burnett's charac-
ter. The scene in the fourth act which
eliminates in the killing of Sir John is
truly the crucial one of the play. Did not
Oxen make himself so repulsive and so
thoroughly hated by everyone sentiment
would forsake Clorinda at the moment of
the tragedy. What Mr.. Arden accomplish
ed by one ability Mr.. Hart secures BY an
other. Each is cordially detested and so
the justifable homicide is speedily con-
doned.
There is little required of the other peO-
pie by whom Miss Arthur is surrounded
Ralph Stuart makes a lovable hero and
William Herbert is as refreshing in his
comedy as upon his previous visit The
bit done by Robert McWade in the first
act is worthy of more than the usual
cursory mention. his drunken scene-that
invariable test of an actors abiity-being
capitally done. T. B. Bridgeland would be
better did he remember his lines, while
Florence Conron is sympathetic, though in
definite as Anne Wildairs. Agnes Knights
completes the list Of the capable-and she
is very capable-the smaller parts being
indifferently assumed.
On Wednesday evening Miss Arthur will
appear for the first time in Washington as
Rosalind in AS You Like 1t"