The sun., 1899-12-10

and burlosque Though thess plays failed 70
make the subject smuaing there 10 good farce
material In IL and We viii probably SEQ rousinS
one made Of IL yet
Court Favor" At The Irving Place Theatre
last week showed fault uncommon among mod
ern German plays, that Of putting ono character
In the foreground 10 the detrment Of all the others
Pieces for stars are not written In Germany az
they are here. Actors who have reached that
position take crcditable works that have roles
suitable to them whether they be preponderating
or not. There Ia a conventional repertoire 10
which tho women appear after they attain cer-
tain eminencc. This will include among modern
works such Sardou pieces as Fedora, -"Divorconsr
and Nine. Sans Gene" Dumas az he Is repre-
scnted In Camille and "FTancion" and Ibsen
in The Dolls House. Most German actresses
are seen in these plays before they start out as
stars Their number Is always small Adele
Sandrock. in less conspicuous way. and Agnes
Sorma as its principal oxemplar, arc tho only
women In Germany to-day who follow anything
like tho American starring system. They never
travel with companies, but play In tho various
court or private theatres as guests" supported
by tho local troupe The other well-known Ger
man actresses are members Of theatre companies
from which they got leave Of absenoe Helene
In Dresden and Franciska Elmenrich In Ham,
burg They visit tho larger cities every year
and the resident companies arc associated with
them in tho production Of the plays with which
their names arc most conspicuously identified.
But no German actress, whatever her renown
may BE-. expects u have dramas written especially
10 show her abilities. Court Favor however.
was made for a popular Berlin sctross who ro-
Gently became the manager Of her own theatre
and wanted a play 10 suit her talents. So tho
unusual happened. and a little-known dramatst
satisfied her demand. For a beginner he succeeded
remarkably.
The young girl In -Court Favor who lives
with her uncle In his rural homo has no ambition
to se~k the honors Of a cour, lady. She is un-
willing TO attempt TO gain them until somebody
suggests that, reared in the country. she would
cut a poor figure In a royal palace That de-
cdes her 10 20 there While practising her curt
scy. she meets the Prince with no idea who no
really Ia Her ignorance OF court life amuses
him Her frankness and naturaness charm
the Queen mother. She Is created maid Of
honor Just when abe feels that her nwkwardness
has ruined her prospecta In this position she
is able TO unravel a complicated sentimental
situation, which seems consequential 10 the cour-
tiers. bu, trivial enough to the maid. who thinks
The Princes cousin is about to DO married. for
reasons oi state to man she does not love II
takes his word 10 make that necessary. He
decides that she must follow the suggestions
OF her supcriors He is ignorant that she Is In
love with him and that he loves her. II IL tho
new maid OF honor who discovers this and uses
the little diplomacy she has learned 10 bring thcso
two together. The Prince and his cousin meet
in her Apartments Their hearts arc readily
united Only the instrument Of their happiness
suffers from her interference in royal love affairs
an intrigue between her and tho Prince. The
Queen Is slow TO believe a scandal against her
young favorite But the evidence is strong, and
the girl gees back 10 her home in disgrace. Her
experience at Court has not teen without It's SEN
umenlal experience for her. A Young Lieutenant
who believes stead'as,ly in her innocence, FOL
lowed her 10 the country. So do tho Prince and
lus cousin TO take her back TO Court In triumuh
But thosyoung mans visit Is OF more importance,
and the honors Of the palace life are indifferent
to her after his proposition. Thilo Won Troih1
has touched this rather conventional story With
!ust the qualities that give 1t charm. The con-
uast between the simplicity OF the girls md
the formnlity OF life in a small court is quaint
iy denoted. and no trace Of this escaped Mr.
Conrieds careful and tasteful setting of the play
Emmy Schroih had an inspiring role in the heroine
which any actress must feel delighted To- play
She did II justice In most respects although moth.
ing in tho performance equhlled Wilhrlmina
Schluetcr's distinction and dignity as the Queen
moth