The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-18
A DRAMATIC CRITICISM
WILLIAM wINTERs's SHARP CEN
SURE OF LICESTJoUs PLAYS.
The Presentation of s.The Gay Lord
QueH," By John HIRE, Gives n
Chance for Plain Speaking.


American stage, which was effected last
night. in the presence of glittering multi
tude at the Criterion Theater. is a dra-
matte event of the first Importance, and
one that must not here be carelessly con-
sidered or lightly dismissed. Mr.. Hare.
speaking with reference TO the method
rather than the substance of his achieve
ment-is a great comedian. He has not. as
a rule, attempted great parts. In career
of more than thirty-five years his most
conspicuous representations have been Ger
ridge, Eccies. Sir John Vesey, Dunscombe.
Sir Peter TeazIe and Benjamin Goldfinch;
he has preferred to be part of the picture,
and not the whole canvas; but, IN what
ever character ne has chosen TO appear he
| has acted with consurnmate ability. His
merit is extraordinary and his influence
has been wide and deep. The return of this
comedian, accordingly-which means the
renewed exertion of a rare artistic force
ought to be the cause of unqualified pleas
urs; 1T proves to be the cause OF almost
unmitisated pain. He is the same superb
artist as of old: he has the same perfect
control of person, visage, demesnor and
movement, the springs of feeling, the fibers
of character, the elements of situation, and
the forces OF dramatic effect; he still ere
ates and maintains an absolute Illusion,
causing mis- auditors to forget the stage
and 20 feei that they are looking upon life
itself; but whereas formerly ne presented
beauty he now presents deformity. He
went away, in the light and honor of the
ioFeiy character OF Goldinch; he returns,
In the shadow and blight OF the blackguard
character of the Gay Lord Quex.
MIR. PINEROS METHOD.
The comedy in which he appeared, from
| the expert pen of Mr.. Pinero, is a comedy
or amatory intrigue, contrived in bitter
ness and written in sarcasm, without one
| Impulse of Kindness or one CLEAN of cheer.
and without any single admirable attri-
cute except that of cold, mechanical dex-
| teflty. In a technical point of view the
| play Is an example of felicitously adroit
| construction, sprinkled all over its fibers
and textures and points with a glittering
steel-lke powder of verbal piquancy. In
every other point of view ii is melancholy
one beyond that of providing strong
scene, is 10 depict a corrupt phase of
actual society, TO exploit the character of
a ncentlouS but clever man, and to ex-
| emplify and declare that a profiigate who
| has, at length, determined to marry and
10 lead a virtuous life, is the superior be-
| ing, as compared with his chaste brethren
| OF the human race (supposing that there
are any, and much the better sort of man
Tor a VirtuOus and beautiful young woman
| TO approve and accept as her consort for
| life. Platitude and folly thus reach their
cllmaX. A medical writer of eminent au-
| thority has recorded the opinion-and I'M
quesuonably it is a sound one-that the
| ola doctrine that a reformed rake makes
the best husband has done more to prop
agate RIGHTEOUSNESS and to disseminate
| disease than any other fallaciOus notion
| that ever took possession of the popular
mind. In London 1.-The Gay Lord Quex'
mad long career of prosperity. 1t is
| offered here with the London cast of parts.
and 1t is mounted with exquisite taste and
| acted with remarkably symmetrical flu
sion of diversified talent. The preposterous
character of the Duchess of Strood-an
adulteress and hypocrite and such
sentimental fool as not TO know that she
/ Is either-was wonderfully we'll played by
Miss Ada Ferrar, who thus sustained
| very large part of the burden of the piece.
for the whole action depends the duch-
ess. Mr. Gilbert Hare made a special hit
In the sketch part of blase official; but
the chief interest of course, conferred
| John Hare and Irene Vanbrugh.
PLOT OF THE PLAY.
The posture of facts and proceedings
manifested in this comedy is almost trite
| in its barren simpleness. Lord Quex an
| elderly English nobleman, who had long
| been living in profiigate ways fell in love
| with a beautiful and virtuous young wom-
| an. Muriel Eden, measurably prospered i'm
his wooing OF her, and thereupon deter
| mined to live decently and to adorn the
| holy state of matrimony. In this reforma-
| tory mood and plan he was opposed by
! Sophy Fulgarney, the foster sister of Mu-
/ riel Eden, who disliked and distrusted him,
| and also he was momentarily hindered by
| certain Duchess of StrOod who had
| been his paramour. This duchess arranged
| with him that he should make a private
nocturnal visit TO her apartments. Miss
\ Fulgarney, accidentally becoming ac-
| quainted with this clandestine appoint
| ment. repaired betimes TO an adjacent
| coigne of vantage, with a view to obtain
| positive proof OF the duphcity of Lord
| Quex, and then to unmask and Illustrate
! his intended marriage with her beloved
| Muriel. Lord Quex. however-expert at in
trigue self-possessed and easily predomi-
| nant-discovered her presence at his
| trysting place, penetrated her design, and
\ so conducted an interview with her as
| effectually to screen himself and to place
! her in a position of dangerously COM
| promising character. A clash of wits en-
| sued between the two, in which he in
| trepid girl behaved so we'll and exhibited
| So fine spirit that the old rake became
| magnanimous and liberated her from
perilouS thraldom of impending and posi-
bic disgrace. Murie Eden. meantime, had
| inclined toward the suit of n certain Cap
tain Bastling, supposed to be the pink of
| incarnate virtue, but this warrior, when
tested by Miss Fulgarney-who was deter
| good husband-unexpectedly disclosed de-
/ plorable weakness. showing that, while
| valiant in the presence of Mars, he could
| make no resistance whatever 10 the blan-
dishments of Venus. AT the last Miss Full
| CARNEY. perceiving the immense superior
| ty of the regenerated profigate, relin-
| pushed opposition, and the gay Lord Quex
| triumphantly carried off his bride
Twas ever thus, from childhood's hour"
| Even so. in the days of Aud Lang Syne
did Lord Methuselah, in the pages of
| Thackeray, walk away with dear Emma
| Trotter. How charming it is" said that
| great writer Ito find virgin hearts quite
| unsullied, and to look on at little romantic
| pictures of mutual love!"
| THE SCENES OF PROPRIETY.
Mr.. Hare told one OF the English news
| papers little while ago. when extolling
The Gay Lord Quex," that. were it not
that the bed can Re seen from the boudoir
| of the Duchess, no one, probably. would
ever have made even the slightest objec-
ton 10 the play. In that case why not ex-
| clude the bed? If the bed is not there for
any purpose connected with the play ii
| should not be there at all. But this is only
| subterfuge. and rather miserable subter-
/ ftfge af S11cb talk only serx-ec