New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-09
THE DRAMA
MRS. LIE MoYNE AT wALLACKS
THEATRE
CHARITY AND LOVE.


In Mrs. lie Moyne.-who came forth last night, at
Wallack's Theatre presenting for the first time In
New-York the play called The Greatest Thing IN
the World public sees an actress or strong
character and fine intelligence. who strictly OBJ
serves Hamet's Preeept that you o'erstep not
the modesty OF nature" and who speaks the Eng
lsh language with a delightful clarity of articula-
ton and just and sympathetic sense OF the mean
ing of every word. This order Of excellence, once
exemplifed in many actors (such as John Gilbert
Mrs. Vernon. Henry Placide Mrs. Waliack. Mark
Smith Mrs. Bowers. etc1. has OF late become so
that its presence causes surprise, and per-
haps stimulates excessive and disproportionate
admiration: but. however that may be, such adj
mirabIe merit Is heartily welcome and Mrs lie
Moyne entirely deserves the cordial greeting with
which her clear and finely rounded performance
accepted Her desert indeed. is not because OF
the play that she has presented, for that is moral
treatise and dull one: and not any consid-
cradle extent because Of her acting for that Is OF
a conventional order and more the art Of the pre-
ceptor than the impersonator; but because OF her
dgnihed. sweet. placid. matronlike individuality
which charms and alIures. without agitating the
emotions disturbing the even tenor OF
tranquil mind Few women have. Of late
years, appeared who well qualihed
alike in temperament and person, to present
the noble mothers in comedy those fine Great
for whom the 1rst tints of autumnal
glory have begun TO FURNISH the sober landscape
of life. In situations that impica1e the passions
thai exact display Of power. Mrs. lie Moyne IS
inadequate to the dramatic demand; but on a vel
lawn she moves easily. The levels OF expert
ence are more easily accessible than the heights.
This play. aiming to show that the greatest thing
in the world is love, and that love implies charity,
makes very serious draft upon the feelings. IN
deed. it is scarcely vital vigorous than
The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain; for IL lacks
invention, action. character and priiliancy, and
is particularly strong in incident. But
the mothers heart beats in ii. and through 1t all
a thread Of maternal socitude for the welfare
of a beloved son, who has inherited traits from
his father, dead and gone. and has got into
serious difficulty. OF course the mother is true to
him. and eventually all ends we'll The authors.
Harriet Ford and Beatrice de Mile. seem 20 have
been reading Father Ibsen. A certain diluted 10
senism purls through their coloQuies. But the
stronghold Of the iustrious Scandinavian, in the
of heredity. is scrofula: this piece touches
nothing deleterious than the trans
mitted appetite for intoxicant fluid: and that
the youth is ultimately able eradicate Mr.
Robert Edeson. who seems 10 have noted the
methods OF Richard Mansfield gave telling per-
John GIendinning and Mr.. Wilton Lackaye were
excellent. each in a different way, types OF
belated lovers. Men of sensIbility apt 20 take
that disease hard. when it strikes them in mature
years and both these actors seemed to have
studied the subject The play has been handsomely
set. and il followed to it's close with much at
tention by numerous audience.