New-York tribune., 1901-12-26
THE DRAM
NEW PLAY AT THE CRITERION.
MRS. CARTER AS DU BARRY.

MRS CARTER AS DU BARRY.
II has pleased Mr. Belasco to select, for public
Illustration in a drama one of the depraved
and dssolute feminine characters that hang upon
the fringes of history that of the namefess hussy
who about hundred and thirty years ago, was
picked out of the streets Of Paris, and, under the
auspices of the most notorious titled blackGuaro
of his time welded to a conplaisant degenerate In
order that she might succeed the Pompadour as the
mistress of King Louis XIV OF France This cour-
tesan. Marie Jeanne, ennobled as the Countess Du
Barry-potent in her actual life by reason of her
personai charms and fragrant debauchery but in
no otherwise notable among women.-is the heroine
now embodied by Mrs. Carter at the Criterion The
atre: and a precious privilege obviously II Is IN
this season of sacred festival. that the community
can exalt itself by gazing upon such an actress IL
such a part Mr. Belasco's play IS mainly fanciful
II ,,ses historic names but not. in any sense,
history AS in precedent cases so in this. authehtc
records are ignored and a completely aroi-
trary ideal. gilt-edged and rosy. takes the place
of truth Last year It Nell Gwyn who wore
the halo and II Nell Gwyn wear 1t. why not
Jeanne Dubarry? This furnishing process to De
sure Is dffusive of vast ard general mlslniorhld-
ton; but for most people. this seems 10 De quite
as useful as accurate and exact knowledge. ana
after all IL the stage is present these inpeF'at
wantons in any fashion II may well revive them
in decent shape. The gay Du Barry as seen oy
Mr. Belasco abundantly .frail. but she was also
fond and. while she dd not scruple TO pick up the
wonan's heart remained true 10 her first love;
and this is the burden of the play Historically
this adventurous dame became the paramour OF
Cosse- -Brissac after Louis XIV had died and after
she had been exiled from the French court. In the
plav she hides him in her bed. that the jealous
Louis committing the famous blunder of Lord
Byron's Don Alfonso) cannot find him; she wields
an appropriate candlestick with which to smash
the sconce OF nteroping relative who would
otherwise betray him: she dcaes for his sake, the
gracious Majesty of France and every appurtenance
thereto belonging and at the last, she patheti
cay TO the guilIotine. still loving him and still
deploring her innocent, youthful past. when they
were happy lovers together, when all was peace
and joy and hope because. as the old poet Rogers
so prettily phrases il, Life new. and the
heart promised what the fancy drew" AS a matter
of fact her amiable countrynen her the
guiIlotine in the winter OF 1898 because they had
ascertained that she too rich be a
patriot and probably had entered upon secret
correspondence with their English enemies.
Mr.. Belasco has selected, epigraph to his
drama. the remark of DR.. Holmes. that the
great historical events but the personal incidents
that call up single sharp pictures of some human
being in it's pang struggle reach nearly"
This statement sounds well but t labors under the
disadvantage that 1t is not true. The play. how
ever. in far exemplifes 1t that it shows its
heroine chiefly IN her ''pang''-a condition which
seemingly ensues upon her being a feather Drained
fool, bat which she herself oquaciously ascrbes TO
Fate and a ruthless appetite for pretty
things" There is some ghtness the start,
when Jeanne is a mliner. but the opening
act proves TO be practically needless, since the
piay does not actually begin TIL after the second
curtain has been raised Then the volatile girl is
tempted by offer of the Kings love and, in order
that she may accept 1t, her honest lover is made
to misunderstood her. in incredible manner
possible only on the stage. In the third act she
has become great parsonage. almost queen, and
this act which is interesting, various and dra-
matte terminates with a highly effective scene, pos
sble in a play, but completely Impossible In life
while the wounded lover, falling insensible upon
the Iady's bed. and being covered with drapery,
remains there in plain sight OF crowd of pursuers
who are searching for him. The rest of the piece
shows the Kings efforts TO capture the fugitive
and Du Barry's schemes and pleadings to save
him Mrs Carter actress has long been
known as an adept in coquetry. and on this occa-
sion she again displayed her physical fascination;
hut if the lady would refrain from
moving her shoes and showing her feet every
FIVE minutes during the performance she would be
more successful in this easy vein of enchant-
mont In serious business the method of this
actress is 10 work herself into Il state of great
element weep to vociferate, to shrek, to rant
upon the floor. This method has it's votaries, but
to iudicious observers it IS mere fuss and folly
The actor who loses seIf-control can never truly
control an audience. There is, nevertheless. much
merit in the performance, and the actress
often applauded and recalled. The piece contains
plentude of needless talk. and is overweighted
with scenery, costumes, people, and the accessories
of spectacle AS a production "Du Barry is costly
and ostentatious, but luxury counts for little
less is used with judgment ''Du Barry" will
doubtedly have prosperous career. ". W.