The San Francisco call., 1901-11-05

:" OR an all too brief two hours and
iii a half at the Columbia Theater
1T last night the audience forgot that
there were any such folk as Tobin.
Wells and Schmitz in watching the
periwigged and polonaised intriguers OF
good Queen Anne's court doing politics.
Charles Hervey MeItzer has written a
good play in THE First Duchess Of Marl-
borough" adapting his facts to his fancy
in places, as is his privilege, but keeping
pretty steadily TO history In his character
drawing. which is excellent What The
First Duchess of Marlborough" would be
In other hands than those of Mrs. Sarah
CoweIl lie Moyne and her excellent COM
pany one can hardly imagine. but as in
that holds the interest from its first word
to its last This is the more remarkable
in that the play lacks entirely the love
interest, depending only on the ingenious
handling OF court intrigues, rather neat
wit and the picturesque character of the
portraiture and incident for its grip.
IL Mrs. lie Moyne has been fortunate in
finding in The First Duchess OF Marl-
borough" a congeniai medium OF express
sion Mr. MeltZer has been no less fortunate
in finding a Mrs. lie Moyne to interpret
his conceptions Of the doughty Duchess.
To begin with. her perfections for the
actress is unhappily new to us. Mrs. lie
Moyne's reading Is a wonder and de-
light. She has the charm OF absolute nat
pause. accent rings true, and entire COM
mand Of every infection and modulation
Of her voice. She looks the redoubtable
Duchess every inch, curses with genius.
adding TO the impression of the masterful
Sarah's makeup. The evening was one
long triumph for the actress. and should
Mrs. lie Aoyne ever again lind herself
"out West" she will be sure of a Western
welcome.
Mrs lie Moynes company is well
worthy to support her There is a DIR.
Swift who seems to have just stepped out
of the court OF Anne into to-day. so eX-
cellently does Joseph Wilkes portray the
"scurrilous scrivener-one OF the first OF
the yellow journalist brood. Frederick
Paulding is the slippery scoundrel. Rich
ard Harley, and shows a commanding in
telligence in his conception. He is finished
and restrained in his work. not onc.touch
scamp's character being, forgotten. Har-
old Russell is a stately and satisfying
Duke of Marlborough, and there is a tiny
sketch OF Haendel done by Axel Bruun;
that adds to the joys of living.
The fat and sanity Anne, center of all
the intrigues. creature now of Sarah. the
Duchess, and again; of Masham. the small
Mary E. Barker. who gives very cleveriy
the "wabbly" character OF that much be-
bothered monarch Mrs. Masham is
played in graceful fashion by "a very
in the euphonlous name OF Nora O'Brien.
and none of the smaller parts in the cast
are sighted. ~ * =.
picturesque and THE First DUCHESS of
Marlborough" i an assured success. {
Alcazar.
Around Marion. Convere center the mys-
terry and the charm Of Nancy &c Co."
now being produced at the Alcazar. The
part she has affords her a brilliant op-
s1.x - ho~ tofn
and the finesse that. characterizes her
acting She Is a romantic wife, who has
written a play In conjunction with Keife
OKeife. Esq. Her newly welded spouse
being in blissful ignorance OF her pen
chant for the dramatic pen becomes In
sanely and ludicrously jealous Of her when
he finds that the OKeife has called to
see her at the waldorf. It is In the last
the serious side Of her nature, after the
excitement Of witnessing the triumph of
her play, when her thoughts revert to her
husband and she reproaches herself for
having innocently caused him much men,
tai anguish.
Margaret wycherly. the Daisy Griffing
of the play, is witcherly indeed She has
a most contagious smile and most nat
ural manner Of acting. The traditions of
the stage seem TO have been left behind
and the actress fs-well. just herself,
charming and piquant, that's all. Oreana,
Miss Agnes Ranken. is san interesting
iancee and pouts her jealousy very pic
turesquely.. There is plenty OF love and
jealousy throughout the comedy. and
speaking Of love and soui-piercing kisses,
you ought TO see Howard Scott hug and
kiss his stage wife I'm the last act II
made all the bachelors in the house smack
their lips In envy. And there were others
He kissed her so enthusiastically 0n the
play. OF course) that her back comb fell
upon the floor and was rescued by Frank
Bacon, VINO never lets anything like that
Scott and Bacon, the Tippy Brasher and